The Chiefs’ dynasty is most notably associated with Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, but other key figures have been crucial to the franchise’s exemplary performance. Over the past seven years, the team has won three out of five Super Bowls and reached the AFC Championship game every season. These figures include defensive leader Chris Jones, kicker Harrison Butker, and coaches Andy Reid and Steve Spagnuolo. Notably, Spagnuolo joined slightly later, arriving for the 2019 season when the Chiefs won their first Super Bowl.

Chiefs’ Defense: The New Backbone of the Dynasty

During Mahomes’ first five years with the team, the offense set the pace and dominated opponents, finishing in the top 10 in yards and points each season. However, over the past two years, the defense has become the key to the team’s competitiveness. The defense has finished in the top 10 in yards and points allowed. Last season, they permitted an average of 19.2 points per game, the fourth-fewest, and made critical plays in the playoffs.

When Steve Spagnuolo became the defensive coordinator in 2019, he inherited a unit that had struggled significantly. In 2018, the Chiefs allowed an average of 405.5 yards per game, the second-highest total in the NFL, and gave up an average of 26.3 points per game, the ninth-highest total. During the franchise’s 2024 Super Bowl run, Spagnuolo became the first defensive coordinator in history to lead the NFL’s youngest defense to a Super Bowl victory. Despite losing the Super Bowl last season, his unit continued to dominate.

IT'S BLOCKED! @CHIEFS WIN! STILL UNDEFEATED! pic.twitter.com/hMLhAgbRpf

— NFL (@NFL) November 10, 2024

Heading into the new season, the Chiefs added several new players to the defense while retaining as many as possible. The outlook for the defense in Kansas City is promising, especially with Steve Spagnuolo still leading the way. Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis expressed strong confidence in the defense’s prospects.

Speaking on SPEAK, Karlaftis was asked if he believes the defense in Kansas City is underrated. He responded quickly, “Yeah, I mean, we’re not doing it for the opinions of other people. We know that we have a great quarterback, and if we play well, we always have a chance at winning a game. That’s the culture we’ve had as a defense and as a team. It doesn’t matter who gets the credit. As long as we win games, we’re happy.”

#Chiefs DE George Karlaftis talks about the team's motivation heading in to 2025.

– Speak FS1 pic.twitter.com/tmEl8cBwmq

— Starcade Media (@StarcadeMediaKC) July 3, 2025

Karlaftis speaks the truth, and this mindset is part of why the team has achieved such great seasons. The defense, despite being in the shadow of the offense, has no issue with it. The scary part for the NFL is that the offense seems to have acknowledged their recent decline. If they stay healthy for most of the season, a fourth consecutive Super Bowl-tying the record for most in a row-looks very possible.

Can the Chiefs’ Offense Reclaim Its Dominance?

Mahomes is entering his eighth season as the starter. However, last season, he seemed mortal for most of the year. He finished with the fewest touchdown passes (26) and the lowest yards per attempt (6.8) of his career. Additionally, he had the lowest yards per game average (245.5). The Chiefs ranked 15th in the league in points scored, the same ranking they had in 2023. This marked their worst finish in that category since the Alex Smith era.

Injuries were the main factor last season. Rashee Rice suffered a season-ending injury in Week 4, and Marquise Brown never found his rhythm, participating only in the playoffs. This left rookie Xavier Worthy as the only consistent wide receiver. If they stay healthy, this offense could dominate the league, especially with the humiliating Super Bowl loss fresh in their memory.

Additionally, Mahomes must prove he’s still the gunslinger he was in his early years. His performance has been subpar compared to his best seasons under Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator, when he achieved two seasons with over 5,000 yards and 40 touchdowns, earning him MVP honors. He’ll aim to reach those numbers again in 2025.