For the first time in over a decade, the Kansas City Chiefs are on the outside looking in when it comes to the postseason. That’s right - the reigning AFC champions won’t be part of the playoff picture for the first time since 2014, marking just the second time in the Andy Reid era that they’ve missed the dance. And while Patrick Mahomes’ torn ACL in Week 15 was a gut punch, the reality is the season was already slipping away well before that.
At 6-9, the Chiefs are staring down the possibility of a top-10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft - a sentence that would’ve seemed unthinkable this time last year. For a team that’s been the gold standard in the AFC for the better part of a decade, it’s a stunning fall from grace.
But make no mistake: this isn’t the end of the Reid-Mahomes era. Not yet.
Despite some recent speculation about Andy Reid’s future, all signs point to him returning to the sideline in 2026. According to league insiders, the 67-year-old isn’t planning to retire, and the Chiefs fully expect him back next season.
That’s significant. Reid remains one of the most respected minds in the game, and his presence alone gives Kansas City a foundation to rebuild from, even after a turbulent year.
That said, changes could be coming - and not just on the field. The coaching staff may look different next season, starting with offensive coordinator Matt Nagy.
Nagy, who returned to Kansas City after his stint as Bears head coach, opted not to sign an extension this past offseason. Now, he’s set to hit the market, and he’s expected to be a hot name in the upcoming coaching carousel.
If Nagy lands a head coaching job - or even a play-calling role elsewhere - Reid will be in the market for a new OC. And that opens the door to some familiar names.
Eric Bieniemy, who helped architect some of the most explosive offenses in recent memory during his previous run in Kansas City, could be a candidate. So could Mike Kafka, currently the interim head coach of the New York Giants and another former Reid assistant.
Both have deep ties to the Chiefs’ system and would offer continuity in a year where stability might be more valuable than ever.
As for the idea of Reid coaching anywhere else? That feels far-fetched.
While there’s always chatter - like the recent suggestion that Reid could return to the NFC East and take over the Giants to “stick it” to the Eagles - there’s no real traction behind that kind of move. Reid has built something special in Kansas City, and even in a down year, the idea of him walking away from Mahomes and the infrastructure he’s helped shape seems unlikely.
Yes, the Giants could use a coach with Reid’s résumé. Who wouldn’t want a three-time Super Bowl champion with a Hall of Fame-caliber career and a proven ability to develop quarterbacks? But the situation in New York is messy, and at this stage in Reid’s career, starting from scratch with a rebuilding franchise doesn’t make a lot of sense.
So while the Chiefs’ season ends in disappointment, there’s no need to sound the alarm just yet. Mahomes will be back.
Reid will be back. And if the front office can make the right moves - both on the coaching staff and the roster - Kansas City has the pieces to bounce back in 2026.
For now, it’s a rare winter without playoff football in Arrowhead. But don’t expect that to become the new normal.