Chiefs Facing Offseason of Change: Kafka Could Return as OC, Mahomes and Kelce Futures Uncertain
The Kansas City Chiefs are staring down a stretch of uncertainty that could reshape the franchise as we know it. With the team sitting at 6-8 and on the brink of missing the postseason for the first time since 2014, big decisions loom - from the coaching staff to the future of two of the franchise's most iconic players.
Let’s start with the coaching situation. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, the Chiefs are eyeing New York Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka as a potential replacement for offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, should Nagy depart after the season. Nagy is in the final year of his deal and is reportedly drawing interest for head coaching and play-calling opportunities elsewhere.
Kafka, despite an 0-4 record since stepping in for Brian Daboll in New York, is no stranger to Kansas City. He was with the Chiefs from 2017 to 2021, working closely with Patrick Mahomes as quarterbacks coach.
He was on the staff during the team’s 2019 Super Bowl run - a season that helped cement Mahomes as one of the league’s elite. If Nagy moves on, Kafka returning to Kansas City would bring back a familiar voice, one who understands the offensive DNA Reid has cultivated over the past decade.
Speaking of Reid, while he turns 68 in March, he’s expected to return in 2026, per the same report. That’s a stabilizing factor amid what could be a turbulent offseason. But even Reid’s presence doesn’t guarantee continuity - especially with the uncertainty surrounding Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
Mahomes, the three-time MVP and face of the franchise, suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 15. There’s no official word yet on whether he’ll be ready for Week 1 next season.
That’s a massive question mark for a team that has built its identity around his playmaking ability. Without Mahomes, everything changes - the scheme, the tempo, the ceiling.
In the short term, Gardner Minshew will start in Week 16 against the Titans. Chris Oladokun, who’s been with the team since 2022 but hasn’t thrown a regular-season pass, will back him up. It’s a far cry from the Mahomes-led juggernaut we’ve grown accustomed to.
Then there’s Kelce. The veteran tight end, who turned 36 in October, hasn’t made a decision about his future.
He’s still producing - 67 catches for 797 yards and five touchdowns this season - but he’s openly acknowledged that retirement is on the table. If he walks away, the Chiefs lose more than just a reliable target.
They lose a locker room leader, a matchup nightmare, and a player who’s been Mahomes’ most trusted weapon for nearly a decade.
The Chiefs wrap up their regular season with games against the Titans, Broncos, and Raiders. They need to win at least one to avoid their first 10-loss season since 2012 - the year before Reid arrived and changed the trajectory of the franchise. That stat alone underscores just how consistent Kansas City has been under his leadership.
But this year feels different. Injuries, inconsistency, and offensive struggles have all added up to a season that’s fallen well short of expectations. Whether that’s a one-year blip or the start of a new chapter depends on how the next few months unfold.
One thing’s for sure: the Chiefs are heading into an offseason full of big decisions. And the moves they make - from the sideline to the huddle - could define the next era of Kansas City football.