With training camps looming this week in the NFL, ESPN has released its 2025 roster rankings, but fans of both the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles are scratching their heads. Despite being the two teams that faced off in the Super Bowl, neither franchise cracked the No. 1 spot. The reigning champion Eagles landed at No.2, while the Chiefs were placed at a surprising No. 5, a ranking many consider far too low for two powerhouse rosters that just defined the NFL season.
The Chiefs: still elite, still undervalued
Kansas City may have come up short in the Super Bowl, but that doesn’t make them the fifth-best roster in the NFL. With Patrick Mahomes in his prime, Travis Kelce returning for another season, and a rock-solid offensive line featuring Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith, the Chiefs remain a Super Bowl threat every year under Andy Reid’s coaching.
Their defense, commanded by Steve Spagnuolo, was a top-five unit in 2024 , and they’ve added key depth at receiver and cornerback thorugh the draft and free agency. ESPN cited concerns about their receiving corps and potential regression, but Mahomes has thrived with far less. Ranking Kansas City behind teams that haven’t sniffled a title game in years feels out of touch with reality.
The Eagles: champions still playing underdog
Philadelphia steamrolled its way to a 40-22 Super Bowl win and arguably fields the most complete starting lineup in the league. From a dominant offensive line, an elite receiving duo in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, to the Offensive Player of the Year in Saquon Barkley; on defense, a young aggressive secondary led by Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell, the Eagles don’t have many weaknesses.
They have more years of Jalen Hurts to come, their superstar QB and leader. they added depth in the front-seven on the other side of the ball. Athletes to pair up with forces like Jalen Carter and Zack Baun. Yet, somehow, ESPN slotted them at No.2, despite returning practically the same roster as their championship season last year.
The logic? Slight questions about execution consistency and regression concerns. But the on-field results say otherwise: Philadelphia beat the very team most believe to be the standard, by 18 points. That should’ve been enough to secure the top spot.
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