Three Super Bowl wins set the standard for the Kansas City Chiefs, but last season, they fell short of it. Now, a Pro Bowler’s take is adding context to that playoff exit.

Reported by podcaster and content creator Farzin Vousoughian, former Chiefs RB Christian Okoye shared his thoughts via One 54 that the Chiefs not making the 2025 playoffs was "probably the best thing that could have happened to the Chiefs. Let them rest."

“You have to understand that for seven years straight, they played in the AFC Championship game, seven years straight,” said the Hall of Famer Okoye. “Five of those years, they went to the Super Bowl, that's a lot of football, that's four games more than any other team, that's an extra season.”

Since 2015, under head coach Andy Reid, the Chiefs have played two divisional finals, three conference finals, four Super Bowls, and one wild card.

In 2025, the Chiefs missed the playoffs with a 6-11 record, ending a 10-year streak of playoff qualification, and finished third in the AFC West.

“Taking a break last year is probably the best thing that could have happened to the Chiefs,” said Okoye. “Let them rest. I wasn't disappointed or anything like that. “

The Chiefs were competitive in almost every game with a positive point differential of (+34), but due to the season-ending injury (ACL tear) of QB Patrick Mahomes in Week 15, they were not able to close them out. 

For a team that has defined the league’s standard in recent years, the reset might carry as much value as another postseason push.

Kansas City Chiefs Begin Roster Reset Ahead of 2026 Season

After their 2025 loss, the Chiefs have begun reshaping their roster, as Trent McDuffie was traded to the Los Angeles Rams, while Isiah Pacheco and Bryan Cook joined the Detroit Lions and Cincinnati Bengals, respectively, in free agency.

On the other hand, they have retained tight end Travis Kelce for his 14th season with the Chiefs. And Veterans like James Winchester and Tyquan Thornton, too.

According to the Chiefs' official website, they have added coach DeMarco Murray to improve their running backs and coach Chad O'Shea for their wide receivers. 

The reset now shifts into execution as Kansas City looks to translate rest into results in 2026.

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Written by

Kunwar Yashaswee Chhaunker

Edited by

Rudra Dubey