The Kansas City Chiefs didn’t lose their way in 2025 because Patrick Mahomes failed them. They lost their way because, for the first time in years, Mahomes couldn’t carry everything by himself.
When the season ended with a 6–9 record and no playoff berth, the easy reaction was to blame injuries, bad luck, or a defense that bent too often. But the deeper truth cuts closer to the heart of how this offense was built. The Chiefs stopped being balanced. And the bill finally came due.
Even with Patrick Mahomes still producing at a high level, Kansas City’s offense became painfully predictable. Defenses sat back, took away the quick throws, and dared the Chiefs to run the football. Too often, they couldn’t. By season’s end, Kansas City ranked in the bottom third of the NFL in rushing yards per game and yards per carry. That’s not a small flaw. That’s a structural failure.
Mahomes masked it for as long as he could. He scrambled. He extended plays. He became part of the running game himself, averaging nearly 30 rushing yards per contest. But even a generational quarterback has limits. When the ground game offers no threat, every dropback becomes heavier. Every hit matters more. And eventually, something gives.
This is where 2025 truly unraveled.
Kansas City had chances to fix the issue. One of them came quietly and slipped away. According to league chatter referenced in multiple reports, the Chiefs had an opportunity to trade for
Breece Hall, a proven, explosive running back, for a third-round pick. The offer never got there. Kansas City countered with a fourth-rounder. New York said no. In hindsight, it feels like a moment that defined the season.
The irony is that the solution may now be staring the Chiefs directly in the face.
For the first time in years, Kansas City is expected to hold a high draft pick, somewhere near the middle of the first round. And with it comes a rare chance to reset the offense around balance, not desperation. One name already generating buzz is
Jeremiyah Love, a dynamic back who piled up more than 1,600 scrimmage yards and 21 touchdowns while averaging nearly seven yards per carry. Scouts view him as the most complete running back in the class. A true tone-setter.
Drafting a running back that high will spark debate. It always does. The modern NFL teaches restraint at the position. But Kansas City isn’t a rebuilding team. It’s a recalibrating one. This isn’t about finding a star. It’s about restoring balance so that Mahomes doesn’t have to play superhero football every Sunday.
