The Kansas City Chiefs hope to put their 6-11 2025 campaign behind them. Andy Reid is back for his 14th season as head coach. Eric Bieniemy returns for his second stint as offensive coordinator. Patrick Mahomes is back at quarterback after missing the final three games of the season due to injury. The Chiefs have a new running back room, with Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco gone and Kenneth Walker arriving from Seattle as the primary back. Walker has made an immediate impact, rushing for 537 yards and four touchdowns through four games while averaging 6.2 yards per carry. Kansas City returns four of its top five pass catchers from last year—Tyquan Thornton, Xavier Worthy, Rashee Rice, and Travis Kelce—and has high hopes for Nebraska rookie Emmett Johnson. Up front, the Chiefs return Josh Simmons, Kingsley Suamataia, Creed Humphrey, Trey Smith, and Mike Caliendo, while Jaylon Moore also joins the group. Simmons has missed the first four games with a back injury.

Steve Spagnuolo is back for his eighth season as defensive coordinator. The Chiefs return seven of their top eleven tacklers from last year, with George Karlaftis, Chris Jones, Drue Tranquill, and Nick Bolton back as starters in the front seven. Kansas City is eager to see Khyiris Tonga, who comes over from New England, in action. The secondary returns Nohl Williams and Chamarri Conner, and adds Alohi Gilman, L’Jarius Sneed, and LSU rookie Mansoor Delane.

Special teams coach Dave Toub is back for his 14th season. Harrison Butker returns as the field goal kicker, and Matt Araiza returns as the punter. Nikko Remigio will be the Chiefs’ primary return man. Kansas City entered the season looking to rediscover the spark that had been missing the last few years. The Chiefs have opened 2026 at 4-0, with Walker providing immediate balance to the offense and Mahomes looking healthy in his return from injury.