Arrowhead Pride
Welcome back to the Arrowhead Pride Mailbag! Each week, watch for your opportunity to submit your Kansas City Chiefs questions in The Feed, which is found on AP’s home page.
The Chiefs could not pick up a needed win against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving. Now facing a “do or die” scenario with the Houston Texans coming to town for “Sunday Night Football,” let’s see what is on our readers’ minds.
Let’s assume we’re following a Tom Brady-New England Patriots arc — and we’re witnessing the end of dynasty No. 1. Like theirs essentially ended with a perfect regular season ending in Biblical fashion, Kansas City’s ended by botching history’s first three-peat.
In your opinion, what does the team look like as the second arc of Mahomes’ career gets underway?
I wholeheartedly agree that Brady’s Patriots should historically be considered two separate dynasties — rather than two decades of uninterrupted excellence. Kansas City and New England both failing to cement a historical milestone is an interesting parallel.
You’re right. It is time for Kansas City to consider what the back half of Patrick Mahomes’ career will look like. While very little of the Chiefs’ 2025 offseason has panned out, the offseason’s most important task was accomplished. Rookie left tackle Simmons could easily be the last left tackle Mahomes will regularly play behind. With quarterback and left tackle solved, Kansas City likely has one of the most difficult parts of creating sustained success behind them.
Center Creed Humphrey has Mahomes’ trust. Health permitting, I expect him to be snapping the ball to the star quarterback for years to come.
The Chiefs’ front office will need to determine if wide receiver Rashee Rice is destined to be Mahomes’ top target over the next few seasons. The third-year pro has certainly shown flashes that he can step into tight end Travis Kelce’s role — but over the last month, Rice has had bouts of inconsistency. Whether he stays in Kansas City over the long term may need to be decided after next season.
The biggest obstacle for Mahomes transitioning to the next cast — as Brady did — might be the lack of defensive building blocks. Given the market rate for players who can be depended upon for high snap counts, I don’t think the contracts for linebacker Nick Bolton and defensive end George Karlaftis are as outrageous as some others do. But neither is likely to replace Chris Jones as the face of the defense, either. I think cornerback Trent McDuffie’s woeful performance in Dallas will prove to be an outlier, but his status for 2026 is still very much up in the air. Soon, the Chiefs will need to decide if he is part of their future.
Assuming Kelce retires this after this season — and considering the obvious importance of that position in a Reid-Mahomes offense — who is the team’s tight end of the future? Is he...
