The 2024 NFL regular season officially wrapped up on Sunday, meaning it’s time for the playoffs.

The Kansas City Chiefs dominated the competition for the last 18 weeks, resulting in their entering the postseason as the AFC’s No. 1 seed. It’s the type of momentum-building performance that Andy Reid & Co. needed as they attempt to chase a third straight Super Bowl victory, leaving time to tell if history will be made in the coming weeks.

While another Chiefs postseason run is an exciting prospect, it could also end up being a bittersweet time for some individuals. After all, the playoffs’ arrival means that the offseason is right around the corner, which will force several players out of Kansas City for numerous reasons.

With that in mind, here are five Chiefs who are likely entering their final postseason with Kansas City.

1. Kareem Hunt, RB

Nobody expected Kareem Hunt to light the world on fire when the Chiefs signed him following Isiah Pacheco’s leg fracture. Although the veteran running back had accomplished a lot throughout his career, he’s much older now than he was in his first Kansas City stint, proven by his averaging a personal-worst 3.0 yards per carry with the Cleveland Browns in 2023.

Since then, Hunt has managed to prove the doubters wrong.

Although he lacks his old explosivity, the former Toledo RB has been a reliable backfield presence throughout the campaign. Entering Week 18, Hunt had accumulated 728 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 200 carries while also tallying another 176 yards on 23 catches. His 904 scrimmage yards are his second-highest total in the last six seasons.

Having said that, Hunt’s impressive performance doesn’t mean he’s guaranteed to come back for the 2025 campaign. The veteran runner’s resurgence will likely garner plenty of interest once free agency begins. While the Chiefs are his best yearly shot at a Super Bowl, money talks and another suitor may pay more money than general manager Brett Veach is willing to shell out for the aging RB’s services.

After more than half a decade, it’s been nice seeing Hunt thrive in a Chiefs jersey again. That’s why fans need to enjoy watching him while they still can.

2. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR

Speaking of players who are in their second Chiefs stint, JuJu Smith-Schuster is someone else who could be entering their final playoff run with the franchise.

Before the 2024 campaign, Chiefs fans remember Smith-Schuster for his contributions during the Super Bowl LVII run. The former USC wideout was impressive with 933 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 16 games during the 2022 regular season before going on to win his first Lombardi Trophy in the playoffs.

Unfortunately, the 28-year-old WR hasn’t been nearly as effective this time around.

Smith-Schuster’s performances have underwhelmed for the majority of the current season. The former Pro Bowl wideout entered the regular-season finale with only 227 receiving yards and two TDs on 17 catches in 13 games. For comparison, he tallied 33 more yards on 12 more catches in two fewer games with the New England Patriots last season.

At the end of the day, it’s tough imagining the Chiefs re-signing Smith-Schuster unless he goes nuclear in the postseason. There’s no reason he shouldn’t have thrived with Patrick Mahomes as his quarterback, especially when there were plenty of opportunities to step up with Marquise Brown and Rashee Rice missing most of the campaign.

Considering how a good chunk of the Chiefs’ WR room could use an overhaul, don’t expect to see Smith-Schuster in Kansas City next season.

3. Derrick Nnadi, DT

Derrick Nnadi is one of those players who’s carved out an impressive career despite never being the best player at his position. Before the 2024 season, the ex-2018 third-rounder had started in 86 of his 98 career appearances while winning three Super Bowls in a Kansas City jersey, highlighting his importance to the defense.

Fast forward to now when Nnadi is playing a much smaller role for the Chiefs. The 28-year-old defensive tackle is now in his backup era, having played just 17% of defensive snaps without a start in 16 appearances before Week 18.

Nnadi has failed to generate much of a buzz amid his limited showings, tallying just three solo tackles. His 12.5% missed tackle percentage is the second-worst mark of his career, playing a role in his personal-worst 34.5 defense grade on Pro Football Focus.

Now that he’s set to hit free agency in two months, it’s hard to imagine Nnadi returning to the Chiefs on another contract. His performances have trended in the wrong direction for the last few years and things are unlikely to reverse course now that he’s getting closer to his 30s.

Hopefully, the Chiefs can help Nnadi win a fourth Super Bowl because he likely won’t have another opportunity to do so with the franchise after the 2024-25 postseason.

4. Nick Bolton, LB

Since being drafted 58th overall by the Chiefs in 2021, Nick Bolton has been one of the NFL’s most reliable linebackers and his 2024 performance proved that.

The 24-year-old LB was his usual productive self before Week 18, racking up 73 solo tackles, six defended passes, three sacks, two fumble recoveries, and an interception. His ability to do a little bit of everything is one reason why Chiefs fans love Bolton, as is the fact that he leads by example both on and off the gridiron.

The reason why the upcoming postseason could be Bolton’s last with the Chiefs is because he will become a free agent this offseason. Although the Kansas City faithful would love nothing more than to see him re-signed, Spotrac projects that the Chiefs will only have about $21.3 million to spend, which will prove to be an obstacle toward any new deal.

Given that he’ll be 25 years old once free agency opens, it’s unlikely that Bolton will want to take a pay cut at this stage of his career. If the Chiefs can’t move some money around to re-sign him, expect the former Missouri Tiger to be wearing a different uniform come September.

5. Mike Pennel, DT

Mike Pennel is an 11-year NFL veteran who’s spent four of those seasons with the Chiefs. Although the Topeka, KS native spent most of that time in a backup role, he still benefited from being a part of two Super Bowl runs during that stretch and a potential third this postseason.

Pennel continues to make an impact at this stage of his career. He entered Week 18 with a PFF defense grade of 66.5 (35th) and a run defense grade of 71.7 (14th), solidifying himself as one of the league’s best interior defenders. That’s without mentioning how he’s also made an impact as a pass rusher with a career-high three sacks in 16 appearances.

Even though Pennell is still playing at a decently high level, it wouldn’t be shocking if his time in Kansas City — and the NFL — ended this offseason.

The veteran defender is set to turn 34 years old in May, meaning that retirement could be on his mind. The two-time Super Bowl Champion told Chiefs insider Peter Sweeney back in July that he wants nothing more than to end his career in Kansas City. What better way to do that than by winning another ring in February?

Some athletes want nothing more than to retire on their terms, especially if they’re still playing at a high level. That’s why Chiefs fans shouldn’t be shocked if another potential Super Bowl run results in Pennel’s retirement.