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Kansas City Chiefs
2025 record: 6-11The Chiefs have been under the microscope to a degree for more than a decade, and especially during the Patrick Mahomes era. Last season was the first time since Mahomes entered the staring lineup that the playoffs began and the Chiefs were not a threat to win it all.
Instead, they were sent home early, with Mahomes rehabbing a torn ACL. He has maintained
that his goal is to return to the field ready for Week 1, and that alone will have extra eyes peering in on Kansas City. Throw in what could be Travis Kelce’s final NFL season, and there will be some nervous energy in Chiefs Kingdom as the team tries to bounce back from an unseemly 6-11 record.
On top of that, there’s the Rashee Rice drama after he recently violated the terms of his probation and was ordered to serve jail time. With Rice, the Chiefs appear to be Super Bowl contenders, but without him — and he’s missed a lot of time via injuries and suspensions in the last two seasons — they lack a clear go-to guy at receiver.
The Broncos and Chargers both finished ahead of the Chiefs last season, with each team sweeping Kansas City in 2025. And the cellar-dwelling Raiders look far friskier after a big offseason. The Chiefs are in a spot they’ve not been in for quite some time — having finished last season with six straight losses — and many will be tuning in to see how they acquit themselves.
Conor Orr’s 100 Bold Predictions for the 2026 NFL Season| Sports Illustrated
73. Stefon Diggs will sign with either the Chiefs or the Rams
The 32-year-old veteran, who played 17 games last season, caught more than 85 balls and scored four touchdowns for the Patriots, will be a valuable WR3 option for Sean McVay’s offense or a trusted fill-in for the Chiefs as the team navigates the increasing unreliability of Rashee Rice.
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is adding this title to his accolades | Topeka-Capital Journal
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is adding “published author” to his list of titles.
The 36-year-old and his brother, former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, published their new book “No Dumb Questions: And All of Our Dumbest Answers” on June 2 with William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins.
“Brothers, Super Bowl Champions, and now, published authors. That’s right, authors. Look, we’re as surprised as you are,” reads the tagline on their book.
Travis re-signed with the Kansas City Chiefs for his upcoming 14th season in March. He proposed to popstar girlfriend-turned-fiancée Taylor Swift in August 2025 in Leawood, Kansas. The two started dating in 2023 following Swift’s Eras Tour show in Kansas City, Missouri, and the pair’s wedding is likely set for July 3 in New York City, according to Page Six.
Chiefs dodged a bullet by passing on A.J. Brown trade | KC Kingdom
It’s important to note here that in no way is this to deny Brown’s incredible talent or the great plays the pass catcher is capable of routinely making. However, what the Chiefs need is receiver depth and a cohesive group that is going to make smart decisions and be willing to embrace whatever role gives KC the best chance to win any given week.
Already, the Chiefs have a frustrating receiver to deal with, as Rashee Rice has continued to make poor off-the-field decisions and put himself in harm’s way. This is more than enough of a distraction and frustration at a position that needs a bit of stability, not the answer that Brown would bring.
With this in mind, fans should be relieved that Kansas City opted not to spend what it took to beat out New England’s offer and are content looking at current options as well as potential free agent signings. Brown simply doesn’t fit what the Chiefs are building, and would have been a risk there wasn’t enough reason to take.
4 NFL contenders that should push all their chips in to compete with the Rams | FanSided
The Kansas City Chiefs won six games last season, a sobering comedown for the most dominant and dynastic team since Tom Brady’s Patriots. Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL down the stretch, but it appears he will be good to go for Week 1. It’s time for the Chiefs to really double down on the resurrection tour.
This was a productive offseason for the Chiefs, who paid big money to pry Walker III away from Seattle to address their void at running back. Kansas City also hit the NFL Draft out of the park. Still, with Rashee Rice in stuck in another vicious legal cycle of his own creation, questions remain about the fallibility of this Chiefs receiver room. And that’s embarrassing; there’s no reason the Chiefs should be struggling to field a competent pass-catching group around the greatest quarterback of his generation.
Kansas City has struggled to balance their checkbook in recent years, but the Chiefs are the most obvious “throw caution to the wind” team in the NFL. There’s no reason Kansas City shouldn’t mortgage the future if it means giving Mahomes the weaponry necessary to live up to his immense talent on the postseason stage. Mahomes gives you a chance in any game, against any opponent. The Chiefs should be all-in, no questions asked.
Around the NFL
Falcons, Drake London reach 4-year, $141M extension, agent says | ESPN
The Atlanta Falcons will make wide receiver Drake London one of the highest-paid players in franchise history.
The Falcons and London came to terms on a four-year, $141 million contract extension, including $100 million guaranteed, his agent Andrew Kessler of Athletes First told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday.
London can earn up to $150 million if he reaches incentives in the deal, which will put him under contract with the Falcons through the 2030 season.
The $35.25 million average annual value of London’s new deal makes him the NFL’s third-highest-paid receiver behind the Seattle Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($42.15 million) and the Cincinnati Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase ($40.25 million).
NFL Network: Steelers, LB Nick Herbig agree to four-year, $100 million contract extension | NFL.com
The Pittsburgh Steelers and the linebacker have agreed on a four-year, $100 million contract extension that includes $42 million guaranteed, NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Tuesday.
Herbig, a fourth-round pick entering the final year of his rookie contract, cashes in with a long-term deal after tallying a career-high 7.5 sacks while producing 30 tackles (13 for loss), three forced fumbles, three passes defensed and his first career interception. With Herbig’s contract year approaching and Pittsburgh carrying playoff expectations into 2026, general manager Omar Khan made sure there were no questions regarding the pass rusher’s future, locking up Herbig at a rate that places him just outside the top 15 annual average salaries for edge rushers in the NFL.
As has been the case for the last decade, edge rusher is a priority position for personnel executives, a reality that is especially true in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers invested heavily in franchise legend T.J. Watt last year, handing him a three-year, $123 million extension, and have already dedicated four years and $68 million to Alex Highsmith in a deal signed in 2023. With Herbig’s $25 million per year salary now included, the Steelers have dedicated $83 million per year to the three rushers, the second-highest total at the position across the NFL, trailing only Houston’s top-heavy deals given to Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter.
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
Trey Smith embracing veteran leadership role as Chiefs look to rebound
Asked what message he would have for younger players who haven’t experienced the former NFL running back’s coaching style before, Smith delivered one of the most memorable quotes of the day.
“Get it together, or he’ll get you together,” Smith said with a smile.
The laughter quickly gave way to praise.
“The thing about EB, man, he’s going to bring the energy, the passion and the intensity that we need,” Smith said.
More importantly, Smith believes players understand why Bieniemy coaches the way he does.
“He’s going to coach you hard, but you understand it’s coming out of a place of love because he sees potential and passion in what you do,” Smith said. “And he just wants you to be great.”
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