The Kansas City Chiefs were stunned by the Philadelphia Eagles at Super Bowl LIX as they watched their dream of a historic three-peat disappear from their grasp.
The Eagles hit 34 points without reply throughout the first three quarters of the game, with Patrick Mahomes finally throwing for a touchdown just seconds before the final quarter began. With a scoreline of 40-22, the Chiefs were humbled and returned to the locker rooms under a flurry of green and white confetti.
Despite this disappointment, head coach Andy Reid will already be in the main headquarters planning his next moves in the free agency market NFL Draft and preparing his team for the upcoming season.
There are many ways that the Chiefs can improve upon their current roster, and it all starts with locking down the talent they already have in the building.
Here, Mirror US Football has detailed all the positive outcomes that could come true for the Chiefs this offseason, which would stand them in good stead for returning to the Super Bowl in 2025 – but this time, with a different outcome.
Travis Kelce signs contract extension
Travis Kelce is one player the Chiefs will want to tie down for at least another season, given his consistency over his 12-year career at Arrowhead. The veteran tight end has broken numerous records while playing for Kansas City and has won three Super Bowls.
Reid and his staff in Missouri have given the 35-year-old a deadline of March 14 to make a decision on his future, and their reasoning is pretty clear. Kelce’s current contract includes an $11.5 million roster bonus that is due on March 15, as per Over the Cap.
The free agency period for the NFL also opens on March 10, so the Chiefs will be hoping to save that $11.5 million from their expenditure should Kelce decide to call it quits.
But if he doesn’t, the team will retain an essential piece of its recent success on the ball and a man who has a great relationship with current quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
The pair have connected on 17 postseason touchdowns alone – the most by any duo in NFL history – and Kelce also recently passed icon Jerry Rice for most career Super Bowl receptions.
Losing Kelce would be a harsh blow, so the Chiefs will likely do all they can to retain the tight end on their roster for at least another season.
Pro-Bowl wide receiver secures trade deal
It’s no secret that there will be plenty of in-team moves this offseason, and one that will be interesting to watch is where San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. will head in 2025. The All-Pro and Pro-Bowl receiver has been with the 49ers since 2019 and has made two Super Bowl appearances – losing both to the Chiefs.
The 49ers had a difficult season in 2024, with injuries and personal player troubles accumulating to a 6-11 record and elimination from playoff contention with multiple games to spare. Head coach Kyle Shanahan and his staff have confirmed they will allow Samuel Sr. to seek a trade option in 2025, so where will the athlete go?
Samuel told ESPN: “It was a hard conversation to have with Kyle [Shanahan] because of the relationship that we have. But I have to do what’s best. I’m more than thankful for the Niners giving me the opportunity of a lifetime, but now I think it’s best that we find another team.”
The 29-year-old is a real Swiss army knife of a player, having played at slot, wide receiver and running back for San Francisco. His attributes could be a real bonus for the Chiefs – and he may choose to head to the team that has brought him the most heartbreak during his career for a chance at glory.
His experience in the NFL could also be a useful skill to mentor young players like rookie Xavier Worthy and young athlete Rashee Rice.
Future stars signed in NFL Draft
The 2025 NFL Draft is one place that Reid will be spending most of his time studying as the event edges closer, taking place between April 24 and April 26. The Chiefs will be looking to fill some holes left behind by departing players while also improving in areas that looked weak throughout the season and in Super Bowl LIX.
One area that is extremely low on talent is the offensive line, and this was proven by the sheer amount of hits Mahomes took during the Super Bowl. The quarterback was sacked a total of six times – a career-high in both regular and postseason games – and felt pressure on 40 per cent of his dropbacks in the pocket.
This means that the line is not doing its job in protecting the Chiefs’ most important cog in their offence wheel, and this needs to change. One star that could send Kansas City well on its way to fixing this issue is Ohio State star Donovan Jackson.
Jackson has helped Ohio State win a national championship in the most recent season and was impressive in the NFL Combine in 2024. He ran a 5.27 40-yard dash and had a shuttle time of just 4.63 seconds.
Most of the NFL teams ahead of the Chiefs in the first round of the Draft will be looking to add quarterbacks, wide receivers and other skills players to their roster. But Kansas City has plenty of weapons – they just need some answers to their problems in the trenches.
Another area that needs work is the defensive tackle position – as Kansas City’s only recognised athlete in this position is All-Pro Chris Jones. While this is a great person to have in this position, Jones left Super Bowl LIX early due to a knee injury and was also struggling with neck issues throughout the game.
While it is unclear whether he is out for a significant period of time, the strength in depth is light and needs to change. And that is where Deone Walker comes in.
The 20-year-old defensive tackle plays out of Kentucky Wildcats and has 132 total tackles across his college football career. He weighs in at 348lbs and stands tall at six feet six, with a 40-yard time of 5.1 seconds and plenty of versatility across the defensive line.
So, with Kelce and Samuel Sr. in the building and more Draft prospects to come, this dream offseason could be the perfect plan for Reid and Mahomes to return to the big stage once more – this time, with another Lombardi under their arms.
