The Kansas City Chiefs are in a spot they haven't been in for over a decade. It feels weird even saying it. For the first time since 2014, the Kingdom isn't bracing for a deep January playoff run. No frozen tailgates at Arrowhead this week. No Patrick Mahomes magic in the Divisional Round.
Honestly, the "who does Chiefs play next" question has a bit of a sting to it right now because the answer isn't a playoff opponent. It's the 2026 offseason. After a grueling 2025 campaign that ended with a 6-11 record and a final Week 18 loss to the Raiders, the Chiefs are officially in rebuilding mode.
The gear has shifted from "Who are we beating in the AFC Championship?" to "Who is on the schedule for next September?" It is a massive adjustment for a fan base used to February parades.
Who Does Chiefs Play Next and When Is the Kickoff?
If you are looking for a game on the calendar right now, you won't find one. The Chiefs' season ended on January 4, 2026, in Las Vegas. While the rest of the AFC is currently tearing each other apart in the Divisional Round—with the Denver Broncos hosting the Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots facing the Houston Texans—Kansas City is watching from the couch.
The next time you’ll see the Chiefs in a meaningful game will be August 2026 for the preseason.
The official NFL schedule release usually drops in May. That is when we get the actual dates and times. However, because the NFL uses a rotating formula, we already know exactly which teams will be lining up across from Mahomes and Andy Reid next year.
Since the Chiefs finished third in the AFC West, their "strength of schedule" pairings are locked in against other third-place finishers. It’s a bit of a silver lining; a losing season typically nets you a slightly "easier" path the following year.
The 2026 Home Opponents at GEHA Field
Arrowhead is going to see some heavy hitters next year. Even in a "down" year, the ticket demand in Kansas City doesn't really dip, and the 2026 home slate is spicy.
First, you’ve got the usual divisional suspects. The Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, and Las Vegas Raiders will all make their annual trip to the loudest stadium in the world. But the out-of-division matchups are where things get interesting.
The San Francisco 49ers are coming to town. That’s a Super Bowl rematch that always carries a lot of weight, regardless of the records. You’ve also got the New York Jets and the New England Patriots making the trip to KC.
- Division Rivals: Broncos, Raiders, Chargers
- AFC East Foes: New York Jets, New England Patriots
- NFC West Visitors: San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals
- The Rotation Game: Indianapolis Colts
The Colts game is a result of that third-place finish. Since both Indy and KC ended up in that third slot in their respective AFC divisions, they’re paired up for 2026.
Road Trips and the 17th Game
Pack your bags. The 2026 road schedule is a gauntlet of tough environments and long flights. The Chiefs will be traveling to face the Buffalo Bills in what has become the NFL's premier modern rivalry. Going into Highmark Stadium is never easy, especially if that game lands in November or December.
They also have to head to South Beach to take on the Miami Dolphins. Speed vs. Speed.
One of the more unique aspects of the 2026 schedule is the "17th game." This is the extra cross-conference game the NFL added a few years back. For 2026, the AFC West is paired with the NFC South. Since the Chiefs finished third, they draw the third-place finisher from the NFC South: the Atlanta Falcons.
The NFL rotates which conference gets the extra home game each year. In 2026, the NFC gets nine home games. That means the Chiefs will be heading to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for that 17th matchup.
2026 Road Opponents List:
- Denver Broncos
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Buffalo Bills
- Miami Dolphins
- Seattle Seahawks
- Los Angeles Rams
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Atlanta Falcons
That trip to Cincinnati is another "placement" game. The Bengals finished third in the AFC North, so Mahomes and Burrow will link up once again. It’s a game the networks will almost certainly fight over for a primetime slot.
Why the 2025 Season Went Sideways
You can't talk about who the Chiefs play next without acknowledging how they got here. It was a weird year. Mahomes threw for over 4,000 yards, but the turnovers were uncharacteristic. The defense, which had been the backbone of the 2023 and 2024 runs, struggled to stop the run consistently.
Injuries played a massive role too. Losing key pieces of the offensive line in October forced the Chiefs to rely on "bubble" players who just weren't ready for the speed of the NFL. By the time December rolled around, the team looked gapped.
📖 Related: NE Patriots Roster 2017: Why This Squad Was Weirder Than You Remember
They lost six of their last seven games. That’s not a typo. A 6-11 finish for a team that was recently chasing a three-peat is jarring. But in the NFL, the cliff comes fast.
The Mahomes Factor and the 2026 Draft
So, who does Chiefs play next in the front office? That’s Brett Veach’s problem now. With a 6-11 record, the Chiefs are looking at a top-10 draft pick.
This is uncharted territory for the current era. Usually, the Chiefs are picking 31st or 32nd. Picking in the top 10 gives them a chance to grab a blue-chip tackle or a generational wide receiver to pair with Rashee Rice.
The focus for the next six months is purely on roster construction. They need to get younger on the defensive interior and find a consistent second option in the passing game. Travis Kelce's role is naturally evolving as he gets older, and the team needs to find that next perennial Pro Bowl threat.
Practical Steps for Chiefs Fans Right Now
While there is no game this Sunday, there is plenty for a fan to track. The first thing you should do is keep an eye on the Divisional Round results this weekend. Why? Because the coaching carousel is about to start spinning.
Teams that get eliminated often start looking for new coordinators, and Andy Reid’s tree is always a target. If the Chiefs lose more staff, it changes the dynamic of the 2026 preparation.
- Watch the Draft Order: The official draft order will be set after the Super Bowl, but the Chiefs' slot is already mostly solidified in the top 10.
- Monitor Free Agency: March is when the "Who Does Chiefs Play Next" question gets answered in terms of personnel. They have significant cap space for the first time in years.
- Schedule Release: Mark your calendars for mid-May. That is when we find out if that Buffalo game is a Week 1 headliner or a late-season snow bowl.
The 2025 season was a reality check. But with Patrick Mahomes under center and a high draft pick on the way, the 2026 schedule looks like a prime opportunity for a "revenge tour" style comeback.
Start looking into travel for that Atlanta game or the SoFi Stadium takeover in LA. The 2026 season will be here before you know it, and the road back to the top starts with a very long, very busy spring in Kansas City.