If you’re frantically scrolling through your TV guide right now trying to figure out what channel.is kansas city chiefs on, I’ve got some news that might sting a little. You can stop looking. Honestly, the reason you can't find Patrick Mahomes or Travis Kelce on your screen today—January 13, 2026—isn't because of a weird streaming blackout or a last-minute schedule change.
The Kansas City Chiefs are officially done for the season.
It feels weird to even type that. For the first time in nearly a decade, the "Kingdom" isn't preparing for a playoff run. After seven straight years of Mahomes leading this team deep into January and February, the 2025-26 season ended with a thud in Las Vegas.
The Brutal Reality of the 2025-26 Season
The Chiefs finished their regular season on January 4, 2026, with a narrow 14-12 loss to the Raiders. That game was on CBS, which has been the primary home for the AFC for years. But that loss was the final nail. They finished with a 6-11 record. Yeah, you read that right. From Super Bowl favorites to double-digit losses.
Because they missed the playoffs entirely, there is no channel for the Chiefs today. While teams like the Bills, Texans, and Broncos are moving into the Divisional Round, the guys in Kansas City are likely already booking tee times or heading to the beach.
🔗 Read more: When is Georgia's next game: The 2026 Bulldog schedule and what to expect
Where did the games go?
During the regular season, tracking what channel.is kansas city chiefs on was actually getting pretty complicated. The NFL's broadcasting deals are a total maze now. If you were following them this year, you probably had to jump between five different apps.
- CBS and Paramount+: This was the "usual" spot. Most Sunday afternoon games lived here.
- NBC and Peacock: They handled the primetime Sunday Night Football slots, like that Week 3 game against the Giants.
- FOX: Usually an NFC network, but they grab "cross-flexed" games occasionally. They had the Week 2 Super Bowl rematch against the Eagles.
- ESPN/ABC: Monday Night Football.
- Amazon Prime Video: The exclusive home of Thursday Night Football. The Chiefs had a rough Thanksgiving Day game here against Dallas.
- Netflix: This was the big new player this year. They had the Christmas Day games, including the Chiefs vs. Broncos matchup.
Why the Chiefs Missed the Postseason
It’s the question everyone in Missouri (and half the football world) is asking. How does a team with this much talent fall so far?
Injuries played a massive part, but honestly, the offense just looked out of sync for most of the year. The defense, usually a bedrock under Steve Spagnuolo, had some uncharacteristic collapses in late-game situations. Losing six of their last seven games is something we just haven't seen from a Mahomes-led squad.
The "playoff picture" for 2026 looks very different without them. Instead of seeing the arrowhead logo on CBS this weekend, you’re going to see the Buffalo Bills taking on the Denver Broncos on Saturday, January 17.
💡 You might also like: Vince Carter Meme I Got One More: The Story Behind the Internet's Favorite Comeback
How to Watch the Rest of the NFL Playoffs
Even though our search for what channel.is kansas city chiefs on ended in a "not found" error, the rest of the league is still playing for a ring. If you’re a football junkie who just wants to watch the best athletes on the planet, here is where the postseason action is happening:
Divisional Round (Jan 17-18, 2026)
The games are spread across FOX, CBS, NBC, and ESPN/ABC. Specifically, the Saturday night game is usually a big NBC/Peacock production, while the Sunday afternoon slots are split between CBS and FOX depending on which conference is the "home" team.
Conference Championships (Jan 25, 2026)
The AFC Championship will be on CBS at 3:00 PM ET.
The NFC Championship will follow on FOX at 6:30 PM ET.
Super Bowl LX (Feb 8, 2026)
This year, the Big Game is heading to Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. NBC has the broadcast rights for this one. You’ll be able to stream it on Peacock if you’ve cut the cord.
📖 Related: Finding the Best Texas Longhorns iPhone Wallpaper Without the Low-Res Junk
Future Outlook: When will the Chiefs be back on TV?
We won't see the Chiefs back on a major network until the 2026 preseason starts in August. Usually, those early games land on local stations like KSHB-NBC in the Kansas City market or NFL Network for the national audience.
It’s going to be a long off-season of speculation. Expect plenty of talk about roster restructuring and maybe some big moves in the draft. The NFL is better when the Chiefs are in the mix, so the league's TV partners are probably just as bummed as the fans that the ratings-magnet team is sitting at home.
If you are looking for live sports today, you’re basically looking at NBA or NHL regular season games. The NFL is currently in that quiet mid-week lull between the Wild Card and Divisional rounds.
Basically, keep your jerseys in the closet for a few months. Use this time to upgrade your streaming setup so when the 2026-27 season kicks off, you aren't stuck wondering what channel.is kansas city chiefs on five minutes before kickoff. Check your subscriptions for Paramount+, Peacock, and Amazon Prime, because the "fragmented" TV landscape isn't going away anytime soon.
Check your local listings for "NFL Replay" on the NFL Network if you're really feeling nostalgic for the better days of the season, but otherwise, the live broadcast schedule is blank for KC until the summer.