The year 2023 was another successful one in the Kansas City Chiefs’ history, winning their second Super Bowl in a row and their third in five years after beating Kyle Shanahan’s San Fransisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime.
The 2023 season started with a loss to the new-look Detroit Lions team, a team the Chiefs would’ve been used to beating in previous seasons. They got back to their 2022 form by winning their next six in a row, including big wins over the Chicago Bears and the Los Angeles Chargers. Their mid-season form dropped, though, as they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Green Bay Packers, the Buffalo Bills and the Las Vegas Raiders.
However, after winning their final two games against the Cincinnati Bengals and the Chargers, the Kansas City Chiefs finished the regular season with a record of 11 wins and six losses, making them the third seed in the AFC.
This meant that, in the playoffs, they were forced to play in the Wildcard round against the sixth-seed Miami Dolphins. The game was a comfortable one for Andy Reid’s men as they saw out a 26-7 victory, and advanced to the AFC Divisional round where they faced the second-seed Buffalo Bills.
The Bills game was a far closer affair for the Chiefs. It was an end-to-end game which saw the Bills go up two scores at half-time. However, in the fourth quarter, second-year running back Isiah Pacheco scored to win Kansas City the game 27-24.
They would go on to face the Ravens in the AFC Championship game, another close encounter in which the Chiefs were victorious and head to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas for Super Bowl 58, where they were to face the first seed in the NFC, the San Fransisco 49ers.
After a scoreless first quarter, the 49ers went into halftime with a 10-3 lead. However, once Usher had performed, the game grew closer. With the Chiefs down by three at the end of the fourth quarter, kicker Harrison Butker tied the game at 19-19. A field goal for the 49ers in overtime gave the Chiefs the perfect opportunity to win the game, and they did, as Patrick Mahomes found Mecole Hardman for a redzone touchdown to win the Chiefs their second Super Bowl in a row, and their third in five years. Quarterback Mahomes won Super Bowl MVP, the third of his career.
Looking ahead to 2024
Looking ahead to 2024, the Chiefs have maintained the coaching core that got them to four out of the last five Super Bowls by signing defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to an extension, keeping Spagnuolo around has been key for the Chiefs, as he and Reid have worked together previously between 1999 and 2005, when Reid was head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and Spagnuolo was the team’s linebacker coach, before rejoining Coach Reid in KC in 2019 as their defensive coordinator. Spagnuolo revamped the Chiefs defence into what it is today and has been credited with moulding and developing players such as cornerback Trent McDuffie, who was named First-Team All-Pro in just his second season in the league, as well as defensive end George Karlaftis who, alongside Chris Jones, led the Chiefs in sacks with 10.5, also in his second season.
The Chiefs will be without some of the assets that got them to back-to-back Super Bowls. At the end of the 2023 regular season, they traded star cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans for a 2024 seventh-round draft pick and a 2025 third-round pick. They’ll miss Sneed’s production this season as he has developed into a top-10 cornerback in the league under the guidance of Steve Spagnuolo. Linebacker Willie Gay Jr signed with the New Orleans Saints in free agency, Gay played 16 out of 17 regular season games and started every playoff game in both the 2022 and 2023 Super Bowl winning runs. Other pieces the Chiefs will be without in 2024 are guard Nick Allegreti and safety Mike Edwards, both of whom started the 2023 Super Bowl. They also lost punter Tommy Townsend, who signed with the Houston Texans.
A lot of these guys played key roles in helping Reid’s side obtain two consecutive Lombardi Trophies and need replacing if they are to be the first team in history to achieve the three-peat.
In the off-season, the Chiefs picked up veteran quarterback Carson Wentz to play solid backup to Mahomes and will be good enough to come on if needed. They also signed speedy wide receiver Marquise Brown to a one-year deal, however after the 27-year-old picked up an injury in their pre-season opener, it is uncertain whether he’ll be fit to play their regular season opener against the Ravens.
Kansas City also re-signed key players such as DT Chris Jones, who led the team in sacks alongside Karlaftis. Jones is one of the Chiefs’ most important players and arguably the best in his position in the league. They also retained their favoured defensive linemen of 2023 in Derrick Nnadi, Trey Wharton and Mike Danna. They also re-signed running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire and linebacker Drue Tranquill.
2024 NFL Draft
The Chiefs also drafted well, picking up some great young talent in positions of need. In round one, with the 28th pick, they chose Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy, known for setting a new 40-yard dash record with a rapid time of 4.21 seconds. Worthy looks to have great talent at the position and fits in with the Chiefs’ and Reid’s offensive scheme, meaning he should see a lot of the field from opening day. Worthy will also provide an impact on special teams. In round two, they also selected offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia from Brigham Young University. His selection sees the Chiefs sure up their offensive depth and provide more competition. The Chiefs were 31st in run-block win rate last season, so they’ll be hoping their new tackle will help improve that area of concern. Whilst he might not be an opening-day starter, the Chiefs would not have traded up to get him, for him to be left on the bench forever. They also added a tight end in round four Jared Wiley out of Texas Christian University. Coach Reid has favoured multi-tight end formations in previous seasons with the Chiefs. Therefore, the addition of Wiley will add some decent depth in that position.
After they lost a key member of their defensive backs in Sneed, they chose two more in fourth-round pick Jaden Hick and sixth-round pick Kamal Hadden. Hick, a safety out of Washington State University adds depth and versatility on the defensive side of the roster, as he played in multiple positions across the defence in college. A couple of injuries to the Chiefs’ DBs and he could play more than anticipated. Hadden, a corner from Tennessee, is a physical and lengthy cornerback who, with some development from DC Steve Spagnuolo, could also see some starting minutes. In rounds five and seven, they continued to add depth to the offensive line, drafting Hunter Nouzard from Penn State and C.J Hanson from Holy Cross. Nouzard can play across the entire O-line, and Hanson comes in to replace back-up centre Allegreti who they lost in free agency.
The Kansas City Chiefs come into the upcoming season as one of the favourites for the Lombardi Trophy, and if they were to go on and win it, they would be the first team in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in a row. Whilst they have lost some of their key players who aided them in winning the previous two Super Bowls, they have retained their coaching staff core, they have drafted well, signed and re-signed key players in key positions and still possess some of the best players in their positions in the league such as DT Chris Jones and TE Travis Kelce. And, of course, when Patrick Mahomes is your quarterback, you always have a chance. However, two or three injuries to key players such as the ones listed in this paragraph, could see the Chiefs drop some important matches and thus fall down the pecking order in the AFC. One thing is certain though when watching the Chiefs in 2024; expect fireworks.
