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Kansas City Chiefs will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Is the dynasty over?

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is injured after being tackled by Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Da'Shawn Hand (91) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo.
Reed Hoffmann
/
AP
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is injured after being tackled by Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Da'Shawn Hand (91) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 in Kansas City, Mo.

The Kansas City Chiefs' loss on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers eliminated Kansas City from playoff contention for the first time in more than a decade — while Patrick Mahomes sustained a season-ending injury. Can the Chiefs turn it around next year, or is this the end of one of the most impressive runs in football history?

The Kansas City Chiefs will not have the opportunity to compete for another Super Bowl championship this season. On Sunday, the team was eliminated from playoff contention after winning just six of its first 14 games.

Meanwhile, quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL during the game. He underwent successful surgery on Monday night in Dallas.

While it is easy for Chiefs fans to say the sky is falling, Patrick Allen of the Arrowhead Addict podcast believes this is just a bump in the road for the franchise.

"This is a league that is designed to force parity, and the fact that the Chiefs had such an unbelievable run is remarkable," Allen said. "But, to expect that that's all just going to come crumbling down as long as they still have Patrick Mahomes at quarterback and Andy Reid at head coach, is just foolish, and it's a 'prisoner of the moment' type of take."

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
Gabriella "Gabby" Lacey is a freelance producer for Up to Date and Sportsbeat KC, she was a previous KCUR Studios Intern in summer of 2023.
As Up To Date’s senior producer, I want to pique the curiosity of Kansas Citians and help them understand the world around them. Each day, I construct conversations with our city’s most innovative visionaries and creatives, while striving to hold elected officials accountable and amplifying the voices of everyday Kansas Citians. Email me at zach@kcur.org.
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