The Kansas City Chiefs dynasty, once the undisputed king of the NFL with a jaw-dropping 90-26 regular season record and a .776 win percentage from 2018-2024, officially hit the skids in 2025 with a rough 6-11 faceplant. They were a force, making four Super Bowls and winning three between 2019-2023, never missing an AFC Championship game. But last season’s struggles showed us something huge about their future: a new Chiefs dynasty will look totally different if it’s going to happen at all.
A New Era Kicks Off in KC
Yeah, GM Brett Veach, Head Coach Andy Reid, DC Steve Spagnuolo, and that guy Patrick Mahomes are still there, but so much has changed around them. A ton of key veterans, both starters and important depth, walked out the door this offseason via trade or free agency. We’re talking about names like Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Bryan Cook, Leo Chenal, Marquise Brown, Jawaan Taylor, Charles Omenihu, Isiah Pacheco, Derrick Nnadi, and Michael Danna. That’s a massive turnover. Travis Kelce is heading into his 14th season, Mahomes his 10th. So, if the Chiefs are going to get back to their winning ways, it’s gotta be with a whole new crew of players. And it’s not just about finding new stars, it’s about the guys whose names haven’t caught up to their potential on the field.
The Underrated Cornerback Who Could Lead a Resurgent Defense
One player who truly stood out in 2025 and is poised to break out in 2026, even after that August 15th preseason game, is cornerback Nohl Williams. Losing McDuffie and Watson to the Rams via trade and free agency, respectively, were huge blows to a Chiefs defense that slid from seventh in DVOA in 2023, to 12th in 2024, and then all the way down to 16th in 2025. Spags once told us he’d never coached a defense with so many smart young players, and now he needs to work his magic again. Williams, a 2025 rookie from Cal, was a relatively easy pick to succeed given Spags’s scheme. Since 2019, Spags has always called the NFL’s highest rate of plays with at least one cornerback in press coverage. It was the same last season, with Chiefs corners in press on just 13% of snaps. Williams fits that aggressive style perfectly.
This new Chiefs squad is in a fight to redefine itself. Can these lesser-known players step up and form the foundation of something new, or was 2025 a sign of things to come for a team that has to find a lot of new answers fast? It’s going to be a fascinating journey for them as the 2026 season unfolds, figuring out who can fill those massive shoes.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Arrowhead Pride.
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