Tag: Chiefs

Super Bowl 57: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes passes the the Lombardi Trophy to Travis Kelce after winning the Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium on Feb 12, 2023.

Report: Travis Kelce, Chiefs to discuss future after Super Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs plan to discuss the star tight end’s playing future following Super Bowl LX, NFL Network reported on Sunday.

Kelce, 36, is set to become a free agent next month after finishing his two-year, $34.25 million extension this past season.

The Chiefs reportedly would like to welcome back Kelce with open arms, however the team is in excess of $55 million over the projected cap of more than $300 million.

Kelce has kept his cards close to the vest about his future, however he openly celebrated the return of offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy on a recent “New Heights” podcast.

“I can’t wait to see him back in the building, man,” Kelce said. “He’s one of my favorite coaches of all time, one of my favorite people of all time. I’ve had so many unbelievable growing moments under him as a player, as a person, and I just love the guy.”

The Chiefs’ lackluster 6-11 season ended with a whimper, leading some to wonder if the four-time All-Pro wanted to end his career on that note.

Prior to the season, Kelce admitted that he contemplated retirement. He also said his life has changed in some ways since he began dating the biggest pop star on the planet in Taylor Swift, to whom he is engaged.

Last season, Kelce joined Hall of Fame member Jerry Rice as the only players in NFL history with at least 12 consecutive seasons producing at least 800 receiving yards.

Kelce led the team in receptions (76), yards (851) and receiving touchdowns (five, tied with Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown).

The three-time Super Bowl champion and 11-time Pro Bowl selection is the Chiefs’ all-time leader in receptions (1,080), receiving yards (13,002) and touchdown receptions (82).

–Field Level Media

Report: Chiefs plan to reunite with Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator

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The Kansas City Chiefs are planning to hire Chicago Bears running back coach Eric Bieniemy in a reunion as their offensive coordinator on Monday, NFL Network reported.

Bieniemy coached in Kansas City from 2013 to 2022, spending his first five years as a running backs coach. He was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2018, and the Chiefs averaged 30.1 points per game over his five-year tenure. Bieniemy won Super Bowls LIV and LVII alongside the team.

In 2023, Bieniemy left Kansas City to join Ron Rivera’s Washington Commanders staff as its offensive coordinator. Bieniemy’s unit in Washington achieved the 25th-ranked scoring offense with 19.4. After one season, Bieniemy was relieved of his duties after current Commanders head coach Dan Quinn cleaned house.

Bieniemy took one-year stints as an offensive coordinator at UCLA and running backs coach of the Chicago Bears. After the Bears’ season ended on Sunday, the Chiefs planned to have him in for an interview and hire him on Monday, per the report.

–Field Level Media

Reports: Chiefs request OC interview with ex-OC Eric Bieniemy

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Kansas City Chiefs may be getting the band back together.

With offensive coordinator Matt Nagy on an expiring contract and reportedly a finalist to be the Tennessee Titans’ next head coach, Kansas City has reportedly requested an interview with its former OC Eric Bieniemy, now the Chicago Bears’ running backs coach.

Bieniemy, 56, was the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator from 2018-22 after serving as the team’s running backs coach from 2013-17. His first season as OC was Patrick Mahomes’ first season as starting quarterback, and he helped lead Kansas City to Super Bowl championships in his second season (2019) and final season (2022) in the role.

Bieniemy, who received head coach interviews but wasn’t hired, left to become the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator of the Washington Commanders in 2023 — which afforded him play-calling opportunities that Kansas City did not under head coach Andy Reid.

He was UCLA’s assistant head coach/offensive coordinator in 2024 before returning to the NFL this past season with Chicago.

Kansas City’s 10-year playoff streak was snapped this season as the Chiefs (6-11) had their first losing season since 2012, the year before Reid was hired.

–Field Level Media

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes wants to be ready Week 1 of ‘26

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes revealed to reporters Thursday that doctors have told him it’s possible he will be ready for Week 1 of next season after tearing two ligaments in his left knee.

“I want to be ready for Week 1,” Mahomes said in his first comments since the injury. “The doctors said I could, but I can’t predict what happens throughout the process. That’s the goal, to play Week 1 and have no restrictions. You want to be out there healthy and give us the best chance to win. I hope to do some things in OTAs and training camp and be able to do things there.”

Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL late in a Dec. 14 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, which all but eliminated the Chiefs from playoff contention. Kansas City went on to finish 6-11, ending the season on a six-game losing streak, including three without Mahomes.

But Mahomes has reason to be optimistic about his injury recovery, given that the knee damage could have been worse.

“What I got from my doctor is obviously I had the ACL and the LCL, but everything else was clean,” Mahomes said. “As bad as it was, it was as clean as it could be. There’s a lot of little things that could happen around that knee that I didn’t know. So now it’s just about rehabbing and getting the ACL and the LCL right.”

Mahomes underwent surgery in Dallas the day after his injury and began rehab four days later.

The three-time Super Bowl champion and two-time league MVP has stayed in Kansas City to do most of his rehab with the team’s physical therapist.

“Knowing me, I’m going to push it to the exact limit every single day,” Mahomes said. “There’s places you can’t go yet. You want to but you can’t go yet. And they’re doing it for a reason. It starts with Dr. (Dan) Cooper and his team, and (physical therapist) Julie (Frymyer) and the training room.”

The 2026 season is expected to begin on Thursday, Sept. 10, with most teams playing Sunday, Sept. 13, giving Mahomes about nine months between the injury and the date he’d like to be back.

Mahomes, 30, finished the 2025 season with 3,587 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions along with a career-high 422 rushing yards and five scores in 14 games. The ligament tear is the first major injury of his NFL career.

–Field Level Media

Chiefs ‘aware’ of allegations of abuse by Rashee Rice’s ex-girlfriend

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The Kansas City Chiefs are aware of domestic violence allegations made by an ex-girlfriend of wide receiver Rashee Rice.

The Chiefs’ statement did not mention Rice by name but was released after the woman — with whom Rice has two children — accused an unnamed former partner of abuse in a social media post.

“The club is aware of the allegations on social media and is in communication with the National Football League,” the Chiefs said in a statement. “We have no further comment at this time.”

On Wednesday afternoon, Dacoda Nichole Jones posted photos on her Instagram account that appeared to show signs of physical abuse. She also alleged abuse that spanned years.

“I’m so tired of keeping quiet I’m so tired of protecting his image. I’ve been through enough in the span of 8 years and I’ve had ENOUGH! I’ve dealt with abuse for years, me and this man decided to break up a couple months ago and it’s been nothing but hell,” Jones wrote.

“He literally left us in Kansas and I had to beg him to send money so that I could drive to Texas with my kids and all our stuff. We have an agreement because of everything he’s put me through and he still doesn’t follow it. He’s now trying to remove me and my kids from our home for no apparent reason. I’ve known this man for YEARS. He tries to put on this persona like he’s dad of the year. He does the bare minimum and I have to beg for that. I’ve protected his image too long and I’m done doing that. It’s time to protect my peace, protect my children and stand up for myself.”

Per ESPN, Rice hasn’t been charged in either Kansas or Texas in connection with the woman’s allegations.

Rice, 25, started this season by serving a six-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy stemming from his role in a multi-car crash in Dallas that left several people injured during the 2024 season. He pleaded guilty in district court to two third-degree felony charges — collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury.

The crash ultimately involved six vehicles. Rice and four of his friends didn’t check on those injured and instead fled on foot before police arrived.

Rice caught 53 passes for 571 yards and five touchdowns this season as the Chiefs fashioned a 3-5 record in his appearances.

He owns 156 receptions for 1,797 yards and 14 scores in 28 regular-season games (20 starts) over three seasons with Kansas City. He also caught six passes for 39 yards when Kansas City defeated San Francisco in overtime to capture Super Bowl 58.

–Field Level Media

Travis Kelce gauging how body feels before deciding future

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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce sounded like a man who has more in the tank in respect to his football career during Wednesday’s episode of his “New Heights” podcast.

“I’ve talked to a few people in the facility already, having the exit meetings and everything, and they know where I stand at least right now,” Kelce told his brother, Jason. “I think there’s a lotta love for the game that’s still there and I don’t think I’ll ever lose that.

“It’s a tough thing to navigate, but at the same time, if my body can heal up and rest up and I can feel confident that I can go out there and give it another 18-, 20-, 21-week run, I think I would do it in a heartbeat. Right now it’s just finding that answer and seeing how the body feels … and kinda when it all settles down.”

When Jason attempted to get the real skinny on his brother’s future plans in football, Travis said the decision wasn’t finalized yet.

The Chiefs’ lackluster 6-11 season ended with a whimper, leading some to wonder if the four-time All-Pro wanted to end his career on that note.

“Every season ends for me, I put my feet up, and I just be a human because I’ve been putting my body through the wringer for the love of it,” Travis Kelce said. “I do enjoy playing football and the physical aspect of it, I think there’s something about feeling the wear and tear of the football season to just f—- getting ready for a game knowing that your body is f—- beat down man.

“… But yeah, I think just being a regular human for a couple weeks, maybe a month or so, and trying to figure out what I’m doing to do next in terms of my future in football.”

Prior to the season, Travis Kelce admitted that he contemplated retirement. He also said his life has changed in some ways since he began dating the biggest pop star on the planet in Taylor Swift, to whom he is now engaged.

Kelce, 36, last month joined Hall of Famer Jerry Rice as the only players in NFL history with at least 12 consecutive seasons producing at least 800 receiving yards.

Kelce led the team in receptions (76), yards (851) and touchdowns (five, tied with Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown).

The three-time Super Bowl champion and 11-time Pro Bowl selection is the Chiefs’ all-time leader in receptions (1,080), receiving yards (13,002) and touchdown receptions (82).

–Field Level Media

Daniel Carlson’s 60-yd. FG with 13 ticks left gives Raiders win over Chiefs

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Daniel Carlson booted the game-winning field goal from 60 yards out with 13 seconds remaining on Sunday, giving the host Las Vegas Raiders a 14-12 win over the backup-laden Kansas City Chiefs.

Carlson’s counterpart Harrison Butker put the Chiefs back ahead briefly on a 41-yard field goal with 1:01 remaining, but Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell drove the ball 26 yards downfield in five plays to set Carlson up for a game-winner that was just two yards shy of his career-long.

The Raiders took a 9-6 lead on a 55-yard field goal by Carlson with 13:16 remaining, wrapping a 10-play, 29-yard drive that lasted nearly six minutes. The Raiders got some insurance on the Chiefs’ next offensive possession after Tyree Wilson sacked quarterback Shane Buechele in the end zone for a safety that stretched the lead to 11-6.

Buechele took over for Chiefs starter Chris Oladokun in the third quarter and immediately led the team on a 12-play, 50-yard drive that culminated with a Butker field goal from 40 yards out that tied the game at 6-all with 4:11 remaining in the third quarter. Buechele completed 7 of 14 passes for 88 yards, while Oladokun finished 11 of 17, amassing 58 yards.

The Raiders entered halftime with the lead for just the fourth time this season, bringing a 6-3 lead into the locker room after capitalizing on a pair of forced fumbles in the second quarter. Tyree Wilson forced the first of those fumbles with 11:37 remaining in the frame, setting up a 32-yard field goal for Daniel Carlson that tied the game at 3-3 shortly after.

Rookie Darien Porter recovered the second fumble at the Chiefs’ 18-yard line after it was stripped from Oladokun by Wilson, but the Raiders were unable to move the sticks and score a touchdown. Still, Carlson’s second field goal of the day from 23 yards out put the Raiders ahead 6-3 with 1:52 remaining before the break.

The Chiefs opened the scoring with 4:58 remaining in the first quarter on a 36-yard field goal by Harrison Butker, capping an eight-play, 32-yard drive that ate just over three and a half minutes of game clock.

The two teams combined for 22 first downs (Las Vegas 12, Kansas City, 10), 372 yards of offense (Las Vegas 204, Kansas City 168) and four turnovers (two for each team).

Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty was the game’s leading yard-gainer, picking up 94 yards (87 rushing, 7 receiving).

–Field Level Media

Andy Reid intends to coach Chiefs in 2026 ‘if they’ll have me’

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As Andy Reid nears the end of his 13th season as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, and his 27th consecutive season as an NFL head coach, he made it clear Monday that he does not want a disappointing 2025 season to be his last.

“I think I’m coming back, right,” Reid told reporters Monday. “If they’ll have me back, I’ll come back. You never know in this business, that’s a tough one. But I plan on it, yeah.”

Reid, 67, still has four more seasons on a Chiefs contract that pays him a reported $20 million per year through 2029.

The Chiefs (6-10) will see their streak of 10 straight playoff appearances and seven straight years of at least making the AFC championship game end this season. After losing Super Bowl XXXIX as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles — a position he held from 1999-2012 — Reid has won three Super Bowls with Kansas City in 2019, 2022 and 2023.

Kansas City enters this weekend’s season finale vs. Las Vegas (2-14) on a five-game losing streak and with third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun leading the offense after Patrick Mahomes and Gardner Minshew each sustained torn ACLs in consecutive weeks.

The Chiefs’ roster could be headed toward significant changes in 2026. Star tight end Travis Kelce is rumored to be contemplating retirement, while it remains to be seen when Mahomes will return from his serious knee injury.

–Field Level Media

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce takes (final?) bow at Arrowhead

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Travis Kelce paused to take in what might have been his final introduction at Arrowhead Stadium before Thursday’s game and the Kansas City Chiefs’ star tight end admits emotions are heavy these days.

“You know it’s — you only get a few of those where you just get to stand there and appreciate 60-70,000 Chiefs fans screaming for you. I always embrace that moment, man,” Kelce said Thursday night. “It’s fun. Hopefully I got everybody fired up for it.”

Kelce joined Jerry Rice as the only players in NFL history with at least 12 consecutive seasons producing at least 800 receiving yards this month, but hasn’t publicly confirmed speculation his next step is retirement.

“It’s a Christmas game, baby! There’s a whole lot of emotion, man. Have everybody in the world watching you,” Kelce said.

A four-time All-Pro who went to five Super Bowls with the Chiefs, the 36-year-old Kelce is not certain about next year.

His future has been a topic of debate and rumors the past two years. It was late February 2025 when Chiefs general manager Brett Veach put to rest questions about Kelce retiring before the draft. Kelce spent the offseason working to make certain he could be a productive part of the offense this season, and he leads the team in receptions (73), yards (839) and touchdowns (five, tied with Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown) with one game to play.

Continuing to produce might keep retirement from crossing Kelce’s mind, especially since he didn’t win the nearly $2 million Powerball lottery last week.

“The only time it every crossed my mind, as I was driving in the other day and I saw how much the Powerball was and I was like, ‘Man, if I could just win that. I wouldn’t have to work another day in my life,’” Kelce joked. “Honestly, I’ve been just focused on trying to win football games. I’ll let that be a decision that I make with my family, friends (and) the Chiefs organization when the time comes.”

Kelce was the final player introduced on Christmas night in a signal the team might already know it was his last time on that field.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid is rooting for Kelce to pull down seven more receptions — he caught five passes for 36 yards in Thursday’s 20-13 loss to Denver — in the regular-season finale at Las Vegas on Jan. 4. That would put Kelce at 80 catches, a mark he cleared in each of the past nine seasons.

“It was great to see him get a couple of those catches (Thursday). Those are big, big catches,” Reid said, shaking off any talk of Kelce’s retirement. “We’ll talk another time about all of that.”

Kelce is the Chiefs’ all-time leader in receptions (1,077), receiving yards (12,990) and touchdown receptions (82).

–Field Level Media

Broncos edge Chiefs to get closer to AFC’s No. 1 seed

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Bo Nix tossed a 1-yard scoring pass to RJ Harvey with 1:45 remaining and the Denver Broncos played keepaway while notching a 20-13 victory over the host Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday night.

Nix also rushed for a touchdown as Denver (13-3) won for the 12th time in 13 games. The Broncos possessed the ball for 39:28 during the Christmas night contest and limited the Chiefs (6-10) to 42 offensive plays and 139 total yards.

Denver maintained possession of the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoff chase. The Broncos hold the tiebreaker over the New England Patriots (12-3), who visit the New York Jets on Sunday.

Also, Denver will clinch its first AFC West title since 2015 if the Los Angeles Chargers (11-4) lose to the Houston Texans on Saturday.

Nix completed 26 of 38 passes for 182 yards and one interception and rushed for 42 yards on nine carries.

Chris Oladokun struggled in his first NFL start with Patrick Mahomes (knee) and Gardner Minshew (lower leg) both done for the season.

Oladokun, 28, completed 13 of 22 passes for 66 yards and one touchdown. He managed just three completions of 10 or more yards.

Travis Kelce caught five passes for 36 yards in what might have been his final home game for the Chiefs. Kelce, 36, is considering retirement.

Brashard Smith scored his first NFL touchdown with a 5-yard reception in the second quarter for Kansas City, which lost for the seventh time in eight games.

Nick Bolton had his first interception of the season and racked up a game-best 12 tackles for the Chiefs.

Denver faced fourth-and-2 from the Chiefs’ 9-yard line in a tie game with two minutes remaining, but Kansas City’s Chris Jones jumped offside to give the Broncos the first down at the 4.

Three plays later, Nix rolled out and hit Harvey for the tiebreaking score to conclude a 14-play, 65-yard drive that took 6:18.

The Chiefs took over and gained 44 yards on their last-ditch attempt. Kelce caught three passes for 23 yards and Kansas City reached the Denver 21 before a delay-of-game penalty. Oladokun eventually threw a fourth-down pass over the head of Hollywood Brown in the end zone with 14 seconds left.

The Chiefs led 10-6 after Harrison Butker’s 53-yard field goal with 11:42 left in the third quarter.

Denver moved ahead on a 14-play, 72-yard drive that lasted 9:47. Nix capped it with a 9-yard keeper with 1:55 left in the third.

Butker knocked through a 47-yard field goal with 8:03 left in the game to make it 13-13.

Kansas City led 7-6 at halftime despite being outgained 151-79.

Denver’s first drive lasted 14 plays and 8:02 and ended with Lutz’s 27-yard field goal.

The Chiefs took a 7-3 lead in the second quarter when Oladokun threw a 5-yard scoring pass to Smith with 12:49 left.

The Broncos moved within 7-6 with 19 seconds left in the first half on Lutz’s 30-yard field goal to end another marathon drive — 16 plays, 79 yards over 8:04.

–Field Level Media