Chiefs eye rebound in 2026 as Mahomes returns from ACL injury
Kansas City aims to bounce back in 2026 after a 6-11 season, with Patrick Mahomes back from an ACL tear and a revamped roster.
The Kansas City Chiefs entered 2026 under intense scrutiny after a 6-11 record in 2025, their first playoff miss since 2014, and a season-ending ACL tear to quarterback Patrick Mahomes in Week 15. In the offseason the franchise bolstered the offense by signing running back Kenneth Walker III to a three-year contract, re-upping tight end Travis Kelce, and extending Mahomes through 2033, while also adding safety Alohi Gilman, defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga, cornerbacks Kader Kohou and Kaiir Elam, and re-signing L’Jarius Sneed and Emmanuel Ogbah.
The secondary lost cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams and safety Bryan Cook to Cincinnati, with Isiah Pacheco and Hollywood Brown also departing. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo retains a strong front seven anchored by Chris Jones and Creed Humphrey, hoping the new backs will shore up past deficiencies. Betting markets list the Chiefs at 10.5 wins, but analysts caution that Mahomes’ recovery and a tougher AFC West make an 11-win season doubtful. The author suggests avoiding Chiefs bets, perhaps taking the under on the win total.
Why it matters
The Chiefs' performance will influence AFC West dynamics and betting markets after a rare losing season.
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