The Kansas City Chiefs are heading into the offseason confronting realities they have not faced since before Patrick Mahomes became the face of the franchise.
A 6-11 finish, sealed by six straight defeats to close the 2025 season, left the Chiefs outside the playoffs for the first time since 2014 and marked a sharp departure from the dominance that has defined the last decade.
The downturn began quietly but accelerated fast. Kansas City stood at 6-5 late in the year, still within reach of the postseason, before momentum vanished entirely.
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Injuries mounted, execution slipped and confidence eroded. By season’s end, the Chiefs were watching January football from home, an unfamiliar position for a team accustomed to dictating the AFC landscape.
A torn ACL suffered midway through the month ended Patrick Mahomes‘ season prematurely and immediately cast doubt over his readiness for the start of the 2026 campaign. It was the most significant injury of his career and a moment that reshaped the Chiefs’ outlook well beyond a single season.
For the Kansas City Chiefs, the disappointment of missing the playoffs was followed by movement behind the scenes. Several members of Andy Reid‘s staff departed for roles elsewhere across the league, signalling the beginning of a reset after years of continuity. One of the most notable exits saw offensive coordinator Matt Nagy leave to join the New York Giants.
Kansas City responded by turning back to a familiar figure, reinstating Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator. The move brought experience and institutional knowledge back into the building, but it did not fully halt concerns about further disruption.
Cardinals interest adds pressure to a fragile moment
That sense of uncertainty deepened this week when the Arizona Cardinals requested permission to interview Dan Williams for their vacant quarterbacks coach position.
Williams has been part of the Chiefs organisation since 2019, first arriving as a coaching intern before rising steadily through the staff.
After serving as assistant to the head coach, Williams was promoted to assistant quarterbacks coach in 2023, working closely under quarterbacks coach David Girardi.
During that period, he became a trusted presence in Mahomes’ day-to-day preparation and was part of a coaching group that supported three Super Bowl wins across five appearances.
Because the Cardinals role would represent a step up, Kansas City cannot block the request. If Williams were to leave, Mahomes could return from ACL rehabilitation alongside a restructured coaching setup, adding another layer of adjustment at a delicate point in his recovery. NFL Network reporter Cameron Wolfe outlined the situation publicly.
“Arizona Cardinals have requested to interview Dan Williams for their QB coach position, per source,” Wolfe wrote on X. “Williams is in Year 7 with Chiefs, last 3 as assistant QB coach. A young rising coach and key figure for Patrick Mahomes with a chance for elevation.”
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