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Chiefs Set to Repeat History in Horror Scenario for AFC
Kansas City's offseason moves could spell trouble for the rest of the conference.
Published on Mar. 5, 2026
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The Kansas City Chiefs are making major offseason changes, including trading away a star player, that mirror their approach in 2022 - the year they went on to win the Super Bowl. This has the rest of the AFC on high alert, as the Chiefs appear poised to reload and challenge for the title again in the near future.
Why it matters
The Chiefs' recent success, including a Super Bowl win in 2023, has made them one of the top teams in the AFC. Their ability to quickly rebuild and remain competitive is concerning for the rest of the conference, as it could mean another Chiefs dynasty is on the horizon.
The details
After missing the playoffs for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era in 2025, the Chiefs are following a similar offseason blueprint to the one they used in 2022. This includes trading away a star player - Trent McDuffie in 2026 versus Tyreek Hill in 2022 - and using the acquired draft capital to build an elite rookie class. With two first-round picks and more in the later rounds, the Chiefs have the resources to quickly reload and challenge for the Super Bowl again as soon as 2026.
- The Chiefs missed the playoffs for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era in 2025.
- The Chiefs traded away star player Trent McDuffie in 2026.
The players
Patrick Mahomes
The star quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Trent McDuffie
A star player the Chiefs traded away in 2026 as part of their offseason rebuild.
What they’re saying
“After breaking a streak of 10 straight playoff appearances, the Chiefs now have their best opportunity to reload since drafting Patrick Mahomes in 2017. Given K.C.'s financial constraints, they look like they're replicating what they did during the 2022 offseason, when they traded traded a star player (Tyreek Hill in 2022 vs. Trent McDuffie in 2026) and used the acquired picks to bring in an elite draft class.”
— Zak Koeppel, NFL.com Writer (NFL.com)
What’s next
The Chiefs will look to use their draft capital from the Trent McDuffie trade to build an elite rookie class that can help the team challenge for the Super Bowl as soon as the 2026 season.
The takeaway
The Chiefs' ability to quickly rebuild and remain competitive is a major concern for the rest of the AFC. Their offseason moves mirror the blueprint they used in 2022, the year they went on to win the Super Bowl, suggesting another Chiefs dynasty could be on the horizon and leaving the rest of the conference on high alert.
