The 2025 season was quite forgettable for the Kansas City Chiefs. They ended with a losing 6–11 record and were officially eliminated from playoff contention in Week 15 after a 16–13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. It ended their decade-long playoff streak.
To make matters worse, Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL in his left knee late in that Chargers game and was ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Now, with the 2026 offseason underway, the Chiefs have agreed to sign Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III to a three-year deal worth up to $45 million. He rushed for 1,027 yards and five touchdowns in the regular season before posting 65 carries for 313 yards and four touchdowns in the playoffs with the Seattle Seahawks.
And Travis Kelce's return is now official. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Chiefs agreed to give Kelce $12 million in 2026 with a chance to make $15 million on a new deal, bringing the 36-year-old tight end back in the building for his 14th season.
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It became possible to restructure Mahomes' contract. The Chiefs converted $54.45 million of Pat's 2026 salary into a signing bonus on Feb. 18 to cut his cap hit from $78.2 million to $34.65 million, freeing up $43.65 million for the upcoming season.
This is the fourth straight year the team has adjusted his contract. While it provides relief now, it also raises his 2027 cap hit to more than $85.25 million, making another restructure next year likely. This additional space helped the Chiefs re-sign Kelce, who agreed to a lower-cost deal so the team could stay under the salary cap.
That move caught the attention of Pat’s wife Brittany Mahomes. She reshared SportsCenter's post on her Instagram story, highlighting Kansas City's retooled offensive skill group that includes Mahomes, Walker, Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice, and Xavier Worthy. She tagged SportsCenter, ESPN, NFL, and Adam Schefter in her story.
However, the original SportsCenter post read, "KANSAS CITY ADDS ANOTHER ELITE PIECE TO THEIR OFFENSE. With Travis Kelce reportedly returning and Kenneth Walker III agreeing to sign with the Chiefs, Kansas City is loading up on offense."
The receiver duo in that graphic had a mixed 2025 campaign overall. Rice played only eight games, missing the first six weeks due to suspension and ending the year on injured reserve with concussion symptoms. Despite the limited time, he managed 53 receptions for 571 yards and five touchdowns.
Worthy finished his second season with 42 receptions for 532 yards and one touchdown in 14 games. While these are decent numbers for a 22-year-old, the Chiefs expect a significant jump in production now that Worthy is their WR1 for 2026.
And Brittany is having quite a busy time with Patrick in the home right now after ACL surgery, and he has said he wants to be ready for the 2026 season opener. If healthy, he'll have one of the more complete supporting casts Kansas City has assembled in years.
