The Chiefs’ penalty profile over the last five seasons paints a rough picture, and the numbers show trouble on both sides of the ball.
Looking at the 2021-25 stretch to smooth out any weird spikes, Locker ranked the five best and worst teams in each category. In the total penalty count, the Dallas Cowboys sat at the top of the NFL with 756. Kansas City wasn’t far behind, landing fifth with 667.
Buffalo was just ahead of the Chiefs with 674, but Locker pointed out an important wrinkle: both Kansas City and Buffalo had the kind of offense that could erase a bad flag in a hurry with chunk plays.
What stands out is that the Chiefs didn’t show up among the league’s highest offensive penalty-rate teams. Their playmakers kept them out of that group, which included the Cleveland Browns, the New York Gians and several other struggling offenses. Kansas City also stayed out of the highest defensive penalty-rate group.
The problem areas were more specific, and they were ugly. On offsides and neutral zone infractions, the Chiefs ranked fourth worst, a number that figures to draw attention in training camp.
They were also near the top in defensive pass interference penalties. The Detroit Lions led that category, but Kansas City was right behind them with 70, a number that helps explain why the team chose to overhaul its secondary despite the reputation of former defensive backs Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson and Bryan Cook.
Another red flag came in the most important downs. The Chiefs were third in penalties on third- and fourth-down situations with 257. That points to a defense that had trouble getting off the field, and an offense that wasn’t explosive enough to consistently overcome its own mistakes with the kind of chunk plays Kansas City has been known for in the past.
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