Patrick Mahomes isn’t just a player. He’s a glitch in the system. Honestly, if you grew up watching the Kansas City Chiefs quarterbacks of the late 90s or the mid-2000s, what you're seeing now feels like a fever dream. For decades, this franchise was where veteran quarterbacks went to have one last respectable run before retirement. It was a "safe" place. Then 2017 happened, and the entire trajectory of the organization shifted from "competitive enough" to a global dynasty.
But here is the thing. Most people think the history of the position in KC starts and ends with Mahomes. That's a mistake.
To really understand why the current era is so insane, you have to look at the weird, sometimes frustrating, and occasionally legendary path the team took to get here. We're talking about a timeline that spans from Hall of Famer Len Dawson to the "quarterback graveyard" years, and finally to the greatest to ever do it.
The Dawson Era and the Long Cold Front
Len Dawson was the original "Lenny the Cool." He didn't just play; he navigated the field with a cigarette in his hand during halftime of Super Bowl I. Legend behavior. Dawson led the Chiefs to three AFL championships and that iconic Super Bowl IV victory over the Vikings. He held nearly every meaningful record for the franchise for over 40 years.
He was the gold standard. 237 touchdowns. 28,507 yards.
Then, the lights went out.
From 1975 until the late 80s, the Chiefs basically forgot how to draft a quarterback. They tried Todd Blackledge in 1983—taking him over Dan Marino and Jim Kelly. Yeah. It hurts just to type that. Blackledge struggled, and the team entered a cycle of relying on other people’s leftovers. It became the team’s identity. They didn't grow their own stars; they bought them used.
Why the "Veteran Rental" Strategy Kinda Worked
For a long time, the Chiefs were the NFL’s best reclamation project. You’ve probably heard of Joe Montana, right? When he came over from San Francisco in 1993, people thought he was washed. He wasn’t. He dragged the Chiefs to an AFC Championship game, something the city hadn't seen since the moon landing.
It wasn't just Joe.
- Steve DeBerg played with a literal pin in his broken finger and still threw for over 3,400 yards in 1990.
- Trent Green was a statistical monster, put up three straight 4,000-yard seasons in the early 2000s, but could never quite get over the playoff hump.
- Alex Smith was the ultimate "Game Manager" who eventually proved he was way more than that, leading the team to winning seasons and setting the table for the kid from Texas Tech.
Basically, the Chiefs were always good. They were rarely dominant. They had guys who could win you ten games but wouldn't necessarily win you the Super Bowl. It was a frustrating "purgatory of the pretty good."
The Patrick Mahomes Shift
When the Chiefs traded up to the 10th pick in 2017 to grab Mahomes, the "expert" consensus was mixed. Some thought he was too reckless. Too "Air Raid."
They were wrong.
By the time 2026 rolled around, Mahomes had already rewritten the record books. We're talking about 17 playoff wins (and counting), three Super Bowl MVPs, and two league MVPs. He didn't just break Len Dawson's records; he shattered them. As of early 2026, Mahomes sits at 35,939 passing yards and 267 touchdowns. He surpassed Dawson's touchdown record while playing in dozens fewer games.
It’s actually stupid.
But it hasn't been a perfect ride lately. The 2025 season was a reality check. Mahomes dealt with a nagging injury that forced him to miss time in December, leading to a weird stretch where Chris Oladokun and Gardner Minshew had to step in. It reminded fans of the "dark ages" before 2017. Even a god-tier quarterback is human.
What Really Happened With the "Three-Peat"
The talk of the town in late 2024 and 2025 was the elusive "Three-Peat." No team in the Super Bowl era had ever won three in a row. The Chiefs had the chance in Super Bowl LIX, but they fell short against the Eagles.
It was a 40-22 loss that felt like the end of an era.
Following that, the roster started to leak. Travis Kelce is staring down retirement in early 2026. Isiah Pacheco's injury history is catching up to him. The coaching staff is seeing turnover. Yet, as long as number 15 is under center, the Chiefs are still the team everyone is terrified to play in January.
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The Backup Carousel You Didn't Notice
While everyone focuses on the starters, the Chiefs' backup room has been a fascinatng "who's who" of NFL survivors.
Chad Henne's 98-yard drive against the Browns in the 2020 playoffs is basically local folklore now. Then you had Matt Moore stepping in during the 2019 season to keep the ship afloat. Most recently, the 2025 season saw Gardner Minshew and Chris Oladokun trying to navigate the offense while Mahomes rehabbed.
Oladokun actually started two games in 2025, which was a wild "emergency" situation most people didn't see coming. It just goes to show that even a dynasty needs a solid insurance policy.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're looking at the future of the Kansas City Chiefs quarterbacks, don't just look at the stats. Look at the context.
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- Watch the Offensive Line: Historically, Chiefs QBs like Bill Kenney (sacked 195 times) failed because the line was a sieve. Mahomes' longevity depends entirely on whether the front office keeps the pocket clean as he enters his 30s.
- Post-Kelce Adaptation: The "safety valve" era is ending. 2026 will be the first year where the QB has to rely almost entirely on young speedsters like Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice without the Hall of Fame security blanket at Tight End.
- The Reid Factor: Andy Reid is the common denominator. Whether it was Alex Smith or Mahomes, Reid's system produces efficiency. If Reid retires soon, the QB performance—even Mahomes'—will likely see a shift in "style" if not "output."
The dynasty isn't dead, but it's evolving. The days of "Lenny the Cool" and the veteran rentals are long gone, replaced by a standard that is almost impossible to maintain. But that's the thing about Kansas City. They've spent 60 years figuring out how to get it right. They aren't going to let it go easily.
Track the offseason movements regarding the backup QB position and the restructuring of veteran contracts. These small moves usually dictate whether the Chiefs stay on top or slide back into the middle of the pack. Focus on the development of the 2026 draft class to see if they're finally looking for a long-term project to develop behind Mahomes.