Kansas City’s impressive 10-year playoff streak, which included seven straight AFC Championship appearances, ended with the conclusion of the 2025 season, marking their first postseason absence since 2014 after finishing 6-11.
“It’s just tough to be dominant in the NFL year after year. Because of the, you know, the Patriots and Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. We think that’s possible or even normal, but it’s just not because of the way the salary cap works,” said Kimes, “If you win, you pick so late, and you’re not, you also play so much football, which I think impacts injuries, and so all of that hit, I think from a roster perspective.”
Miscues and numerous self-inflicted issues cost the Chiefs games, leading to the tumultuous record.
“From the outside, we probably overrated parts of the roster coming into the season. Some of that was exposed a little bit, the inability to find stars at big, important positions, pass rusher, receiver, and then some of it was, like, last year they got a little bit lucky,” said Kimes, “Sometimes, like, that’s turnover, point differential, all of that. It usually swings. So I think it was just a confluence of factors in Kansas City, but (I’m) still such a believer in the quarterback (Patrick Mahomes) and the coaching staff. I can’t imagine that next year won’t be better.”
