The Kansas City Chiefs are heading into the 2026 offseason with more questions than answers-a rare position for a team that’s spent the better part of a decade as a perennial contender. After finishing 6-11 and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014, the Chiefs are staring down a critical stretch that could define the next chapter of their dynasty aspirations.
Injuries played a major role in the unraveling of their 2025 campaign. Losing both Patrick Mahomes and backup Gardner Minshew derailed any hope of salvaging the season.
But injuries alone don’t tell the whole story. The Chiefs’ offense, once feared across the league, looked alarmingly flat.
And nowhere was that more evident than in the run game.
Let’s talk numbers: Kansas City finished 25th in total rushing yards (1,812), 22nd in yards per carry (4.2), and dead last in explosive runs-just three carries of 20-plus yards, and not a single run over 40 yards all season. For an offense that’s built its identity on creativity and explosiveness, those are tough pills to swallow.
That’s where Travis Etienne Jr. enters the conversation.
According to ESPN’s Matt Bowen, the Jacksonville Jaguars running back could be a perfect fit for Andy Reid’s offense. And it’s not hard to see why.
Etienne brings a burst that Kansas City sorely lacked in 2025. He’s not just a between-the-tackles runner-he’s a home-run threat every time he touches the ball, and he adds serious value as a receiver out of the backfield.
Etienne had 26 runs of 10 or more yards last season, tied for 12th in the league. That kind of playmaking would be a welcome addition to a Chiefs offense that struggled to generate chunk plays on the ground.
In Reid’s system, Etienne’s speed and versatility could be maximized through screens, motion, and creative backfield alignments. He’s the kind of player who can turn a 3-yard checkdown into a 30-yard gain.
The Chiefs already made a major move by bringing back Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator, parting ways with Matt Nagy after just one season in charge of the offense. Bieniemy’s return could signal a shift back toward the dynamic, multi-layered attack that helped power Kansas City to multiple Super Bowl appearances. Pairing that resurgence with a weapon like Etienne would give the Chiefs a much-needed jolt.
To fully appreciate what Etienne could bring to Kansas City, it’s worth looking at how he bounced back in 2025. After a quiet 2024 campaign-where he logged just 150 carries for 558 yards and two touchdowns-Etienne reasserted himself as the Jaguars’ lead back. He carried the ball 260 times for 1,107 yards and seven touchdowns, helping Jacksonville to a 13-4 record, an AFC South title, and the No. 3 seed in the playoffs.
The Jaguars couldn’t get past the Bills in the wild-card round, but Etienne’s resurgence was one of the season’s bright spots. He held off Tank Bigsby and proved he could shoulder a lead-back workload while still delivering explosive plays.
For Kansas City, the fit makes sense on multiple levels. They need a spark in the run game.
They need someone who can take pressure off Mahomes, assuming he returns healthy. And they need a player who can create mismatches in space-something Etienne has done consistently when given the opportunity.
The Chiefs aren’t used to watching the playoffs from home. But if they want to make sure 2025 was just a blip and not the beginning of a slide, upgrading the backfield has to be near the top of the offseason priority list. Travis Etienne Jr. could be the answer they’ve been searching for.