The Kansas City Chiefs finished the 2025 season 6-11, good for third in the AFC West, and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Adding to the misery, quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The quarterback seems intent on returning by Week 1 of the 2026 season. However, the Chiefs likely won't be taking any chances with Mahomes, and if he's not completely ready, he could miss some time.
With Mahomes' timeline unclear, Fox Sports' Greg Auman predicts the Chiefs will sign quarterback Russell Wilson in free agency.
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"He went 0-3 as a New York starter, and after making $10 million this past season, he might draw half that. ... Go back to 2024, he had 16 touchdowns against five interceptions while going 6-5 for the Steelers, and that's the hope for a team that brings him in as a stopgap," Auman wrote.
Wilson struggled in six appearances with the Giants last season. He completed 69 of 119 passes for 831 yards, three touchdowns, three interceptions and a 77.4 passer rating. However, turn the clock back to 2024 and Wilson's numbers with Pittsburgh showed he could still be an effective quarterback.
At 37 years old, he'll be entering his 15th season in the NFL. With 10 Pro Bowls under his belt, Wilson would at least be a more experienced option than Jake Haener and Chris Oladokun, who are the only other quarterbacks other than Mahomes that the Chiefs have under contract going into 2026.
Wilson is projected by Spotrac to earn a one-year, $5.7 million deal.