Since drafting Patrick Mahomes in 2017, the Kansas City Chiefs have had complete control of the NFL. They won the Super Bowl in 2020, 2023, and 2024. They’ve had great seasons with their worst record being 10-6 in 2017 when Mahomes was a backup to Alex Smith. But the tide seems to be turning, with the Chiefs starting the 2025 season 0-2 in their first 2 games; is this sudden swing in their domination just a fluke, or is it a sign for the fall of the Chiefs’ dynasty?
In the 2025 season, the Kansas City Chiefs started 0-2, which is the first time since 2014, which is a year they didn’t make the playoffs. Â This start could signify a bad season coming up, or it could be a fluke. I think that it is a sign of more to come. With a poor outing in their first 2 games, with offensive inefficiency leading to a lack of capitalization on opportunities to win the game. Another thing is their lack of identity this year, as the Chiefs team, or at least the leaders, seem like they don’t have anything to play for. Could this be from a fault in Mahomes or Reid’s leadership? I think yes, with the success that both Mahomes and Reid have gotten in the past 5 years might have reduced their will to play, and in turn, lead. This lack of strong and motivating leadership may not encourage this team, who may not have been with the Chiefs during their Super Bowl seasons. It’s obvious that the new players want to play well, but do these veterans who already achieved the pinnacle of the NFL really want it?
With Patrick Mahomes, the star Chiefs quarterback, turning 30 in the past week, he might be on a physical or mental decline. Mahomes seems to be leaving his peak age, which will bring down the team with him, as he is the backbone of the Chiefs ‘ success in the past decade. Mahomes’ stats are declining too, with a steady decline since his best year in 2022. This year, Mahomes has started with a 59% completion percentage, which is the lowest he’s ever had, and an almost 8% decline from last year.
The Chiefs have had some notable losses in the offseason, including Justin Reid, Turk Wharton, and DeAndre Hopkins. These losses of reliable players may put into question whether the Chiefs will retain the well-roundedness of their roster. The loss of DeAndre Hopkins also gives aging Mahomes fewer targets to pass to.
Overall, the answer to this question is Yes. If the Chiefs keep relying on Mahomes, who is out of his prime and doesn’t seem to have the will to lead, and is sure to get worse and worse every year, then they will just slowly fade away from the top 5 teams in the league. If the Chiefs don’t do anything this season, they may end up not making the playoffs, which would, in turn, reduce the interest for talented players to come to the Chiefs, and they might even have to rebuild, which is something they have avoided for decades, but now seems like it could come true.
