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[Kansas City Chiefs]

NFL Power Rankings Week 18 Roundup: Chiefs continue descending

Following the Kansas City Chiefs’ 20-13 loss to the Denver Broncos on Christmas Day, NFL media dug the Chiefs further down the collective power rankings leading into the final week of the 2025 regular season.

Here is the sampling ahead of Week 18:

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NFL.com: 25​

(Down from 21)

If that was Travis Kelce’s home farewell, he gave Arrowhead denizens a few moments early and late in the competitive loss to Denver. It wasn’t the Super Bowl send-off the Chiefs had hoped for, but it will have to do if he is indeed done after this season. Kansas City would face identity questions this offseason without him — and with Patrick Mahomes rehabbing a major knee injury — but it could be good for this franchise to build its infrastructure a bit more and learn how to win in new ways. Andy Reid says he’ll be back in 2026, and Mahomes eventually will be, too, but it’s no certainty that the Chiefs will have anything close to the same firepower they once did.

— Eric Edholm

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ESPN: 25​

(Down from 22)

What we learned this season: The roster wasn’t as strong as the Chiefs believed in all three facets.

This was supposed to be the season that the Chiefs’ offense returned to being an elite unit. Instead, the group surrounding quarterback Patrick Mahomes couldn’t properly support him. The Chiefs’ rushing attack was historically bad, while the young receivers (Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy) didn’t progress much. On defense, the pass rush lacked production around defensive tackle Chris Jones. Even the special teams unit took a step back with kicker Harrison Butker missing nine total kicks (field goals and extra points).

— Nate Taylor

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The Athletic: 25​

(No change)

Head coach check-in: His Eagles Era?

Andy Reid is fourth all time in regular-season coaching wins (279), and he gets Patrick Mahomes back next year, but this team has a lot of other issues to fix. Reid spent 14 years in Philadelphia before the magic ended there. Next season will be Year 14 in Kansas City. The difference with the Chiefs is that he already has three Super Bowl titles. He only made one Super Bowl appearance with the Eagles.

— Josh Kendall

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Sports Illustrated: 24​

(Up from 32)

I know this isn’t technically Chiefs related, but did you know that Taylor Swift runs the equivalent of eight miles for every Eras Tour performance?

— Connor Orr

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Pro Football Talk: 25​

(Down from 22)

How quickly can they put things back together?

— Mike Florio

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CBSSports.com: 25​

(Down from 23)

They showed some fight in the loss to the Broncos, which I expected. But one more game and then it’s home for the playoffs. It just doesn’t seem right, does it?

— Pete Prisco

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Yahoo! Sports: 25​

(Down from 24)

The Chiefs played hard and nearly beat the Broncos. It’s tough when your third-string quarterback gets just 66 yards in his first career start. The funniest thing in Week 18 might be the Chiefs playing so poorly again that the Raiders somehow beat them, screwing up Las Vegas’ plan to get the first pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and some hope at quarterback. It’s possible. The Chiefs won’t generate a lot of offense and they just need the season to finish. And they probably don’t want the Raiders getting their preferred quarterback. The only motivation to win might be to send Travis Kelce out the right way, if Sunday is in fact his final NFL game before he retires.

— Frank Schwab

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The Sporting News: 24​

(Down from 21)

The Chiefs tried their best to stay in their game with the Broncos with defense given there’s not much offense, down to No. 3 Chris Oladukon at quarterback. They will try to end their five-game losing streak vs. the Raiders in Week 18.

— Vinnie Iyer

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USA Today: 26​

(No change)

The last time they endured double-digit defeats, Romeo Crennel was the coach and Matt Cassel the quarterback.

— Nate Davis

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FOX Sports: 25​

(Down from 23)

Can we just skip ahead to Travis Kelce’s retirement press conference? They’ve lost seven of eight now. It’s just getting sad.

— Ralph Vacchiano

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...gs-week-18-roundup-chiefs-continue-descending

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs News 12/31: Kansas City signs two players to practice squad

The latest​

Chiefs sign two players to practice squad

According to Tuesday’s NFL Transactions Report, the Kansas City Chiefs acquired two players for the practice squad: linebacker Kam Arnold and defensive tackle Marcus Harris.

Arnold is an undrafted rookie from Boston College who spent the offseason with the Washington Commanders before being cut at the conclusion of the preseason. Harris was a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans and also spent time with the New England Patriots during his rookie year. He spent this year’s training camp with the Buffalo Bills before trying out in Kansas City on Monday.

‘I am Worthy’: Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy inspires Kansas City youth in local program | FOX 4

The Chiefs star and his mother joined the Youth R.I.S.E. Program, a mentorship group that provides support to “justice-impacted” youth between the ages of 9 and 22.

Each week, these mentors offer consistent guidance, accountability and life-skills education to help these children and young adults envision a future beyond their current circumstances.

“This program was never about football or fame — it was about presence,” Worthy said.

“Showing up week after week, listening, being honest and reminding these young people that one moment does not define their entire life.”

“After a loss, he was here,” Worthy’s mother added. “They were like, ‘I wouldn’t have done that.’ But the fact that he did speaks volumes. So, I love seeing it and we want to continue inspiring where we can.”

Taylor Swift gave Chiefs stadium employees $600 tips for working on Christmas | 12 On Your Side

Robyn Gentry, an employee at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, shared in a Facebook post that she was working her shift on Christmas Day when she saw Swift, Travis Kelce and his mom, Donna Kelce.

“She [Swift] was running around telling everyone, ‘merry Christmas’ and came towards me, saying, ‘Thank you so much for working on Christmas, please take this, Merry Christmas,’” Gentry wrote.

Gentry said her mind “just froze,” but that she did tell Swift “Merry Christmas” and thanked her.

“Then they were gone and I stopped to look at what was in my hand…. $600. My whole paycheck for two weeks. I had just dropped that much for Christmas for 8 kids. I immediately started crying,” Gentry wrote.

New Chiefs home in Kansas will be comparable to these 4 NFL stadiums | The Topeka Capital-Journal

A seating capacity of a little more than 65,000 would be in line with the four stadiums identified in the STAR bond agreement.

The four comparable stadiums are newer than the Chiefs’ current home at Arrowhead Stadium, which opened in 1972:

State Farm Stadium, which is home to the Arizona Cardinals, opened in 2006 and has a reported capacity of about 63,000.
U.S. Bank Stadium, which is home to the Minnesota Vikings, opened in 2016 and has a reported capacity of about 67,000.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which is home to the Atlanta Falcons, opened in 2017 and has a reported capacity of about 71,000.
New Nissan Stadium, which will be home to the Tennessee Titans, is under construction and is expected to open in 2027 with about 60,000 seats.

Around the NFL​

Patriots star Stefon Diggs facing stangulation, assault charges | Boston 25 News

The judge said she’d take the request under advisement before allowing the release of a police narrative, which revealed disturbing allegations of violence against a woman who claimed to be Diggs’ personal chef. The judge also agreed to consider a request to extend Diggs’ arraignment date to March.

The veteran wide receiver is currently scheduled to be arraigned on Friday, Jan. 23, just two days before the AFC Championship game is scheduled to be played.

Additional details on the charges against Diggs weren’t disclosed during the motions hearing, but were revealed in the police report.

In a statement in response to the court hearing, a spokesperson for the Patriots announced that Diggs has denied the allegations and said the team will stand in support of him.

15 modern-era players announced as finalists for Hall of Fame Class of 2026 | NFL.com

Included on the list are four players — Willie Anderson, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri — who advanced to this stage automatically due to each candidate reaching the Final seven for election with the Class of 2025. Joining them are six other Finalists from a year ago, four first-year eligible candidates and one player in his sixth year of eligibility who is a Finalist for the first time.

The slate of candidates in the Modern-Era Players category will be considered when the Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee meets prior to Super Bowl LX. The Class of 2026 will be unveiled publicly Feb. 5 during the “NFL Honors presented by Invisalign” broadcast from the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. The program will air on NBC and NFL Network and streamed on Peacock and NFL+.

Cowboys release veteran CB Trevon Diggs | ESPN

If a team were to claim Diggs off waivers, it would be on the hook for the $472,000 he is due in base salary for Week 18, plus $58,823 if he is active this week, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. Diggs has no guaranteed money on his deal beyond this season.

The Cowboys had problems with how Diggs rehabbed in each of the past two years. The club enforced a $500,000 base salary de-escalator for 2025 when he failed to take part in 84% of the team’s voluntary offseason program. He chose to do his rehab work in South Florida instead of under the supervision of the team’s athletic training staff.

He opened training camp on the physically unable to perform list but was activated in time to play the first game of the season. He expressed the desire to play more man-to-man coverage in a meeting with defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus with the unit off to a poor start.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride​

Raiders will focus on ‘playing ball’ in season finale against Chiefs

In the teams’ last meeting in October, the Chiefs delivered their most decisive victory of the season, shutting out the Raiders 31-0. The win came during a three-game winning streak — a stretch that now feels like it was in a different season.

Even without postseason stakes, the finale still offers something both teams care about: pride, the rivalry and the opportunity to finish the season with a win.

“It’ll be fun to play them,” said Carroll. “[It’ll be] fun to go against Andy [Reid], to me. And so there’s no reason for us to think about anything other than playing ball. From the locker room, that’s what I said to them afterward: that we’ve got one week to do something special.”

Social media to make you think​

Also, if you like QB Winz as a stat, you will absolutely love OL and LS wins–seriously, tho, pretty amazing path for Joe Thuney from Pats to Chiefs to Bears

As Bill Belichick said in Pick Six column: "I think Joe’s record speaks for itself!! I can’t imagine that any player has… https://t.co/ymqm6iDxsw pic.twitter.com/B8JBDZKHHC

— Mike Sando (@SandoNFL) December 29, 2025

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Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...nsas-city-signs-two-players-to-practice-squad

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Raiders will focus on ‘playing ball’ in season finale against Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs and the Las Vegas Raiders are set to meet Sunday afternoon in the 2025 season finale. For both teams, it’s the closing chapter to a season they would rather forget. Kansas City has seen its nine-year reign as AFC West champions end, while Las Vegas has slid into a fourth consecutive losing season.

The game will feature plenty of unfamiliar faces. The Chiefs have 20 players on their Reserve/Injured list — including at least eight key contributors — and are expected to start third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun. Meanwhile, two of the Raiders’ biggest stars will miss the game with injuries: tight end Brock Bowers and defensive end Maxx Crosby.

While many fans have already turned their attention to April’s NFL Draft, both locker rooms are trying to finish the season the same way they approach any week: by preparing to compete.

“I’d like to have fun playing football, practice with a lot of energy, get ready for a game,” head coach Pete Carroll told reporters during his Monday media availability. “We’re playing Kansas City. They won the freaking division for 10 years straight — or whatever it is.”

In the teams’ last meeting in October, the Chiefs delivered their most decisive victory of the season, shutting out the Raiders 31-0. The win came during a three-game winning streak — a stretch that now feels like it was in a different season.

Even without postseason stakes, the finale still offers something both teams care about: pride, the rivalry and the opportunity to finish the season with a win.

“It’ll be fun to play them,” said Carroll. “[It’ll be] fun to go against Andy [Reid], to me. And so there’s no reason for us to think about anything other than playing ball. From the locker room, that’s what I said to them afterward: that we’ve got one week to do something special.”

After Sunday, the Chiefs and Raiders will turn the page to the offseason, hoping the 2026 finale carries far more weight. But first, there’s one more chance to line up and play ball.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...s-will-focus-on-playing-ball-in-season-finale

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs News 1/1: Dustin Colquitt named to Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

The latest​

Longest tenured Chief named to Missouri Sports Hall of Fame | KCTV5

On Wednesday, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame shared its Class of 2026, which will be enshrined Feb. 1 in Springfield.

The class includes former Kansas City Chiefs punter Dustin Colquitt, the man who has played the most games in franchise history and was a two-time Pro Bowler for Kansas City.

Colquitt was a member of the Super Bowl 54 championship team for Kansas City.

NFL Top 10 moments of 2025: Chiefs Fall, Rivers Returns, Sheduer Sanders Slides | FOX Sports

1. Chiefs eliminated, Patrick Mahomes injured

This season marked the unofficial end of Kansas City’s dynasty … at least in this iteration.

Three-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes tore the ACL and LCL in his left knee late in the fourth quarter of the Chiefs’ Week 15 game against the Chargers. Minutes later, Kansas City was eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since 2014, three years before the star quarterback was drafted.

Five NFL teams that need to upgrade their running backs rooms in free agency/2026 NFL Draft | NFL.com

Where to begin? This starts with the fact that the Chiefs have played so much football over the last seven seasons. In that span, they’ve logged 21 playoff games — that’s more than a full regular season’s worth. Fatigue has to be a factor in Kansas City’s myriad offensive problems in 2025, which have resulted in the unit’s worst statistical season in memory (20th in scoring, 17th in yards). The offensive line has struggled, and as much as I like the physicality both Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt bring to the field, they don’t often create in space. Both are efficient when given a hole, but neither earns chunk yards on his own. For proof, the Chiefs have only gained 2.8 rush yards after contact per carry this season, tied for 28th in the NFL, according to Next Gen Stats. Both Hunt (158 carries, 597 yards, eight rush TDs) and Pacheco (118 carries, 462 yards, one rush TD) are free agents this offseason. Seventh-round rookie Brashard Smith could claim a larger role going forward, but Kansas City will have to significantly overhaul this group in free agency and the draft.

2025 NFL All-Rookie team: Best first-year players by position | ESPN

Left tackle

Second team: Josh Simmons, Kansas City Chiefs. I don’t think Simmons would have knocked Banks out of the first-team spot if he had been healthy the whole season, but it sure would have been close.

Around the NFL​

New England Patriots DT Christian Barmore facing domestic assault charge | NBC News

The victim is 31-year-old woman who shares a 2-year-old daughter with Barmore, according to a report by Mansfield police Sgt. John Armstrong.

The incident allegedly happened on Aug. 8, the same day as New England’s first preseason game of the 2025 campaign. Barmore did not play in that 48-18 exhibition win over the Washington Commanders.

Barmore and the woman had been arguing that day when she tried to call for help and the player took a phone out of her hands and “threw her to the floor,” the police report said.

Packers awarded former All-Pro CB Trevon Diggs on waivers | Acme Packing Company

Diggs has a lot of ties to Green Bay. First of all, he was recruited to Alabama by Packers passing game coordinator Derrick Ansley. He’s also very close with fellow Dallas Cowboys Micah Parsons. Parsons, along with quarterback Jordan Love and safety Xavier McKinney, shares the same agent as Diggs, Athletes First’s David Mulugheta. McKinney also played with Diggs at Alabama, and head coach Matt LaFleur is also represented by Athletes First.

The addition of Diggs will cost the Packers about half a million in cap space, but now, at minimum, they’ll have a non-practice squadder available to play in the playoffs if either Keisean Nixon or Carrington Valentine end up going down.

NFL sets Streaming Record on Christmas | Front Office Sports

After another rather spirited back-and-forth between the NFL and the NBA—and their respective supporters—about who should have supremacy on Christmas, the average football viewership of 22.9 million for the tripleheader more than quadrupled the NBA’s average of 5.5 million on Disney-owned platforms for a generally strong five-game set.

One-and-done firing on the table as two NFL teams start ‘preliminary research’ into next coach | New York Post

“There are some 50/50’s out there,” Fowler said. “Cleveland, Las Vegas, those are two places I see as — they’ve done their preliminary research for a potential move. That doesn’t mean they’re locked into doing it, or that they decided yet. But those are certainly on my radar.”

In Las Vegas, former Super Bowl-winning coach Pete Carroll has led the Raiders to a league-worst 2–14 record in his first season after coming out of retirement.

The 74-year-old Carroll was brought into stabilize the franchise, but instead it has been another season of dysfunction.

Star pass rusher Maxx Crosby left the team facility last week after being told he was being put on IR.

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride​

AP Mailbag: What Chiefs players do we want to see in Week 18?

[Jalen] Royals’ early-season injury likely set him back more than many anticipated. His overlapping skill set with Smith-Schuster may have further limited opportunities — especially since the veteran stayed healthy for a full season for the first time since 2020.

There was also a clear disconnect between media evaluations and team assessments during the last draft cycle. After regularly appearing in second- and third-round mock drafts, Royals slid to Day 3, when Kansas City selected him 133rd overall. The jump in competition from Utah State to the NFL was probably a factor, too.

Perhaps the most puzzling aspect of Royals’ limited usage is that he never got a look as a kick returner, despite Kansas City’s lack of explosiveness on special teams.

Social media to make you think​

Meanwhile, in a universe not too far from our own, here are the current NFL standings if every single one-score game had the opposite result. pic.twitter.com/bCdZUrQPX2

— Bryan Knowles (@BryKno) December 31, 2025

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Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...olquitt-named-to-missouri-sports-hall-of-fame

 

[Zedster]

Tough stretch to end the season, no doubt about it. The Brashard Smith analysis is the kind of silver lining content that makes these final weeks bearable though. His receiving ability out of the backfield really does stand out - that leak concept for his first TD was classic Reid scheming, and you can see why they trust him with those designs over Hunt or Pacheco.

The power rankings slide is painful but honestly earned at this point. Dropping into the mid-20s after being the team everyone was chasing for years... that's a hard pill to swallow. The ESPN blurb about the roster not being as strong as they believed hits pretty close to home.

Nice to see Dustin Colquitt getting the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame recognition. Guy was the definition of consistency for so long in KC. Well deserved.

The Week 18 matchup against Vegas is interesting in a weird way. Both teams limping to the finish, but Carroll's quote about wanting to compete against Andy Reid shows there's still some pride on the line even in a meaningless game. Would be fitting to close out the season with a win, especially if it's Kelce's last game.

That Josh Simmons mention on the All-Rookie second team is encouraging for next year. If he can stay healthy, the offensive line should look a lot different with Mahomes back.

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs-Raiders Week 18 Thursday injury report: 4 players held out

Each practice day of the season, the Kansas City Chiefs release an official injury report leading up to the next game. In the NFL’s Week 18, the Chiefs will be on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders for a Sunday matchup at 3:25 p.m. Arrowhead Time.

Here is the Chiefs’ second official injury report of the week:

Chiefs​

Player	Ps	Injury	Wed	Thu	Fri	Status
Kareem Hunt	RB	Illness	DNP	DNP	–	–
Xavier Worthy	WR	Illness	DNP	DNP	–	–
Trey Smith	G	Ankle	DNP	DNP	–	–
James Winchester	LS	Illness	FP	DNP	–	–
Isiah Pacheco	RB	Rest	LP	LP	–	–
Jaylon Moore	T	Knee	LP	LP	–	–
George Karlaftis	DE	Rest	LP	LP	–	–
Jake Briningstool	TE	Hamstring	FP	FP	–	–
Derrick Nnadi	DT	Illness	FP	FP	–	–
Kristian Fulton	CB	Knee – Wrist	FP	FP	–	–

Raiders​

Player	Ps	Injury	Wed	Thu	Fri	Status
Geno Smith	QB	Ankle	DNP	DNP	–	–
Raheem Mostert	RB	Knee – Ankle	FP	DNP	–	–
Dylan Parham	G	Illness	DNP	DNP	–	–
Adam Butler	DT	Biceps	DNP	DNP	–	–
Jack Bech	WR	Back	FP	FP	–	–
Tyler Lockett	WR	Shoulder	–	FP	–	–

Some notes​

• The Chiefs’ list grew a little longer on Thursday, as long snapper James Winchester (illness) — a full participant on Wednesday — was held out of practice. Three other players once again did not participate, but just one of them — right guard Trey Smith (ankle) — is injured. Running back Kareem Hunt amd wide receiver Xavier Worthy are still ill.
• “He’s pushed through [with] that ankle,” said head coach Andy Reid of Smith’s injury on Monday, “and he would probably push through this game, too — but I’m most likely going to hold him back a little bit.”
• Three Kansas City players were limited participants on Thursday. Only offensive lineman Jaylon Moore (knee) is actually injured; running back Isiah Pacheco and defensive end George Karlaftis were both given rest periods.
• The Raiders had three starters who did not participate in Wednesday’s practice: Quarterback Geno Smith (ankle), defensive tackle Adam Butler (biceps) and guard Dylan Parham (illness). One more was added on Thursday: backup running back running back Raheem Mostert (knee – ankle) was downgraded from full participation.
• “I don’t think he’s going to be able to make that recovery,” said head coach Pete Carroll of Smith’s ankle injury. “We wish that he could — and I hate closing the door on any opportunity — but it’s going to be really hard for him.” Carroll added that Kenny Pickett will start in Smith’s place, but both Pickett and Aidan O’Connell will play.
• Butler’s biceps injury from the team’s Week 17 game is not as severe as first believed, but his status for Sunday’s game remains unknown.

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For the Wednesday injury report, click here.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...-18-thursday-injury-report-4-players-held-out

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

All 3 Chiefs’ coordinators reflect on disappointing 2025 season

Ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs’ season finale against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 18, the team’s three coordinators took questions from the press for the final time during the 2025 season.

Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo assured his listeners that even though neither team has a playoff stake in this game, there will be plenty at stake in Las Vegas.

“We’re fighting for some things in this last game that we want to hang our hat on,” he explained. “I’m not a big stat guy — I don’t go into them — but I hear the guys talking about it, so there’s a lot of pride there in this last game.”

The Chiefs are one of only six NFL teams that have allowed less than 20 points per game this season. If that holds, it would be the third consecutive season Kansas City has hit that benchmark — after a stretch of three years allowing 22 points per game.

With only a 6-10 record to show for it, a celebration may not be warranted. Still, Spagnuolo’s unit was a key reason many of the Chiefs’ battles remained close.

“There were some really good stretches of defense,” he noted. “I go back to the Indianapolis Colts game where we had those five or six straight three-and-outs. There were some games in there where we played winning football and helped our team get in a position to win.”

Unfortunately, Kansas City had a 1-8 record in one-score games.

“What was disappointing — I haven’t gone back and reflected on all of it — was some end-of-game defense that I would have liked to have back,” said Spagnuolo. “If we could have found a way to make one play towards the end of the game, it either would have given our offense the ball back or we would have found a way to win the game. That more than anything sticks out. If we can get better at that, I’ll be happy.”

The Chiefs’ special teams coordinator Dave Toub shared that sentiment from a different perspective.

“We just didn’t make plays,” he told reporters. “We just couldn’t get a game where we made plays to win the game — and I’m just speaking on my end of it. In the past, we’ve done that a lot of times. The way we started out in Brazil — with the fast field goal that we did? That was awesome. That was cutting-edge… then [Harrison] Butker ends up missing five kicks in September. That was like a Debbie Downer right there.”

Among the nine kicks Butker has missed in the 2025 season, five occurred in September. That set up the veteran kicker for criticism throughout the year.

“It says something that he got off to a bad start,” said Toub, “[and] then it was always there: the doubt, ‘Is he going to make it or is he not?’ Then he had a good string in October and November [before] it popped up again in December. That’s kind of how the year went for us.”

But there were some bright spots in Toub’s evaluation of the season.

“I think now we finally cracked the top-10 as far as our kickoff goes,” he said. “We had a lot of young players — and they just keep getting better and better — so I’m happy with that. Kickoff return… not where I wanted it to be at this point. We’re probably in the middle of the pack, towards the 20s there, and that’s just not good enough; we have to do a better job getting some bigger returns in kick return.”

In Week 17, rookie running back Brashard Smith fielded the first two punt returns of his career. He navigated traffic to gain 44 yards on the second, garnering excitement from Toub. Smith could be the solution to a more significant return game.

On the flip side, Kansas City’s kickoff and punt coverage teams have a notable streak through 16 games that everybody would like to keep.

“We didn’t give up anything big,” explained Toub. “We still have another game left, but we didn’t give up a touchdown to this point, which is always good. We didn’t give up any huge returns, but we weren’t killing it in the return game on either of them. We just have to keep getting better. I’m excited about our young players. I think going forward, we’re going to take another step for sure.”

Meanwhile, offensive coordinator Matt Nagy shared a positive reflection on the season.

“There were parts in the middle of the season where we felt like we were at a peak level offensively,” Nagy noted. “Unfortunately, it didn’t last the whole way through the year — and now here we are playing in this game that is important for us to finish strong. It’s our job to do that: to coach strong, [for] the players to play strong — and in the end, win. The last several games didn’t go how we wanted, but we want to finish on a high note.“

The Chiefs have lost five straight games to this point, an unacceptable finish to the year by anyone’s standards at 1 Arrowhead Drive. From here, it will be about what actions the organization can take to ensure these mistakes aren’t repeated in 2026.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...dinators-reflect-on-disappointing-2025-season

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs-Raiders: 5 things to watch in Week 18 matchup

A disappointing season for the Kansas City Chiefs (6-10) will come to an end against the Las Vegas Raiders (2-14) on Sunday. The game will be played at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, with the opening kickoff scheduled for 3:25 p.m. Arrowhead time. The game will be broadcast on CBS.

Kansas City is coming off a hard-fought 20-13 loss to the Denver Broncos on Christmas night in Week 17. Despite a lineup laced with backups, the Chiefs kept the game close and had a chance to tie or win on the final possession.

On the other side of this matchup, the Raiders were dismantled at home by the New York Giants. The 34-10 defeat in Week 17 gave Las Vegas the worst record in the NFL this season, and has set them up to have the no. 1 overall draft pick in the 2026 draft.

Kansas City hammered the Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 7, shutting them out to a 31-0 final. This matchup will look much different, with both teams missing key players. Here are five things to watch:

1. A heavier workload for Brashard Smith​

Last week, rookie running back Brashard Smith scored his first career touchdown on a staple design for the Chiefs’ red-zone offense. He has played a limited role all season long, but the highlight-reel play could lead to more opportunities in Week 18, especially with running back Kareem Hunt (illness) missing practice all week.

Smith has primarily impacted the offense as a receiver out of the backfield, but his career high in rushes came back in the first matchup with Las Vegas. By that point, the game was out of hand, and Smith was filling in during garbage time, but he rushed for 39 yards over 14 attempts. This week should be an opportunity for the Chiefs to play him in a more traditional role in the backfield.

2. Jake Briningstool​

Undrafted rookie tight end Jake Briningstool was designated to return from the Reserve/Injured list on December 17th, but has yet to be activated. With only one game remaining, this week could give Kansas City a chance to see what he can do in live action before 2026.

Unfortunately, Briningstool was ruled out from playing on Friday’s final injury report.

Briningstool profiled as an athletic pass catcher out of Clemson, with the ability to pick up yards after the catch and make contested catches using his large frame. He drew attention during training camp before falling to injury. With the Chiefs struggling to find any consistency at the position behind Kelce, it is worth remembering Bringinstool’s name moving into the offseason.

3. Snap management​

With the season nearly over, the Chiefs should be strategic about allowing more backups to play to avoid further injuries heading into the offseason, and also give the coaching staff a chance to evaluate lesser-known players on the roster.

Starting center Creed Humprey has started 84 straight games since entering the NFL in 2021, and will likely want to improve the impressive streak to 85. However, Kansas City should quickly bring in backup Hunter Nourzad to take over snapping duties.

The same strategy should be in place for other players under contract in 2026, like left guard Kingsley Suamataia, defensive tackle Chris Jones, defensive end George Karlaftis, and linebacker Nick Bolton. They might even look to take out veterans who are slated to hit free agency, like linebacker Drue Tranquill, safety Bryan Cook, wide receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster and Hollywood Brown.

For every player, the best outcome from Week 18 is finishing the contest healthy.

4. Scoreboard watching​

As it stands, the Chiefs will be picking in the top-10 of the NFL Draft for the first time since 2013. This is not set in stone; there are several games this week that will have implications on the franchise’s final slot.

The best pick Kansas City can secure is the eighth overall, and the lowest is the 12th-overall selection. It will be a premier pick either way.

A loss for the Raiders secures the first overall pick for them; the home team will start former first-round pick Kenny Pickett at quarterback in place of the injured Geno Smith.

The Raiders have lost 10 consecutive games dating back to the Week 7 loss in Kansas City.

Chiefs Kingdom should cheer for the other 6-10 teams— the New Orleans Saints and Cincinnati Bengals— to win and help the Chiefs maintain position, or move up a slot.

Fans should also be cheering for the 7-9 teams— the Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers — to win and move out of the top-10.

5. What will the Chiefs do with Travis Kelce?​

This could be it for the Chiefs’ future Hall of Fame tight end.

Over five career games, Travia Kelce has dominated the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium, totaling 38 receptions, 465 yards, and two touchdowns. Also, Kelce caught nine passes for 93 yards during Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas roughly two years ago.

Kelce has stated he will make a retirement decision this offseason. Regardless, the perennial All-Pro is 161 yards shy of 1,000 receiving yards on the season. So if this is it, and the team knows it internally, the team should give him the chance to make a Herculean effort and reach this milestone.

Greatness only comes around so often, so let’s enjoy it while we still can.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...91272/5-things-to-watch-vs-raiders-in-week-18

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

5 players that stood out in College Football Playoff quarterfinals

Over the two-day celebration bringing in the new year, there were four College Football Playoff quarterfinal games featuring plenty of top prospects for the Kansas City Chiefs to consider in the 2026 NFL Draft.

In case you missed it, Arrowhead Pride analyzed five college players before the first round began. Here are 5 more draft prospects to know, including what their most recent performances say about their NFL potential:

1. DE Rueben Bain Jr, Miami​

Bain has been one of the key reasons Miami is one win away from playing in the National Championship. He followed up a dominant three-sack performance against Texas A&M in the first round with one sack and multiple pressures in the Hurricanes’ upset win over Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.

Bain is considered one of the best edge rushers in the class, but due to his stocky frame — listed at 6 feet 3 inches tall and 270 pounds — there are questions about how high he will be drafted in the first round.

On Wednesday night against the Buckeyes, Bain displayed a great feel for rushing with speed and power, an understanding of pass-rush angles, an ability to bend arcs and solid hand usage to beat blockers inside after the outside rush is blocked.

Bain has certainly turned up the intensity in the playoffs. With another big performance, he could be a top-five pick.

— Caleb James

2. DE David Bailey, Texas Tech​

Texas Tech might’ve lost to Oregon in the Orange Bowl, but it wasn’t because of the Red Raiders’ defense. The unit lived up to high expectations and held strong on most of its possessions, despite playing from opposing territory for the entire game.

David Bailey was at the center of the stifling effort; he was constantly in the backfield. He earned his first sack by using the elite bend and explosiveness that make him a highly sought-after prospect, but he’s not just a speed rusher. Bailey has a strong upper body and enough length to crush the pocket with speed-to-power.

During an impressive all-around performance, Bailey’s awareness stood out. He blew up multiple sprintouts by tracking the ball like a linebacker and deflecting it. He set the edge, but also slipped blocks to get tackles for loss.

With an impactful performance in the biggest game of his life, Bailey is looking more the part of a blue-chip player. The Chiefs should look heavily at drafting him in April.

— Nate Christensen

3. WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State​

Tate entered the playoffs in the running to be the first offensive weapon selected. While other candidates — like Notre Dame running back Jerimiyah Love — can rest on regular-season highlights, Tate left a bad impression in his final college game.

The national audience watched the star receiver produce just 37 yards over three catches on nine targets. Some incompletions came on rushed throws due to Miami’s pressure, but Tate had difficulty getting open. His best play was a 15-yard catch and run on a slant route that converted third down.

Tate’s outstanding 2025 season should not be ignored, nor should Ohio State’s track record of sending receivers to the NFL. However, the Cotton Bowl magnified the biggest questions Tate faces: Can he handle the volume expected of a top NFL wideout? Also, how much did he benefit from playing opposite a generational receiver prospect, sophomore Jeremiah Smith? The younger receiver had a strong game despite Miami’s defensive prowess.

— Jared Sapp

4. DT Lee Hunter, Texas Tech​

Texas Tech’s entire defensive line is awesome. The edge rushers Bailey and Romello Height get the most buzz, but Lee Hunter is also essential to the unit. He is listed at 6 feet 4 inches tall and 330 lbs, built to destroy blocks. Nobody can move him in the middle and double teams don’t bother him.

Throughout the Orange Bowl, Oregon couldn’t move Hunter, leading to a terrible day running the ball. The Ducks’ running backs combined for 36 carries and 89 yards, or 2.5 yards per carry. Hunter deserves a ton of credit for holding up against blocks through all four quarters.

Early in the contest, Hunter blew up a fourth-down sweep play by getting wide and penetrating the line simultaneously. He is an incredible athlete for his size.

From his first day on an NFL field, Hunter will be a gap plugger against the run, but Hunter also has a quick first step and plays hard. His upside as a pass rusher could be limited, but Hunter will be a quality starting nose tackle that should go within the top-100 after this game.

— Nate Christensen

5. RT Francis Mauigoa, Miami​

The enormous Mauigoa dominated the line of scrimmage against Ohio State and led Miami to rack up over 150 rushing yards. At 6 feet 6 inches tall and 315 lbs, Mauigoa is a road-grading right tackle who plays with a nasty streak. His large frame, solid core, and good fundamentals in the run game will make him an immediate starter in the NFL, but his mobility could push him into the top-10.

Despite his large frame, he has nimble feet and clean mechanics in pass protection. His movement skills also help him to climb to the second level and make blocks in space.

The tackle class in the 2026 draft is a bit weaker than years past, so Mauigoa should climb up draft boards, possibly ending up as the top tackle selected.

— Caleb James

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...od-out-college-football-playoff-quarterfinals

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs News 1/3: Patrick Mahomes pays off friendly wager with teammate

The latest​

Patrick Mahomes wears Oregon Ducks jersey after lost bet to Jeff Bassa | DucksWire

Following the Ducks‘ dominant 23-0 win over the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Orange Bowl on Thursday, Bassa made sure that his Chiefs’ quarterback, Texas Tech alum Patrick Mahomes, made good on a bet and wore an Oregon uniform for a social media post.

Mahomes, whose season is over after suffering a torn ACL, was seen on Bassa’s Instagram story in the Chiefs’ training room, wearing a white #2 Oregon jersey, which was Bassa’s from his playing career in Eugene.

Looks like Patrick Mahomes lost a jersey bet to Chiefs rookie Jeff Bassa, when Texas tech lost to Oregon in the Orange Bowl yesterday. QB1 really having a go of it lol pic.twitter.com/ZoJVLhat9s

— Lexi (@lexiosborne) January 3, 2026

Las Vegas Raiders-Kansas City Chiefs: Key numbers | Silver and Black Pride

6-0: The Chiefs are 6-0 at Allegiant Stadium since it opened in 2020. That includes a 2024 Super Bowl win over the San Francisco 49ers.

131: That is the number of receptions Chiefs’ star tight end Travis Kelce has against the Raiders in 23 career games. He may retire after the season.

Chiefs DC, Grafton native, Spagnuolo to be honored by Springfield College | The Gardner News

Spagnuolo earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Springfield in 1982. He was a two-year starting wide receiver for the Pride and he has gone on to unprecedented success as an NFL coordinator. He will be inducted to Springfield’s hall of fame April 11.

Spagnuolo’s coaching career at the collegiate and professional levels spans more than 40 years and began as a graduate assistant at UMass.

“It all kind of began there at Springfield College,” Spagnuolo said before last season’s Super Bowl. “I owe a lot to the foundation that was built there. I loved it.”

Spagnuolo is also a member of Grafton High’s hall of fame.

Around the NFL​

Titans restructure front office: G.M. Mike Borgonzi to lead coaching search, 53-man roster | Pro Football Talk

Team owner Amy Adams Strunk announced that General Manager Mike Borgonzi will lead the club’s upcoming coaching search and have the final say on the club’s 53-man roster. President of football operations Chad Brinker will lead strategic functions like the salary cap and analytics.

Both Borgonzi and Brinker will report directly to Strunk. Their titles will not change.

“Over the past few years, several job descriptions in our football organization were established to address specific situations and challenges that existed at the time,” Strunk said in a letter addressed to Titans fans. “After working together for the past year, they believe — and I agree — there is a long-term benefit to clarifying and honing the focus areas of our football leadership.

To surprise of no one, Colts QB Philip Rivers will retire again following close of 2025 campaign | Stampede Blue

With Rivers’ son a senior next year and also having a soon-to-be 9th grader on the team, Rivers will turn back to coaching high school football again at Saint Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama, for 2026.

While he wished the game outcomes had been different, Rivers has publicly stated he had a blast playing again these last three weeks for the Colts. He will likely serve as their emergency QB for the regular season finale against the Houston Texans, with Indianapolis already eliminated from playoff contention.

His shocking 3-game ‘unretirement tour’ likely only helped Rivers’ arguably borderline case for becoming an eventual Pro Football Hall of Famer—even if it delayed his candidacy another five years in waiting. Recency bias and leaving on such a surprisingly positive and feel good story note should resonate very well with the NFL general public and perhaps most importantly, the Hall of Fame voters going forward.

Bills QB Allen (foot) expected to start vs. Jets | ESPN

The Bills have only two quarterbacks on the roster in Allen and backup Mitchell Trubisky. With either of the three wild-card spots the only option for Buffalo, Allen is still expected to start the game to keep his second-longest active starts streak alive (121) but will likely sit to get him ready for the postseason as he did in Week 18 last season.

Other starters and veterans could also get some reduced playing time. Allen is behind only Philip Rivers for the longest active streak (243).

In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride​

Chiefs OC Matt Nagy now set to interview for Titans’ head coaching job

“I really feel good about where I’m at,” Nagy told reporters on Thursday. “And again, here we are at the end of the season. So this is the time where this stuff comes up.

“I’ve prepared for several years since I went through it at the right time. And everything that I went through in Chicago? It all happened for a reason. And to be able to come back here in Kansas City and be here with Coach Reid and all these players is special.

Social media to make you think​

From @austingayle_ on Chiefs safety Bryan Cook: "It would shock me if he signs for anything less than $15 million per year on the open market."https://t.co/HDUUN8wYM8

— Jesse Newell (@jessenewell) January 2, 2026

Follow Arrowhead Pride on Social Media​

• Facebook: Like our page
• Instagram: @ArrowheadPride
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• AP Staff on X: See complete list
• Sports Radio 810 on X: Follow @SportsRadio810

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...-patrick-mahomes-pays-off-wager-with-teammate

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs-Raiders Week 18 predictions from Arrowhead Pride

Before the Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 17 matchup with the Denver Broncos, all but one of our Arrowhead Pride panelists correctly picked the Broncos to win. Our aggregate prediction was for Denver to collect a 23-15 victory, which had just six points of error* compared to the 20-13 final.

In Week 18, the Chiefs are on the road to finish their season against the Las Vegas Raiders. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Kansas City is favored by 4.5 points.

Let’s see what the staff — and our readers — think about the matchup.

---

Nate Christensen (@natech32)​

I think it would have been reasonable before this season to say this game would have little at stake in Week 18, but I am not sure either team expected this. The Chiefs were obviously projected to be contenders, but even the Raiders were expecting to be competitive.

Now, however, the Raiders could land the draft’s first overall pick and will likely have a new coach next year. The Chiefs had a disastrous season that kept them out of the playoffs.

I know the Chiefs have lost the last five games, but the current Raiders are a different level of bad — even when compared to the Tennessee Titans. Maxx Crosby was their only good defender, and he’s not playing. Kenny Pickett is playing quarterback without Brock Bowers.

I think Chris Oladokun will have no problem dicing up the Raiders’ current defense, and the Chiefs’ defense has remained competitive after Patrick Mahomes’s injury. I would be shocked if the Raiders won this game.

Chiefs 24, Raiders 10

---

John Dixon (@Arrowheadphones)​

Neither of these teams has had a good season. Both will be without significant contributors and will have an incentive to lose the season’s final game to improve their draft position, so this is not exactly a formula for a great matchup. While both squads are led by experienced old-school coaches who are capable of getting their players up for such a contest, only one of them — the Chiefs’ Andy Reid — appears likely to be back in 2026. So on that basis, I would give Kansas City the edge in this game.

Chiefs 20, Raiders 13

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Maurice Elston (@MrMauriceElston)​

This matchup between the Chiefs and Raiders arrives with little at stake on either side. Las Vegas, while unlikely to state it publicly, benefits more from draft positioning than a late-season win. Individual effort should still be present, but there is little incentive for the organization to push aggressively for a result. Kansas City, meanwhile, should approach the game with the intent to win while also using the opportunity to evaluate younger players and depth pieces ahead of the offseason.

How the Chiefs deploy Travis Kelce may be one of the more revealing elements of the afternoon. His usage could offer insight into how the organization views this moment — whether it is simply another game or potentially a closing chapter. Beyond that, the focus should be on rotations, snap distribution, and how the staff manages a game without postseason implications.

With both teams operating outside their usual urgency, the expectation is a cleaner game for Kansas City, driven by structure rather than explosiveness. The Chiefs should have enough control on both sides of the ball to close the season with a win, even as the reality of a January without football sets in.

Chiefs 24, Raiders 13

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Mark Gunnels (@MarkAGunnels)​

I can’t believe this Sunday will be the last time we see Chiefs football until August… but here we are.

This is basically the Tank Bowl. The Raiders will secure the No. 1 draft pick with a loss, while the Chiefs would be locked into a top-10 pick with a loss.

For as bad as things are for the Chiefs, I don’t think they’re bad enough to lose to this Raiders team. Also, it could be Travis Kelce’s last game, so that’s extra motivation for the guys to potentially send him off with a win.

Chiefs 23, Raiders 13

---

Caleb James (@CJScoobs)​

Well, it was certainly an interesting season. Far from the championship aspirations of the past eight years, but it should provide the change needed for the team to once again transform into contenders.

For the Chiefs to help themselves out, losing this week would not be the worst thing in the world, but the Raiders are a different type of mess. They will be starting backup quarterback Kenny Pickett, and will be without star pass rusher Maxx Crosby as well as other key contributors.

Poised for the first overall selection in the draft, it would take a truly horrendous effort from Kansas City to lose this one, which is hard to believe considering that the team played with grit on Christmas night despite losing to the Broncos.

The Chiefs’ goal should be to have all key players for 2026 exit the game healthy and get a look at any younger players on the roster who have not received significant playing time this year.

If this is it for Travis Kelce, soak it in because he is one of one. Many will try to replicate, but will never be able to duplicate. Maybe he will be back in 2026, but all eyes will be focused on him this Sunday.

Chiefs 17, Raiders 7

---

Rocky Magaña (@RockyMagana)​

Despite it being in the Chiefs’ best interest, I just can’t bring myself to root for them to lose to the Raiders. I’d rather see Las Vegas pick first overall — trusting the team to screw it up like it always does — than for Kansas City to have a better draft position.

Yes… I know that strategically, this makes no sense. But my hatred for all things Silver and Black runs so deep that I can do nothing but wish for their utter obliteration.

It also helps that the Raiders will be doing their best to avoid winning. So I’m expecting bad football from both offenses — and a game that will end with Las Vegas in single digits and Kansas City barely making it to double digits.

It won’t be pretty, but it will be the right way to begin the Chiefs’ 2026 campaign — and the old, bitter part of me that loathes the Raiders will be alive and well as we dance on the grave of their 2025 season.

Chiefs 10, Raiders 6

---

Jared Sapp (@TrumanChief)​

I don’t think the Chiefs have been trying to tank, but even if they were, there’s no outtanking the Raiders this week. The Raiders currently hold the top selection in a draft that may end up with only one top quarterback prospect. Las Vegas is not squandering this opportunity.

I think the Chiefs will play loose with minimal resistance from a Raiders squad playing without Maxx Crosby and starting Kenny Pickett at quarterback. This is not how Kansas City envisioned playing Week 18, but I expect the team to make the game as fun as possible.

The Chiefs may or may not know whether this is Travis Kelce’s final game. Either way, I predict he will get as many opportunities as possible to close a frustrating season in style.

Chiefs 27, Raiders 10

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Matt Stagner (@stagdsp)​

In what is sure to be a sad shell of a game, these two division rivals mercifully close out their respective seasons. I sincerely hate (and doubt) the idea that NFL teams ‘tank’ on purpose. The players are going to do everything they can to get a win, and put good football on film. I highly doubt that many players even consider the idea of helping the team’s front office get a higher pick that could be used to replace them.

So, let’s keep expectations low and try to enjoy whatever glimpses of the future we get to see from Brashard Smith, Jalen Royals and Nohl Williams. Let’s marvel at Esa Pole and Chu Godrick as they continue their unlikely NFL paths — and bet on Travis Kelce breaking records.

The superior franchise probably wins here, carried by the defense. A merciful end to a rough season.

Chiefs 15, Raiders 12

---

With their predictions aggregated, our panelists expect the Chiefs to win 20-11.

What do you think?

2025 Standings​

TW	LW	Staffer	W	L	Pct	Err
1	2	Mark Gunnels	8	8	0.5000	23.5
2	1	Jared Sapp	8	8	0.5000	23.6
3	3	Maurice Elston	8	8	0.5000	24.3
4	4	Matt Stagner	8	8	0.5000	28.4
5	5	Nate Christensen	7	9	0.4375	23.3
6	5	Caleb James	7	9	0.4375	24.1
7	8	John Dixon	6	10	0.3750	26.5
8	7	Rocky Magaña	5	11	0.3125	30.0

In Week 17, both Nate Christensen and Mark Gunnels predicted the Broncos would beat the Chiefs 23-10. Those picks each missed a total of 12 points. John Dixon’s call for a 27-10 Denver victory was the second-best prediction, with 20 points of error.

*To calculate a prediction’s points of error, the differences between the prediction and the actual score in point spread, home team score and away team score are added together. For example, a prediction calls for a 17-10 Chiefs win. They end up winning 16-10, so there were two points of error: the point spread was off by one point, the Kansas City score missed by one point and the opponent’s score was predicted correctly. But if the Chiefs lose the game 17-10, there were 28 points of error in the prediction: the point spread was off by 14 (the difference between +7 and -7) and both scores missed by 7.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...ders-week-18-predictions-from-arrowhead-pride

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Rapid Reaction: 4 instant takeaways from Chiefs’ season finale

The Kansas City Chiefs’ 2025 season finished with a 14-12 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 18. Here are four instant takeaways from the game:

1. Brashard Smith wasn’t used as a running back enough this season​

In his rookie campaign, running back Brashard Smith carved out a role in the Chiefs’ offense where he seldom served as a traditional ball carrier. The only games he was showcased in the backfield were the two matchups with the Raiders. Whether it was the second half of a blowout win or an inconsequential season finale, Smith’s opportunities were limited to garbage time.

In Week 18, Smith was the starting back and finished as the Chiefs’ leading rusher with 57 yards on 11 carries. From the jump, Smith showed patience, vision and explosive cutbacks, producing four rushes of at least eight yards.

As a first-year player, a natural learning curve can affect playing time compared to veteran running backs Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco, but it should not keep worthwhile talent off the field. When given the chance, Smith has been a dynamic option in Kansas City’s backfield, but those chances were rare in 2025.

2. Defensive backs laid out to finish the year strong​

This offseason, there will be plenty of discussion about how the Chiefs address the secondary, with cornerback Jaylen Watson and safety Bryan Cook set to be unrestricted free agents.

Regardless of the plan, many of the defensive backs under contract in 2026 finished the regular season strong.

In Las Vegas, safety Chamarri Conner started the game looking to make a play. On Raiders quarterback Kenny Pickett’s first dropback, Conner was aggressive in zone coverage, identified a nearby route, anticipated the throw and secured his first interception of the season — the fourth of his career.

It was the first of seven passes Kansas City defenders broke up. Rookie cornerback Nohl Williams recorded two in his fourth consecutive start. Second-year safety Jaden Hicks added one in the third quarter, ranging over the top of a deep throw to the back corner of the end zone and laying out to knock the ball away cleanly.

No returning member of the secondary made a stronger impression over the final three games than cornerback Kristian Fulton. He totaled 10 tackles on a partial workload against the Tennessee Titans, broke up three passes against the Denver Broncos, and repeated that performance against the Raiders with three more pass breakups.

After spending much of the season on the sideline, Fulton gave the team and its fans reason to look ahead to his role in 2026.

3. Hunter Nourzad started for Mike Caliendo​

The starting offense took the field with a new substitute at right guard for Trey Smith: Hunter Nourzad. The second-year offensive lineman replaced Mike Caliendo, who had made four previous starts while Smith was injured.

Caliendo has served as Kansas City’s primary backup at both guard spots since the previous player in that role — Washington Commanders guard Nick Allegretti — left in free agency after the 2023 season. Across two years and a handful of starts, Caliendo has not inspired the same confidence Allegretti once did.

Based on the Week 18 lineup, the Chiefs may be shifting that role to Nourzad, a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. In recent games, he had been used as a sixth lineman in short-yardage packages, hinting at the staff’s view entering the finale.

4. The Chiefs will have the ninth pick in the 2026 NFL Draft​

Kansas City’s 11th loss of the season — the sixth straight — secured the organization the ninth overall pick in the upcoming draft.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...91511/rapid-reaction-4-takeaways-from-week-18

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

5 things we learned from the Chiefs’ season-ending loss to the Raiders

Well… the waking nightmare that has been the Kansas City Chiefs’ 2025 season is finally, officially over.

It’s not hyperbole to say that Sunday’s 14–12 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders was one of the worst professional football games I’ve had the misfortune of witnessing. For much of the contest, both teams seemed to be trying to one-up each other’s offensive ineptitude. Neither team managed to get much going through the air — and that’s putting it nicely, considering the teams combined for just 170 passing yards.

In the end, the difference was a fourth-quarter safety that gave the Raiders two extra points and set up a 60-yard field goal from Las Vegas kicker Daniel Carlson to win the game.

Here are five things we learned from a Chiefs season finale we’d rather forget.

1. If this was Travis Kelce’s last game, he deserved better​

For someone who has given everything to this franchise and its fans, it felt unjust that this could have been the superstar tight end’s final game with Kansas City.

He is the greatest tight end to ever play football.

He is arguably on the Mount Rushmore of all-time Chiefs — and a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

His name will one day adorn the Ring of Honor.

He deserved a hero’s sendoff — a walk to the sideline accompanied by a cheering crowd and a standing ovation.

He deserved a game plan designed to give him a victory lap and one final bow.

Instead, he was paired with one quarterback who couldn’t get through his reads quickly enough — and another who was either being sacked or having his passes tipped at the line of scrimmage.

It was brutal. It was heartbreaking.

He should have had 16 targets. Instead, he had six.

He should have had 120 receiving yards. He had 12.

He should have gotten his swan song.

Instead, Travis Kelce faded into the silence of the sideline.

And in that silence, one of the greatest careers in NFL history may have come to an end.

2. Chris Oladokun and Shane Buechele are not the answer at backup quarterback​

The Chiefs will be in the market for a new backup quarterback — and possibly a new third-stringer — this offseason. If this game taught us anything, it’s that Oladokun and Buchele are not NFL-caliber options. And if we’re being honest, Gardner Minshew didn’t exactly look electric before injuring his knee in Week 16 against the Tennessee Titans.

With the status of franchise quarterback Patrick Mahomes — who tore his ACL against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 15 — still uncertain, the Chiefs must proceed as if he will not be available to start the 2026 season.

That reality raises the bar. This can’t just be a “break glass in case of emergency” option. Kansas City needs someone capable of winning games and keeping the team competitive until Mahomes returns — however long that takes.

3. The Chiefs have decisions to make in the secondary​

Trent McDuffie is the best cornerback on this roster. The Chiefs must decide whether extending his contract aligns with their long-term interests.

The reality is that Kansas City is set to lose multiple defensive backs this offseason. The team could opt to retain a player like Jaylen Watson at a lower cost and roll with Watson, Nohl Williams and Kristian Fulton as its top three cornerbacks next season.

The case for that approach is simple: the roster has too many needs to ignore the draft capital a McDuffie trade could return. Unfortunately, neither Watson or Fulton have shown they can be relied upon for a full 17-game season.

4. The Chiefs needed more out of this draft class​

While injuries are complicating the evaluations of draft selections like Josh Simmons and Omarr Norman-Lott, the team didn’t get enough from players such as Jeff Bassa, Ashton Gillotte and Jalen Royals, either.

Nohl Williams emerged as a bright spot at cornerback, while Brashard Smith remains difficult to judge given the expectations attached to a seventh-round pick.

Overall, it was a disappointing year for the rookie class.

If the Chiefs hope to return to form next season, they’ll need to far surpass what this group provided.

5. This team is at a crossroads​

Empires rise and fall — and very few ever rise again.

If the Chiefs want to avoid the fate of the Roman, Persian, Mongol, Ottoman, British, Inca, Aztec, and countless other dynasties, they must reinvent themselves entirely.

The old guard has fallen. The old general’s tactics have been defeated.

It’s time for a new guard to rise — for tacticians to survey the battlefield and invent new ways to inflict harm.

Although this war was lost, a time will come when the drums will beat again.

And on that day, this dynasty will be rebuilt anew.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...earned-from-season-ending-loss-to-the-raiders

 

[Zedster]

Tough way to close out the season. That Raiders game was hard to watch, even by late-season standards when neither team has much to play for.

The Brashard Smith usage really stood out to me too. 57 yards on 11 carries in what was essentially his first real opportunity as a featured back. Patient runner with good vision. Makes you wonder what could have been if they'd given him more looks earlier in the year instead of waiting until the final game.

Kelce's situation is the one that stings the most. If that really was his last game, going out with 12 yards on 6 targets against the Raiders feels wrong. The man deserved a proper sendoff. Hopefully we get some clarity on his decision soon.

The secondary evaluations will be interesting to follow this offseason. Fulton stepping up in those final three games was encouraging. Ten tackles against Tennessee, three pass breakups in each of the last two games. That's the kind of late-season film that could earn him a bigger role next year.

Ninth pick should give them some options. That defensive line talent coming out of the college playoffs looked solid. Bailey and Hunter from Texas Tech both seem like players who could help immediately.

Long offseason ahead.

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

NFL 2026 coaching tracker: Titans request Steve Spagnuolo interview

Starting with Black Monday, we’re tracking the NFL’s 2026 coaching carousel — especially as it relates to the Kansas City Chiefs — right here:

---

Monday, January 5​

• 10:59 a.m. Cardinals have fired head coach Jonathan Gannon, per report.
• 10:16 a.m. Raiders have fired head coach Pete Carroll after one season, per report.
• 9:00 a.m. Bengals are bringing back head coach Zac Taylor for the 2026 season, per team president Mike Brown.
• 8:49 a.m. Titans request interview with Chiefs’ defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo for their HC position, per report.
• 8:41 a.m. Titans request interview with Chiefs’ offensive coordinator Matt Nagy for their HC position, per report.
• 8:00 a.m. Browns relieve head coach Kevin Stefanski of his duties.

News from the run-up to Black Monday​

• January 4 Falcons dismiss head coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot from their roles.
• January 3 Michigan hires Chiefs’ defensive line assistant coach Alex Whittingham as its linebackers coach under his father Kyle Whittingham.
• January 2 Report: Titans will interview Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy for their head coaching opening.
• November 10 Giants relieve head coach Brian Daboll of his duties.
• October 13 Titans part ways with head coach Brian Callahan.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...cker-titans-request-steve-spagnuolo-interview

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs-Raiders snap counts: Kansas City unleashes its roster depth

To wrap up the 2025 season, the Kansas City Chiefs lost 14-12 to the Las Vegas Raiders on a game-deciding field goal in the final seconds.

Let’s look at how Kansas City used its players in their final opportunity to gain experience with live reps until August:

---

Starters (offensive): WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR Marquise Brown, TE Travis Kelce, LT Esa Pole, LG Kingsley Suamataia, C Creed Humphrey, RG Hunter Nourzad, RT Chukwuebuka Godrick, WR Jalen Royals, QB Chris Oladokun and RB Brashard Smith.

Starters (defensive): DE Michael Danna, DT Chris Jones, DT Derrick Nnadi, DE Ashton Gillotte, LB Cooper McDonald, LB Nick Bolton, LB Drue Tranquill, CB Kristian Fulton, CB Nohl Williams, S Bryan Cook and S Chamarri Conner.

Did not play: None

Inactive: WR Xavier Worthy, RB Isiah Pacheco, CB Melvin Smith Jr., DE George Karlaftis, DE Tyreke Smith, G Trey Smith and NT Mike Pennel.

The big takeaway​

With a long list of veterans ruled out or on the Reserve/Injured list in Week 18, it was time for the Chiefs’ rookie draft class to be showcased. On offense and defense, every available draft pick played the highest rate of snaps with their respective unit this season:

• CB Nohl Williams (100% of defensive snaps)
• DE Ashton Gillotte (75% of defensive snaps)
• WR Jalen Royals (68% of offensive snaps)
• LB Jeffrey Bassa (35% of defensive snaps)
• RB Brashard Smith (53% of offensive snaps)

Smith was the lead ball carrier against the Raiders. He was on the field for 12 running plays, doubling the number of snaps running back Kareem Hunt saw in that phase. He was also the Chiefs’ punt returner for the second consecutive week. Smith took advantage of those opportunities and flashed playmaking ability, leading to a question for the coaching staff: Why wasn’t he featured in the offense more this season?

Royals was in formation for 77% of Kansas City’s passing plays in Las Vegas. It was the rookie wideout’s first opportunity to contribute to the Chiefs’ passing game; before Week 18, Royals had four passing snaps the entire season.

Offensive takeaways​

When the Chiefs’ offense took the field in Week 18, there was a surprising first-time starter along the offensive line: second-year lineman Hunter Nourzad, who replaced Mike Caliendo at right guard. In the four games starting right guard Trey Smith missed, Caliendo was the substitute each time.

Nourzad played 100% of the snaps in Las Vegas, while Caliendo was a sixth offensive lineman in formation on each of his three offensive snaps. That is a role reversal; in the second half of the season, Nourzad was often the player brought in as the sixth man. While the lineup change could have been a short-term strategy to see more from Nourzad, the coaching staff may have seen enough of Caliendo to look elsewhere for a reliable backup guard in the future.

It’s also worth noting that tight end Jared Wiley played a season-high 19% of the offensive snaps, including 35% of running plays. When he was drafted, it was clear that Wiley could be a playmaking pass catcher. Still, he will need to do more to carve out a larger role in the offense next year. The extended playing time on running calls was a valuable experience for him.

Defensive takeaways​

Throughout the season, the Chiefs’ defensive lineup was tweaked in a search for the right starting 11 players. The back-and-forth playing time was most apparent in the secondary.

Safety Jaden Hicks was a victim of that constant change. The fluctuation of the second-year safety’s snap counts indicates the coaching staff’s lack of trust in him. However, he kept playing hard and finished the season strong. In Las Vegas, Hicks made one of the best plays a Kansas City safety has made all year when he ranged over the top of a deep throw and laid out to deflect the ball away.

The Chiefs’ defense was expected to feature Hicks similarly to former Chiefs’ safety Justin Reid, but that may have been too tall an order for the 23-year-old this year. With a strong finish to this season, Hicks has momentum to realize his potential in 2026 and beyond.

Data​

Offense​

Offense	All	Pass	Run
Total	62 (100%)	39 (100%)	23 (100%)
Creed Humphrey	62 (100%)	39 (100%)	23 (100%)
Hunter Nourzad	62 (100%)	39 (100%)	23 (100%)
Esa Pole	62 (100%)	39 (100%)	23 (100%)
Kingsley Suamataia	62 (100%)	39 (100%)	23 (100%)
Chukwuebuka Godrick	61 (98%)	38 (97%)	23 (100%)
Marquise Brown	50 (81%)	34 (87%)	16 (70%)
Travis Kelce	50 (81%)	34 (87%)	16 (70%)
JuJu Smith-Schuster	48 (77%)	31 (79%)	17 (74%)
Jalen Royals	42 (68%)	30 (77%)	12 (52%)
Noah Gray	34 (55%)	17 (44%)	17 (74%)
Chris Oladokun	33 (53%)	20 (51%)	13 (57%)
Brashard Smith	33 (53%)	21 (54%)	12 (52%)
Shane Buechele	29 (47%)	19 (49%)	10 (43%)
Kareem Hunt	24 (39%)	18 (46%)	6 (26%)
Jared Wiley	12 (19%)	4 (10%)	8 (35%)
Dameon Pierce	5 (8%)	0 (0%)	5 (22%)
Jason Brownlee	5 (8%)	3 (8%)	2 (9%)
Mike Caliendo	3 (5%)	0 (0%)	3 (13%)
Jaylon Moore	2 (3%)	1 (3%)	1 (4%)
Robert Tonyan	2 (3%)	2 (5%)	0 (0%)
Jimmy Holiday	1 (2%)	1 (3%)	0 (0%)

Defense​

Defense	All	Pass	Run
Total	60 (100%)	29 (100%)	31 (100%)
Nick Bolton	60 (100%)	29 (100%)	31 (100%)
Chamarri Conner	60 (100%)	29 (100%)	31 (100%)
Kristian Fulton	60 (100%)	29 (100%)	31 (100%)
Nohl Williams	60 (100%)	29 (100%)	31 (100%)
Bryan Cook	59 (98%)	28 (97%)	31 (100%)
Ashton Gillotte	45 (75%)	21 (72%)	24 (77%)
Charles Omenihu	39 (65%)	24 (83%)	15 (48%)
Michael Danna	36 (60%)	18 (62%)	18 (58%)
Jaden Hicks	36 (60%)	21 (72%)	15 (48%)
Derrick Nnadi	36 (60%)	12 (41%)	24 (77%)
Jerry Tillery	32 (53%)	10 (34%)	22 (71%)
Drue Tranquill	30 (50%)	13 (45%)	17 (55%)
Cooper McDonald	25 (42%)	9 (31%)	16 (52%)
Chris Jones	22 (37%)	16 (55%)	6 (19%)
Jeff Bassa	21 (35%)	8 (28%)	13 (42%)
Kevin Knowles II	14 (23%)	12 (41%)	2 (6%)
Zacch Pickens	12 (20%)	5 (17%)	7 (23%)
Ethan Downs	10 (17%)	4 (14%)	6 (19%)
Mike Edwards	3 (5%)	2 (7%)	1 (3%)

Special Teams​

Special Teams	Snaps
Total	32 (100%)
Jack Cochrane	28 (88%)
Jaden Hicks	27 (84%)
Cooper McDonald	27 (84%)
Joshua Williams	25 (78%)
Jeff Bassa	23 (72%)
Cole Christiansen	23 (72%)
Ethan Downs	22 (69%)
Nazeeh Johnson	21 (66%)
Kevin Knowles II	18 (56%)
Jalen Royals	16 (50%)
Brashard Smith	12 (38%)
Matt Araiza	10 (31%)
Harrison Butker	10 (31%)
Jared Wiley	10 (31%)
Nohl Williams	10 (31%)
James Winchester	10 (31%)
Nick Bolton	5 (16%)
Michael Danna	5 (16%)
Derrick Nnadi	5 (16%)
Jerry Tillery	5 (16%)
Drue Tranquill	5 (16%)
Mike Caliendo	4 (13%)
Noah Gray	4 (13%)
C.J. Hanson	4 (13%)
Creed Humphrey	4 (13%)
Jaylon Moore	4 (13%)
Hunter Nourzad	4 (13%)
Esa Pole	4 (13%)
Kingsley Suamataia	4 (13%)
Bryan Cook	2 (6%)
Ashton Gillotte	1 (3%)

All Snaps​

All Snaps	Off	Def	ST	Total
Total	62 (100%)	60 (100%)	32 (100%)	154 (100%)
Matt Araiza	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	10 (31%)	10 (6%)
Jeff Bassa	0 (0%)	21 (35%)	23 (72%)	44 (29%)
Nick Bolton	0 (0%)	60 (100%)	5 (16%)	65 (42%)
Marquise Brown	50 (81%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	50 (32%)
Shane Buechele	29 (47%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	29 (19%)
Harrison Butker	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	10 (31%)	10 (6%)
Mike Caliendo	3 (5%)	0 (0%)	4 (13%)	7 (5%)
Cole Christiansen	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	23 (72%)	23 (15%)
Jack Cochrane	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	28 (88%)	28 (18%)
Chamarri Conner	0 (0%)	60 (100%)	0 (0%)	60 (39%)
Bryan Cook	0 (0%)	59 (98%)	2 (6%)	61 (40%)
Michael Danna	0 (0%)	36 (60%)	5 (16%)	41 (27%)
Ethan Downs	0 (0%)	10 (17%)	22 (69%)	32 (21%)
Mike Edwards	0 (0%)	3 (5%)	0 (0%)	3 (2%)
Kristian Fulton	0 (0%)	60 (100%)	0 (0%)	60 (39%)
Ashton Gillotte	0 (0%)	45 (75%)	1 (3%)	46 (30%)
Chukwuebuka Godrick	61 (98%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	61 (40%)
Noah Gray	34 (55%)	0 (0%)	4 (13%)	38 (25%)
C.J. Hanson	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	4 (13%)	4 (3%)
Jaden Hicks	0 (0%)	36 (60%)	27 (84%)	63 (41%)
Creed Humphrey	62 (100%)	0 (0%)	4 (13%)	66 (43%)
Kareem Hunt	24 (39%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	24 (16%)
Nazeeh Johnson	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	21 (66%)	21 (14%)
Chris Jones	0 (0%)	22 (37%)	0 (0%)	22 (14%)
Travis Kelce	50 (81%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	50 (32%)
Kevin Knowles II	0 (0%)	14 (23%)	18 (56%)	32 (21%)
Cooper McDonald	0 (0%)	25 (42%)	27 (84%)	52 (34%)
Jaylon Moore	2 (3%)	0 (0%)	4 (13%)	6 (4%)
Derrick Nnadi	0 (0%)	36 (60%)	5 (16%)	41 (27%)
Hunter Nourzad	62 (100%)	0 (0%)	4 (13%)	66 (43%)
Chris Oladokun	33 (53%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	33 (21%)
Charles Omenihu	0 (0%)	39 (65%)	0 (0%)	39 (25%)
Zacch Pickens	0 (0%)	12 (20%)	0 (0%)	12 (8%)
Dameon Pierce	5 (8%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	5 (3%)
Esa Pole	62 (100%)	0 (0%)	4 (13%)	66 (43%)
Jalen Royals	42 (68%)	0 (0%)	16 (50%)	58 (38%)
Brashard Smith	33 (53%)	0 (0%)	12 (38%)	45 (29%)
JuJu Smith-Schuster	48 (77%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	48 (31%)
Kingsley Suamataia	62 (100%)	0 (0%)	4 (13%)	66 (43%)
Jerry Tillery	0 (0%)	32 (53%)	5 (16%)	37 (24%)
Robert Tonyan	2 (3%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	2 (1%)
Drue Tranquill	0 (0%)	30 (50%)	5 (16%)	35 (23%)
Jared Wiley	12 (19%)	0 (0%)	10 (31%)	22 (14%)
Joshua Williams	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	25 (78%)	25 (16%)
Nohl Williams	0 (0%)	60 (100%)	10 (31%)	70 (45%)
James Winchester	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	10 (31%)	10 (6%)
Jason Brownlee	5 (8%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	5 (3%)
Jimmy Holiday	1 (2%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	1 (1%)

Editor’s Note: Arrowhead Pride obtains snap count data from the NFL’s game stats and information system, which allows us to break out snap counts by run or pass on offensive and defensive plays. Because GSIS data ignores plays that were nullified by penalties, total offensive and defensive snap counts will vary from other sources, which get their data from NFL Gamebooks

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...-snap-counts-chiefs-unleashes-depth-of-roster

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs make 2 more Reserve/Future signings on Tuesday

The Kansas City Chiefs got their offseason started on Monday by retaining several members of their practice squad on reserve/future contracts. On Tuesday, the team brought in a pair of players from outside of the organization.

Per the NFL’s official transactions report, the Chiefs have signed wide receiver Andrew Armstrong and running back ShunDerrick Powell to Reserve/Future contracts. Armstrong and Powell were previously reported as working out for Kansas City on December 29. These agreements will become official when the league year begins on March 11 — but they rarely contain guaranteed money or offer significant roster security as other players are added through free agency and the draft.

Armstrong attended Arkansas for two seasons after beginning his college career at Texas A&M Commerce. He caught 78 passes for 1,140 yards during his final year with the Razorbacks before measuring 6-4 and running a 4.5 second 40-yard dash time at Arkansas’ Pro Day. Armstrong signed with the Miami Dolphins in April as an undrafted free agent. He was briefly on the Detroit Lions’ practice squad after being waived in Miami’s final roster cuts.

Powell played at Central Arkansas. He visited Kansas City before the 2025 NFL Draft, and we profiled him here. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in undrafted free agency, but he did not make the squad.

The Chiefs on Tuesday also worked out edge rusher Warren Peeples. He went to training camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last summer after signing as an undrafted free agent out of Division III Southeastern Louisiana.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...ake-2-more-reserve-future-signings-on-tuesday

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

3 Chiefs who will try to build on their final 2025 performances

After being eliminated from postseason contention, the offseason effectively began for the Kansas City Chiefs with a 14–12 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. The regular-season finale was ugly throughout — and with multiple starters sidelined, there was little to take away from the game itself.

While the Raiders resembled a junior-varsity version of their usual porous roster, Kansas City still suited up a handful of young players who project as future contributors.

Let’s consider what we saw from three of them.

Brashard Smith​

Kansas City let its rookie running back finish the season on a high note — and he delivered his best performance of the year. Smith carried 12 times for 56 yards, averaging 4.7 yards per attempt while flashing improvement throughout the game.

The Chiefs have lacked explosion in the running game all season — and although Smith did not break a run longer than 14 yards, he showed cutback ability and burst that Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt have not consistently provided.

Not a ton of movement playside, and the Raiders contain the edge, but Smith is patient, and as he reads the blocks, he notices space toward the backside of the zone. Suamataia and Pole created movement, giving Smith an angle to cut back. pic.twitter.com/npxG3KVKnu

— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) January 6, 2026

On this snap, the Chiefs want to run zone right with Smith. The play is not particularly well-blocked on the front side — and the Raiders are playing with outside contain. Smith recognizes this and hesitates in the backfield, which allows Kingsley Suamataia and Esa Pole enough time to generate movement on the back side of the zone.

Following that movement, Smith makes a sharp cut. Then — using good vision — he picks up yards on a play that initially appeared destined to fail.

The Chiefs have lacked a back with the ability to create yards all season, especially when a play isn’t perfectly blocked. Smith will be on the team in 2026, and he should be able to help fix this issue. The Chiefs will likely add to the running back room during free agency or the NFL draft, but Smith’s combination of agility and burst will still be needed — and utilized.

Nohl Williams​

The rookie cornerback capped an impressive season with a strong showing against the Raiders. He finished with six tackles, a sack and two pass breakups as he continued to establish himself as a core piece of the secondary.

General manager Brett Veach has consistently drafted productive cornerbacks, and Williams appears poised to be his next success story. Throughout the season, he showed sticky man coverage ability, strong ball skills and a willingness to tackle.

Great coverage by Williams against Tre Tucker. Relying on quickness in his routes, Tucker tries to get Williams moving quickly upfield, but puts on the brakes. Williams does a good job of sticking tight on Tucker, and as the ball is thrown, he comes back to deflect the pass. pic.twitter.com/Z1GOHGcAGM

— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) January 7, 2026

Here, Williams is matched one-on-one against Raiders receiver Tre Tucker, an underrated player in an otherwise struggling offense. Tucker relies on quickness to create separation and work back to the football. Williams — despite being the larger defender — runs stride for stride downfield, stays tight at the break, and shuts down Tucker’s comeback.

Williams then uses his size advantage to knock the ball away, forcing an incompletion.

Williams proved to be a versatile defender for the Chiefs in 2025. He was able to cover both larger and smaller wide receivers while still demonstrating a nose for the football. Still, in this offseason, Kansas City will have some decisions to make about the future of its cornerback room. But having Williams — who projects to be a starter in 2026 — gives them good insurance regardless of what happens.

Chris Jones​

Statistically, the Chiefs’ star defensive tackle endured a down season by his standards. But on Sunday, he closed the year with two sacks to finish on a high note.

Jones had the slide his way and the TE chipped Gillotte so the tackle could give a hand to the outside.

Didn't matter. Jones still found a way to win the play and come up with the sack. pic.twitter.com/UJAVEeVDDO

— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) January 7, 2026

On this play, Jones lines up as a 4-technique head up on the right tackle, angled to rush the B-gap. At the snap, both the guard and tackle engage him, while the center slides to close off the A-gap.

Jones continues to push upfield, and when the tackle peels off to block Ashton Gillotte, he uses a quick hand swipe to beat the guard.

As the quarterback steps up, Jones wraps him up and finishes the sack.

Jones finished the season with seven sacks and 25 quarterback hits. While that’s not the dominant production he has previously shown us, it’s still a productive year for a 31-year-old defensive tackle. Regression after 30 is natural — Jones is no exception — but the lack of help for Jones took its toll on the defense.

One of the Chiefs’ top offseason priorities must be finding additional pass-rushing help for Jones — potentially with the ninth overall pick — and improving their ability to get off the field on critical downs.

Jones remains one of the NFL’s best defensive tackles, as evidenced by the constant attention he draws in pass protection. With adequate help up front, he has a chance to return to elite form in 2026.

Honorable mention: Kingsley Suamataia​

There is little doubt Suamataia will be Kansas City’s starting left guard for years to come. His athleticism continues to stand out.

This was more athletic than anything I saw from a single Chiefs skill player all season long. pic.twitter.com/mXU5EJuLlM

— Caleb James (@CJScoobs) January 5, 2026

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...ers-who-will-build-on-final-2025-performances

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Chiefs’ Travis Kelce will let body rest before deciding on retirement

On this week’s episode of the “New Heights” podcast, Kansas City Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce provided the latest update on his future in the NFL with his co-host and brother, former Philadelphia Eagles’ center Jason Kelce.

The show started with a scare, as Kelce opened the show by acknowledging the end of the Chiefs’ season and his upcoming free agency with a joke.

“I am officially jobless, Jason,” Kelce said. “Actually, this is my only job.”

“Well, no, you’re still employed,” Jason responded. “Unless you stop playing, have you announced you’ve stopped playing?”

“This is the only company that employs me right now,” said Travis.

Kelce does not officially become an unrestricted free agent until the new league year begins on March 11th at 3:00 p.m. Arrowhead Time. However, he needs to know if he wants to continue playing professional football before his agents can negotiate a contract in Kansas City or elsewhere.

The only silver lining to the Chiefs’ disastrous season may be the amount of time it allows the future Hall of Fame tight end to recover as he mulls over a life-changing decision.

“After every season ends for me, I just put my feet up and be a human,” Kelce shared. “I’ve been putting my body through the wringer for the love of it. I do enjoy playing football and the physical aspect of it. I think there’s something about feeling the wear and tear of the football season… knowing your body is beat down, there’s something to it, it just makes you feel like a mangy animal just out here trying to survive.”

The big, mangy Yeti is resting a month earlier than he is used to; Kelce has played in at least three postseason games for six consecutive seasons. It’s unfamiliar territory for the 36-year-old, but he is using the time to make the right decision — whenever it will be made.

“I’ve talked to a few people in the facility already, having the exit meetings and everything, and they know where I stand — at least right now,” Kelce said. “There’s a lot of love for the game that’s still there; I don’t think I’ll ever lose that. It’s a tough thing to navigate.”

For Kelce, it will come down to how he feels physically — but he has a clear stance about his desire to play.

“If my body can heal up and rest up, and I can feel confident I can give it another 18-21-week run, I would do it in a heartbeat,” Kelce noted. “Right now, it’s just finding that answer and seeing how the body feels after this game and when it all settles down.”

Chris Jones when asked about Travis Kelce: "I'm not buying it, he'll be back next year." A follow up from @RobCollinsTV — "I can't promise you anything about another man" pic.twitter.com/sPHCSQqBsp

— Harold R. Kuntz (@HaroldRKuntz3) January 5, 2026

Defensive tackle Chris Jones believes Kelce will be back and expressed that to the media following Week 18’s 14-12 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. When Jason brought that up to Travis on the podcast, the Chiefs’ legend just smiled.

“That’s why we love Chris,” Kelce said. “He’s very optimistic.”

Optimism or confidence, Jones’ belief has a stronger chance of being correct with the extended offseason. Kelce sounds like a player who appreciates the game enough to still be part of it. This season, he looked capable of continuing to play. So if it really does come down to how Kelce feels, playing four fewer games than he did a year ago could extend his career by at least one more season.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans...tting-body-recover-before-deciding-retirement

 

[Kansas City Chiefs]

Lessons from the last three weeks of Chiefs football

The last three weeks of the Kansas City Chiefs’ season weren’t fun to watch.

Without quarterback Patrick Mahomes or any realistic playoff hopes, there wasn’t much to take away from those games. After backup quarterback Gardner Minshew was injured, the team was forced to lean on a third-string quarterback for nearly three weeks while several other starters were sidelined as well. Given the circumstances and the stakes, it’s difficult to be overly upset about how the season closed.

Still, there were lessons to be learned. Even in meaningless games, there are always details that can inform how a roster should be shaped moving forward.

With that in mind, here are the most notable takeaways from the final three weeks of the season.

1. Nohl Williams and Kristian Fulton can impact the Chiefs’ plan at cornerback in 2026​

There weren’t many bright spots over the final stretch, but the play of these two corners stood out as a legitimate positive.

While Fulton was initially signed to compete for a starting role alongside Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, that plan never materialized. Injuries derailed his offseason, and when he did see the field earlier in the year, the results were underwhelming.

That situation forced the team to lean more heavily on Williams, though his role remained limited. He sometimes held up in coverage, but there were also moments where he struggled. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo often preferred dime packages with three safeties — or even Chris Roland-Wallace — over the rookie.

Once McDuffie and Watson were sidelined over the final three games, both Fulton and Williams were thrust into full-time boundary roles — and both responded well. I wrote about Williams’ growth a week ago. Fulton consistently flashed his best trait: defending at the catch point, something he’s done well dating back to LSU.

One of the quieter storylines this offseason will be how Kansas City approaches the cornerback position. Watson will be a free agent who is likely to command a significant deal, while McDuffie enters his fifth-year option season. Whether that leads to an extension or even a trade remains an open question.

No matter how those decisions shake out, both Williams and Fulton showed enough to be part of the 2026 plan. Williams appears capable of starting a full season, while Fulton’s durability remains a concern — meaning additional depth will still be necessary.

2. There is a role for Brashard Smith, but the Chiefs need to work at it​

The seventh-round rookie’s season was largely frustrating. Despite frequent hints that a breakout was coming, it never materialized — largely because the coaching staff never committed to giving him a defined role.

The final two weeks offered some optimism — especially Week 18. Smith carried the ball 12 times for 56 yards, producing 4.7 yards per attempt. He did this primarily on outside-zone concepts that highlighted his burst and vision. Several of his best runs cut all the way back across the formation, something no other back on the roster can consistently do.

While this means there is something tangible to build upon, it’s up to the coaching staff to formalize Smith’s role. Rather than treating him as a situational change-up, the offense needs to give him consistent responsibilities if he’s going to matter in 2026.

One potential blueprint is the role once filled by Jerick McKinnon. Smith will need to improve in pass protection, but both players share receiving ability, explosiveness and third-down utility — traits that the team’s other running backs don’t necessarily share.

3. Chu Godrick is not close to playing NFL football yet​

It’s difficult to be overly harsh on right tackle Chu Godrick, given his limited football background. Expecting high-level play in his first NFL action was unrealistic — and the situation he was placed in was far from ideal.

Still, based on what he showed, Godrick isn’t ready for meaningful snaps at this level. That may change with development, but any talk of him being a viable swing-tackle option in 2026 should be tempered for now — even if he remains an easy player to root for through the International Pathway Program.

Source: https://www.arrowheadpride.com/kans.../lessons-from-last-three-weeks-of-2025-season