A troubling chapter involving threats against two of the NFL’s biggest stars has taken another turn, as legal proceedings continue for Aaron Brown, the Illinois man arrested in August 2024 for threatening Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
The incident unfolded ahead of a Morgan Wallen concert at Arrowhead Stadium - home of the Kansas City Chiefs - on August 2. Before the show, a disturbing post surfaced on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), in which Brown threatened to shoot Mahomes and Kelce if they attended the concert. The two stars, along with teammate Chris Jones, were in attendance that night.
Authorities swiftly responded, and Brown was arrested and charged with making a terrorist threat in the second degree - a Class E felony. At the time, Brown was 23 years old.
Now, his attorney is pushing to have the charges dismissed, arguing that the post constituted protected speech and did not amount to a “real threat.” According to court documents, the defense claims the charges violate Brown’s First Amendment rights and due process.
Brown himself has reportedly acknowledged the gravity of the situation, calling it “a stupid, stupid, stupid mistake.” While the legal system will determine whether that mistake warrants criminal consequences, the episode underscores the serious nature of threats against public figures - especially in today’s hyper-connected world where a single post can prompt real-world security concerns.
For the Chiefs, this incident was just one of several low points in what turned out to be a nightmare 2025 season. The team’s campaign took a devastating hit on December 14, when Mahomes suffered a season-ending ACL tear during a home game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Without their leader under center, the Chiefs stumbled to a 6-11 finish - their first losing season since 2012.
That record also snapped a remarkable run of postseason dominance. From 2018 through 2024, Kansas City appeared in seven straight AFC Championship Games under Mahomes, a stretch that redefined the franchise’s identity and positioned them as the league’s gold standard.
But in 2025, that run came to a sudden and sobering halt. It was also the first time the team missed the playoffs since Andy Reid’s second season in 2014.
Now, the Chiefs face an offseason filled with more questions than answers. At the top of the list: the future of Travis Kelce. If the All-Pro tight end decides to retire, Kansas City will be tasked with replacing not just a key playmaker, but a foundational piece of their offense and locker room culture.
Beyond Kelce, the roster needs a serious refresh. The wide receiver group lacked consistency and explosiveness throughout the season, and the backfield could use a boost as well. For the first time in years, Kansas City’s front office is staring down a major roster overhaul - something they’ve largely avoided during the Mahomes-Reid era thanks to elite quarterback play and a stable core.
But with Mahomes rehabbing, Kelce potentially hanging up the cleats, and the rest of the AFC getting stronger, the Chiefs are entering a pivotal offseason. The standard in Kansas City has been championship-or-bust for nearly a decade. If they want to reclaim that status in 2026, the work starts now.