If you’re a member of the Kingdom, the last few months have felt like a fever dream you can’t wake up from. For years, losing was something that happened to other teams—the Raiders, the Chargers, basically anyone not wearing red and gold. But as of January 2026, the math has changed significantly.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a gut punch. After a decade of dominance that felt like it would never end, the 2025 season just wrapped up, and it was... well, it was a mess. Between a shocking losing record this past year and the decades of history that came before the Patrick Mahomes era, the numbers are higher than most new fans realize.
How Many Games Has The Kansas City Chiefs Lost in Total?
Let’s get the big, ugly number out of the way first.
As of the conclusion of the 2025-2026 regular season, the Kansas City Chiefs have lost a grand total of 426 regular-season games in their franchise history.
Now, if you want to be a completionist about it, you have to factor in the postseason too. The Chiefs have appeared in 48 playoff games over the years. They’ve won 26 of those, which means they have 22 playoff losses.
When you combine the regular season and the playoffs, the franchise has walked off the field as the loser 448 times since they started as the Dallas Texans back in 1960.
The 2025 Season: A Massive Statistical Outlier
We have to talk about what just happened because it’s why everyone is suddenly asking about these stats. The 2025 season was a disaster.
The Chiefs finished with a 6-11 record.
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Think about that for a second. Before this year, Andy Reid had never even had a losing season in Kansas City. Not one. Since he arrived in 2013, the team was a model of consistency. But 2025 broke the streak. It was the first time since 2012 (the 2-14 "dark year") that this team finished below .500.
What went wrong? A lot.
- The Mahomes Injury: The ACL tear in Week 15 against the Chargers was the final nail in the coffin.
- The Close Calls: They lost nine games by seven points or less. Basically, if a few bounces had gone their way, we wouldn't even be having this conversation.
- Divisional Woes: For the first time in over a decade, the Broncos and Chargers both swept them.
It’s weird seeing "6-11" next to the Chiefs' logo. It feels wrong, like seeing a cat bark.
Why the All-Time Loss Count is Actually Deceiving
If you look at the total losses and think, "Wow, 448 losses sounds like a lot," you’ve gotta put it in perspective. The Chiefs have been around for 66 seasons.
When you average it out, they lose about 6.4 games a year. In a league designed for parity, that’s actually elite.
But the "how many games has the Kansas City Chiefs lost" question hits differently depending on which "era" you’re looking at. The history of this team is basically a three-act play: the legendary early years with Hank Stram, the "almost" years with Marty Schottenheimer, and the modern dynasty.
The Era of "Martyball" and Postseason Heartbreak
Between 1993 and 2017, the Chiefs were actually a very good regular-season team. They just couldn't win when it mattered. They lost 10 out of 12 playoff games during that stretch.
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I still remember the 1995 divisional loss to the Colts. The "Lin Elliott game." Three missed field goals. A 13-3 season down the drain. Those are the losses that stay with a fanbase longer than a random Week 4 blowout.
The Andy Reid / Patrick Mahomes Safety Net
Before 2025, the Mahomes era was statistically ridiculous.
Between 2018 and 2024, the team was losing an average of only three or four games a year. They went to seven straight AFC Championship games. When you win that much, the "total loss" counter barely moves.
Even with the 11 losses from this past season, Andy Reid’s winning percentage in KC is still mind-boggling. He’s sitting at 149 regular-season wins and only 61 losses with the Chiefs.
Breaking Down the Losses by Decade
To really understand the trajectory, you have to see where the bulk of these Ls came from. The late 70s and the late 2000s were... rough.
- The 1970s: After winning Super Bowl IV, the team aged out fast. They had a 2-12 season in 1977.
- The 2000s: This was the era of Herm Edwards and Todd Haley. In 2008 and 2012, they hit rock bottom with 2-14 records. Those two seasons alone account for 28 losses.
- The 2020s: Until 2025, this was the winningest decade in franchise history.
Does a Losing Season Change the Legacy?
Some people are already calling this the "end of the dynasty." Honestly? That feels premature.
Patrick Mahomes is still Patrick Mahomes. Even with the ACL injury, the medical staff expects him back for camp. Andy Reid isn't going anywhere. But 2025 proved that the Chiefs are, in fact, human. They can be beat, and they can have "bad" years just like the Patriots did after Brady left.
Comparing the Chiefs to the Rest of the AFC West
If you're feeling down about the 448 total losses, just look at the neighbors.
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The Raiders and Broncos have both had significantly more "bottom-out" years recently. Even with the Chiefs' 11 losses this year, they still hold the crown for the most division titles in the last decade.
The Chargers? Well, they’re the Chargers. They find creative ways to lose. The Chiefs, even in a "down" year, were competitive in almost every game. That’s the difference between a bad team and a great team having a bad year.
What to Watch for in 2026
The focus now shifts to how they rebound. History shows that when the Chiefs lose big, they usually come back swinging.
After that 2-14 season in 2012, they hired Reid and went 11-5 the very next year. The 2026 season will likely be about "re-stocking," as Reid put it recently. They have the draft capital, and they have the core.
Final Stats for the Record Books
If you need the quick "cheat sheet" for your next bar argument, here is the breakdown of how many games the Kansas City Chiefs have lost as of today:
- Regular Season Losses: 426
- Playoff Losses: 22
- Super Bowl Losses: 3 (I, LV, and LIX)
- Worst Season: 2008 & 2012 (14 losses each)
- Most Recent Season (2025): 11 losses
The total tally of 448 losses is a lot of Sunday afternoons ending in frustration, but when you weigh it against four Super Bowl rings and the current state of the roster, most fans would take that trade in a heartbeat.
Keep an eye on the 2026 draft. The Chiefs are picking in the top 15 for the first time in a decade, and that’s a scary prospect for the rest of the league. They aren't just losing; they're reloading.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Check the 2026 NFL Draft order; the Chiefs’ 6-11 record gives them a much higher pick than usual (likely 9th or 10th overall).
- Monitor Patrick Mahomes’ recovery updates through the official Chiefs training staff reports; his return timeline is the single most important factor for the 2026 loss total.
- Look for coaching staff changes in the defensive secondary, as that was a primary culprit for the late-game losses in the 2025 season.