The 2025 season has been anything but smooth for Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. What started with championship hopes has unraveled into a campaign defined by injuries, inconsistency, and a rare early exit from playoff contention.
The final blow? A Week 15 loss to the Chargers that not only eliminated the Chiefs from the postseason picture but also saw Mahomes suffer the first major injury of his career - a torn ACL.
For a player who’s been the face of the league and a symbol of durability, the injury is a gut punch. Mahomes has been remarkably resilient since taking over as Kansas City’s starter in 2018, but this was uncharted territory.
The Chiefs, already struggling to find rhythm, have now dropped four straight games, and their grip on the AFC West - once seemingly unshakable - has slipped away. The Broncos (12-3) and Chargers (11-4) have surged ahead, leaving Kansas City in unfamiliar territory: looking up in the standings.
To add to the sting, Mahomes was left off the Pro Bowl roster for the second consecutive year. That’s not something we’re used to seeing.
The AFC quarterback slots this year go to Josh Allen (Bills), Justin Herbert (Chargers), and rookie standout Drake Maye (Patriots). Mahomes, who last earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2023 - the same year he finished seventh in MVP voting - now watches from the sidelines as the league’s next generation takes the spotlight.
Still, even in a down year, Mahomes put up numbers that most quarterbacks would envy. He threw for 3,587 yards and 22 touchdowns, and his legs remained a weapon, adding 422 rushing yards and five more scores. But in the context of his own lofty standards - and the Chiefs’ recent dominance - it wasn’t enough to keep Kansas City in the hunt.
This offseason could be one of the most pivotal in recent franchise history. The Mahomes era isn’t over by any stretch, but the Chiefs are facing a moment of reckoning.
With the AFC West getting stronger and Mahomes recovering from a serious injury, the front office has some big decisions to make. How do they retool the roster?
Where do they invest? And how do they ensure that this season is a blip, not the beginning of a downward trend?
Meanwhile, there’s a major shift brewing off the field. The Chiefs have officially confirmed plans to leave Missouri once their lease with Jackson County expires in 2031.
That means six more seasons at Arrowhead Stadium - a place they’ve called home since 1972 - before crossing state lines to Kansas. Lawmakers have already greenlit the project: a $3 billion dome stadium, with the state covering 60% of the cost through nearly $2.4 billion in bonds.
The move is massive. Arrowhead is one of the most iconic venues in the NFL, known for its deafening crowd and rich history.
But the new stadium promises modern amenities and year-round use, a potential game-changer for the franchise's long-term business model. It’s a bold step, and one that signals the Chiefs are thinking big - even as they navigate a challenging moment on the field.
So yes, the 2025 season ends in disappointment for Mahomes and the Chiefs. But in Kansas City, the story is far from over. The next chapter will be shaped by how they respond to adversity - and whether they can once again rise to the top of a conference that’s only getting tougher.