Jul 27, 2026, 7:01 PM CUT
Ex-Chiefs star gives harsh reality check to fans for upcoming NFL season
KRT SPORTS STORY SLUGGED: FBN-RAIDERS-CHIEFS KRT PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID EULITT/KANSAS CITY STAR November 6 KANSAS CITY, MO -- Kansas City Chiefs tight end Jason Dunn 89 celebrated the game-winning touchdown by teammate Larry Johnson 27 on the final play of the game against the Oakland Raiders. The Chiefs defeated the Raiders, 27-23, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, Sunday, November 6, 2005. cdm 2005 KANSAS CITY MO USA EDITORIAL USE ONLY Copyright: xThexKansasxCityxStarx 1023599 DAVIDxEULITTx krtphotoslive193418
KRT SPORTS STORY SLUGGED: FBN-RAIDERS-CHIEFS KRT PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID EULITT/KANSAS CITY STAR November 6 KANSAS CITY, MO -- Kansas City Chiefs tight end Jason Dunn 89 celebrated the game-winning touchdown by teammate Larry Johnson 27 on the final play of the game against the Oakland Raiders. The Chiefs defeated the Raiders, 27-23, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, Sunday, November 6, 2005. cdm 2005 KANSAS CITY MO USA EDITORIAL USE ONLY Copyright: xThexKansasxCityxStarx 1023599 DAVIDxEULITTx krtphotoslive193418
Former Kansas City tight end Jason Dunn believes many fans are heading into the upcoming NFL season with high expectations. He shared his honest thoughts about what he sees as the biggest disconnect between Chiefs fans and the front office.
Speaking on July 26, 2026, Dunn explained that fans often underestimate how hard it is to win games consistently in the NFL. That difficulty is forgotten after everything Kansas City accomplished during the Patrick Mahomes era.
"The biggest issue is that fans don’t quite understand how extremely difficult it is to win in this league, and also to stay on top. They don’t realize the true difficulty. Every team comes out to win. Everybody puts in time, hard work, and effort. But at the end of the day, only one or two teams reach the Super Bowl, and only one wins it.”
KRT SPORTS STORY SLUGGED: CHIEFS-RAVENS KRT PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHN SLEEZER/KANSAS CITY STAR October 4 BALTIMORE, MD - Kansas City tight end Jason Dunn 89 celebrates his first-quarter touchdown during the Chiefs 27-24 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, Monday night, October 4, 2004, in Baltimore, Maryland. smd 2004 BALTIMORE MD USA EDITORIAL USE ONLY Copyright: xx 1010507 JOHNxSLEEZERx krtphotoslive147008
KRT SPORTS STORY SLUGGED: CHIEFS-RAVENS KRT PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHN SLEEZER/KANSAS CITY STAR October 4 BALTIMORE, MD - Kansas City tight end Jason Dunn 89 celebrates his first-quarter touchdown during the Chiefs 27-24 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, Monday night, October 4, 2004, in Baltimore, Maryland. smd 2004 BALTIMORE MD USA EDITORIAL USE ONLY Copyright: xx 1010507 JOHNxSLEEZERx krtphotoslive147008
Dunn shared these insights during an episode on the Chief Concerns YouTube channel.
The discussion began when host Marcus Dash asked Dunn to pinpoint the gap between fan expectations and the way an NFL organization functions. He noted that every team in the league works hard and features elite talent, making every single win a challenge.
Opponents are paid to win, too, and factors like luck and health play a huge role over a long season. He also shut down any talk of games being scripted, calling those conspiracy theories absurd.
He explained that all the fans who joined during the Mahomes era have come to view Super Bowl trips as the basic expectation. In reality, Mahomes has normalized winning.
Older fans still remember just how tough it was for the team to compete before Mahomes took over.
Why Jason Dunn's advice is crucial after the Chiefs' 2025 season
Before Mahomes, Kansas City had won one Super Bowl (Super Bowl IV), followed by a 50-year drought. According to CBS Sports, the team has won three Super Bowl championships during the Mahomes era.
In the 2025 season, Kansas City finished with a 6-11 record, missing the postseason for the first time since 2014.
The low point came late in the season when Mahomes suffered a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee during a Week 15 loss.
Mahomes has completed over seven months of rehabilitation and was cleared for training camp. He is already back on the field practicing with the first-team offense.
Kansas City enters the 2026 season with Mahomes back and renewed postseason hopes. What is your take on Dunn's perspective or how Kansas City will bounce back this season?
Read more at Kansas City Chiefs Community!
Written by
Utsav Sinha
Edited by
Utsav Sinha