Winning in the NFL is hard. Staying at the top is basically impossible. For years, the Kansas City Chiefs made it look like a walk in the park, rattling off Super Bowl rings and AFC West titles like they were checking off a grocery list. But then 2025 happened.
Honestly, if you looked at the kansas city chief stats from the last few seasons, you’d see a team that seemed invincible. They were the first back-to-back champs in two decades. Patrick Mahomes was playing like a video game character with the "cheat codes" turned on. Then the wheels didn't just wobble; they sort of fell off. The 2025 season wrapped up with a 6-11 record. Yeah, you read that right.
Six wins.
For the first time since 2012, the Chiefs finished with a losing record. They didn't just miss the Super Bowl; they missed the playoffs entirely. It was a weird, jarring reality check for a fan base that has spent the last half-decade planning parades in February.
The Mahomes Metric: Numbers That Don't Lie
Patrick Mahomes is still the best quarterback on the planet, but even he couldn't outrun the chaos of 2025. He finished the season with 3,587 passing yards. In any other universe, that’s a solid year. For Mahomes? It’s the lowest full-season total of his career as a starter.
He threw 22 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. To put that in perspective, he had 11 interceptions in 2024 too, but he had nearly 4,000 yards and way more "magic" moments. In 2025, the magic felt... thin. His passer rating dipped to 89.6.
The struggle wasn't just about his arm, though. He was sacked 34 times.
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That’s a lot of hits for a guy you’re paying half a billion dollars to keep upright. The offensive line, usually a brick wall, looked more like a beaded curtain at times. Mahomes was constantly scrambling, not because he wanted to, but because he had to. He actually led the team in "Escape Rate," which is a fancy way of saying he was running for his life on 3.4% of his dropbacks.
Travis Kelce and the Age Cliff
We have to talk about Travis Kelce. He’s 36 now. In NFL years, that’s basically being an ancient artifact.
He still put up 851 yards on 76 receptions. Most tight ends would kill for those numbers. But the kansas city chief stats show a guy who is finally human. He only found the end zone 5 times in the regular season.
There’s a specific stat that tells the story: yards per catch. Kelce averaged 11.2 yards. Back in the day, he was a lock for 13 or 14. He’s still the ultimate security blanket, and he extended his streak to 174 consecutive games with a catch, which is legendary. But he isn't stretching the seam and outrunning safeties anymore. He’s winning with veteran savvy and "old man strength."
Why the Defense Couldn't Save Them
Usually, when the offense stumbles, Steve Spagnuolo’s defense bails them out. Not this time.
The defense wasn't bad—they actually ranked 5th in points allowed (19.3 per game). That’s elite. But they couldn't generate the big play when it mattered. They were 27th in takeaways. You can’t win in today’s league if you aren't taking the ball away.
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Nick Bolton was a tackling machine again with 105 stops, but the pass rush was inconsistent. Chris Jones is still a force of nature, but teams started triple-teaming him because nobody else was winning their one-on-ones.
- Opponent 3rd Down Conversion: 43.56% (ranked 29th)
- Takeaways per Game: 0.8 (ranked 27th)
- Sack Percentage: 6.43% (ranked 20th)
Those three numbers are the smoking gun. They couldn't get off the field on third down, and they couldn't force fumbles or picks. It’s hard to win games when your defense is "bend but don't break" and your offense is "stumble and punt."
The Isiah Pacheco Workload
Isiah Pacheco is a violent runner. He runs like he’s trying to bite the grass. But injuries caught up to him in 2025. He finished with 462 rushing yards on 118 carries. That’s a 3.9 average.
When Pacheco is healthy and hitting 4.5 yards per carry, the Chiefs' play-action game is lethal. When he's stuffed for 2 yards on first down, everything becomes predictable. The team’s rushing offense ranked 25th in the league. You just can’t be that one-dimensional and expect to beat teams like the Ravens or the Bills.
One-Score Heartbreak
If you want to feel a little better about the kansas city chief stats, look at the margin of defeat.
Nine of their eleven losses were by 7 points or less.
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That is statistically insane. It means they weren't getting blown out; they were just losing the "clutch" moments they used to own. A missed field goal here, a dropped pass there, a late-game penalty... it all added up. In 2023 and 2024, they won those games. In 2025, they didn't.
The Coaching Shakeup
Andy Reid isn't going anywhere. He’s now the longest-tenured coach in the league now that Mike Tomlin and the Steelers have parted ways. But the staff around him is changing.
Matt Nagy’s contract is up, and he’s been interviewing for head coaching jobs elsewhere. There’s a lot of talk about bringing back a familiar face like Eric Bieniemy to spark the offense. Even "Spags" is getting head coaching looks again.
What This Means for 2026
The "Chiefs Kingdom" isn't crumbling, but it’s definitely under renovation. They have the 2026 draft coming up, and for the first time in forever, they actually have a decent draft pick because of that 6-11 record.
They need speed. They need a young receiver who can actually catch the ball (the drop rate in 2025 was painful). They need a left tackle who can protect Mahomes’ blind side for more than two seconds.
Don't count them out. Patrick Mahomes is still 30. He’s in his prime. If the front office can use the 2025 failure as a blueprint for what not to do, the 2026 season could be a massive revenge tour.
Actionable Steps for the Offseason
To get back to the Super Bowl, the Chiefs have to address three specific areas immediately:
- Draft a Tier-1 Vertical Threat: The offense lacks a "X" receiver who scares defensive coordinators. They need someone who forces safeties to stay deep, opening up the middle for Kelce.
- Rebuild the Tackle Rotation: Protecting Mahomes has to be the #1 priority. If he’s pressured on 30% of his dropbacks, the scheme doesn't matter.
- Prioritize Turnover Drills: The defense has to move from "stopping yards" to "taking balls." Being 27th in takeaways is unacceptable for a championship contender.
The 2025 season was a reality check. Now, the kansas city chief stats need to reflect a team that learned its lesson. Expect a very different-looking roster when camp opens in St. Joseph this summer.