After wrapping up a 6-11 season, the stress surrounding Andy Reid's Kansas City Chiefs never seems to go away. Along with dealing with roster changes and quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ recovery issues, an ex-NFL quarterback believes that the Chiefs are still chasing a big goal.

“Patrick Mahomes will be on a mission this year…. I think the whole Kansas City Chiefs team will be," said former NFL quarterback Chris Simms, when asked whether the Chiefs would gain dominance in the AFC after a disappointing finish last season and various offseason adjustments.

The Chiefs quarterback, Mahomes, underwent surgery to treat his ACL and LCL tear in December, a day after his injury in week 15. The normal timeline for recovery is 9-12 months. However, according to Chiefs GM Brett Veach, Mahomes is "way ahead of schedule." He also might join the OTAs scheduled for May 26.

Simms expressed confidence that Mahomes is on a "mission" the same way his team is. The Kansas City Chiefs have consistently been entering every year with expectations of winning a title. However, the drought persists.

The last time they won the Super Bowl was in 2023. Otherwise, with Mahomes, they have chased greatness.

They reached the AFC Championship game in his first seven seasons. But last year, they failed to qualify for the playoffs. This season, the Chiefs' front office is focused on building a more balanced team, which can ease pressure on Mahomes while remaining dangerous offensively at the same time.

The team made several offensive upgrades, including the addition of Kenneth Walker III at running back. Kansas City added Chad O'Shea as wide receivers coach to fine-tune route execution, and Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator to strengthen the offense’s overall foundation.

If Mahomes returns stronger, the Chiefs could once again become one of the AFC’s biggest threats.

Walking into the 2026 season, another factor is fueling their chance for another Super Bowl run.

Kansas City Chiefs Building Around One of NFL’s Youngest Rosters

According to the findings of fantasy football analyst Ian Hartitz, the Kansas City squad is the second-youngest roster of the 2026 season. Only the Miami Dolphins are sitting ahead of them on that list.

With an average roster age of 25.40 years, as reported by Hartitz, the Chiefs will head with a young core under Reid. This offseason, they signed 25-year-old Walker III to serve as their lead running back, being a younger alternative to Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt.

Kansas City’s receiver room is packed with young talent, too. It includes 23-year-old Xavier Worthy, 26-year-old Rashee Rice, and 25-year-old Tyquan Thornton. In comparison, veteran starter Marquise Brown is set to turn 29 soon.

Young skill players help bring speed and explosiveness throughout the playoffs, something a title contender always needs. Paired with the coaching of Reid and with a healthy Mahomes, the Chiefs’ offense could be tough to stop in 2026.

What do you think are the Chiefs’ Super Bowl chances? Comment!

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Written by

Hetal Moleshri

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar