The Kansas City Chiefs had won the AFC West nine consecutive years before missing the playoffs last season. For the majority of the decade, they were a free space on the NFL's postseason Bingo card. But in 2025, for the first time in Patrick Mahomes' career, the media stopped giving the franchise the benefit of the doubt regarding being one of the last teams standing.
After four weeks of this year's regular season, Kansas City looks like the formidable Kansas City teams of old. While legacy names such as tight end Travis Kelce and defensive tackle Chris Jones are still around, several newcomers, including a strong rookie defensive class, have inspired newfound confidence — and taken the burden off Mahomes to get the Chiefs back to Super Bowl contention. Prized free agent running back acquisition Kenneth Walker III leads the NFL in rushing (537) yards as the league trends more run heavy, but it was a defensive overhaul that has been the biggest change for the Chiefs.
Roughly 35% of defensive snaps this season have been played by those who were not on the roster a year ago. In terms of defensive per play, through four weeks, the Chiefs have their best mark (0.04) since winning the Super Bowl in 2024. The pass rush is a big reason for that improvement.
Kansas City is on pace for 259 pressures, according to TruMedia, which would be the team's highest total in a decade. Last season, it generated a higher team pressure rate (39.2%), but that effort required more blitzes. Steve Spagnuolo's defense is impacting the opposing quarterback without sending five-plus rushers as often, which takes some pressure off an entirely revamped secondary.
The problem thus far has been finishing plays. Despite the uptick in pressure, Kansas City has just four sacks on the year, tied for the second-lowest in the NFL. The reason for elevated success up front has been improved play from stalwarts Felix Anudike-Uzomah and George Karlaftis, as well as working rookies R Mason Thomas and Peter Woods — both of whom were taken top-40 overall — into the rotation.
The former is third on the team with 10 pressures. Upon trading Trent McDuffie and allowing cornerback Jaylen Watson and safety Bryan Cook to depart in free agency, the franchise countered by drafting LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane No. 6 overall. It also signed veteran safety Alohi Gilman and brought back cornerback L'Jarius Sneed, whom they had traded to the Titans in 2024.
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