ClutchPoints
For years, the Kansas City Chiefs have been defined by boldness, both on the field and in the front office. From blockbuster trades for offensive stars to shrewd midseason additions, general manager Brett Veach and head coach Andy Reid have built a dynasty on calculated aggression. During the 2025 NFL trade deadline, though, the Chiefs broke character. Instead of reinforcing their roster for another Super Bowl run, they stood pat. In doing so, they may have jeopardized their season.
While other contenders made moves to get better, Kansas City chose to rely on internal improvement and health. That decision looks much like an act of misplaced faith. That inaction might have been the Chiefs’ biggest mistake of the season.
Kansas City has experienced a rollercoaster first half of the 2025 NFL season. They entered their bye week with a 5-4 record, sitting third in the AFC West. Recall that the team’s campaign started with a concerning 0-2 record. However, they rallied to 5-3 before a disappointing Week 9 loss to the Buffalo Bills exposed glaring weaknesses on offense.
Yes, the defense has shown flashes of dominance, ranking among the league’s top units against the pass. That said, it has also struggled against the run and generated inconsistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks outside of Chris Jones. On offense, the team has battled both injuries and inefficiency. Running back Isiah Pacheco’s MCL sprain and the season-ending injury to Omarr Norman-Lott have further limited their balance and defensive depth.
At the 2025 NFL trade deadline, the Chiefs opted not to make any moves despite a clear need at running back and along the defensive front. Their failure to acquire Jets running back Breece Hall, reportedly over a minor difference in compensation, was especially puzzling. As such, the Chiefs missed a golden opportunity to strengthen their Super Bowl chances.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the Kansas City Chiefs’ biggest mistake at 2025 NFL trade deadline.
It’s hard to find anyone with a positive opinion of the Chiefs’ approach to this year’s trade deadline. Technically, no deal is better than a bad deal. On the flip side, it’s difficult to look at Kansas City’s roster and feel confident that ‘standing pat’ was the right move.
Yes, the offense has improved with the healthy returns of Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice. Still, the Chiefs lack a dependable spark out of the backfield. Moreover, their defensive front continues to rely almost entirely on Jones to generate pressure. The failure to address both issues paints a picture of a team in denial about its flaws. They could have at least benefited immensely from even modest reinforcements.
The Chiefs’ most glaring misstep was failing to land New York Jets running back Breece Hall. According to reports, negotiations between the two teams broke down over a single draft round. Kansas City allegedly offered a fourth-round pick,...
