‘Old’ Travis Kelce costing bland Kansas City Chiefs as failings revealed and Patrick Mahomes future questioned

Dec 11, 2025 - 13:45

The Kansas City Chiefs are hanging on by a thread.

With a 6-7 record through 14 weeks of the NFL season, it’s almost certain Andy Reid‘s team will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

Chris Jones #95 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts after a penalty in the third quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Arrowhead Stadium on November 23, 2025 — The Chiefs have struggled in 2025 and look certain to miss the playoffs

The AFC West has gone – and for the first time in a decade their will be a new champion after the Chiefs nine consecutive divisional titles.

But mathematically, the Chiefs are not dead and buried just yet, but plenty of fans and pundits believe the dynasty is done.

NBA super agent Rich Paul and former ESPN host Max Kellerman are the latest to brand the Chiefs ‘finished’.

After Kansas City were beaten by the Houston Texans at Arrowhead on Sunday, the pair discussed where it has all gone wrong for a franchise that contested five of the last six Super Bowls.

Rich Paul argues Chiefs have lost fear factor

“It’s pretty sad, honestly… I think it’s over,” Paul, who has also hit the Los Angeles Lakers with harsh reality check, said of KC’s era of domination.

“In addition to the Texans (defeat), we’re missing a big point. The way they lost the Super Bowl was deflating.

“That was very, very, very deflating for a Chiefs team that has been so dominant for so long, how they lost that.

“Then they came back this season, very bland.

“Here’s the other thing, too: Who fears the Chiefs? Normally teams come in, and it’s like, ‘We’ve got to play this Sunday, damn.'”

Paul and Kellerman noted that with a quarterback like Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City will always have a chance to win.

But they argued much of this season’s downfall has been due to what he’s had to work with, suggesting the front office needs to ‘shuffle the deck’ around him moving forward.

Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts while playing against the Indianapolis Colts in the second quarter of the game at Arrowhead Stadium on November 23, 2025 — Kellerman and Paul argue that Mahomes has not been helped by those around him

talkSPORT reacts... Is Chiefs dynasty over?

Plenty of fans and pundits alike are revelling in the Chiefs downfall.

Sitting at 6-7, Kansas City finds itself third in the AFC West down the stretch, with five wins less than the Denver Broncos.

The Chiefs have dominated their division for a decade, but are now in serious danger of being eliminated from playoff contention with one more loss.

Andy Reid’s team need to finish perfect against the Chargers, Titans, Broncos and Raiders to have any chance of staying alive.

I can’t see them making the postseason in 2025, and with Travis Kelce surely retiring at the end of the year, the Chiefs will need to rebuild.

Patrick Mahomes won’t be going anywhere, but it’s essential for the front office to give him a chance to compete next season by bringing in the right pieces.

2025 has shown the Chiefs cannot rely on Mahomes alone to win games, and now it will be about resetting, and finding the support to challenge moving forward.

Oliver Browning, US Sports Writer.

Kellerman then discussed waning output from Travis Kelce, who has this week been slammed by another member of the media, and suggested age is holding him back.

He said: “Mahomes has decent protection on the O-line, but the receivers are dropping a lot of balls.

“Maybe it’s this simple: His favorite target got old, is clearly not the same.

“The guy who was moving the chains was Kelce, but now you don’t really have that.

“But I need to see them dead and buried before I actually write them off.”

He later added that Kelce’s decline has made the Chiefs look ‘horrible’ and that their ‘demise’ began when he stopped performing.

Azeez Al-Shaair #0 of the Houston Texans intercepts a pass intended for Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on December 07, 2025 — Kelce’s decline has directly correlates with KC’s downfall, according to Kellerman

Where do Chiefs land in NFL power rankings?

18. Kansas City Chiefs (6-7)

It’s getting dark early in Kansas City.

Patrick Mahomes has never been this bad before, while Travis Kelce barely showed up on the stat sheet.

Would Andy Reid step aside if the Chiefs fail to make the playoffs?

talkSPORT ranks the NFL’s Super Bowl contenders ahead of Week 15.

Paul then floated a suggestion that will send shivers down the spine of any Chiefs fan, and threw Mahomes’ future into question.

Could Patrick Mahomes move on from Kansas City?

“Because they’ve been so successful, I don’t think Mahomes is at the point where he’s like, ‘Get me out of here’.

“I think what happens in the offseason, is that they have to shuffle the deck outside of Mahomes. Andy Reid is still there, ownership group is still in tact.

“Prior to Mahomes saying he wants to go anywhere, if he ever says that, you sit down at the end of the year and say, ‘This has ran it’s course’.

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“It could happen. The way this team is structured, they have to bring in (the pieces around Mahomes).

“I think people underestimate the professionalism it takes to be a really good player in a really good team.

“When I see the Chiefs, I can make the assumption that Mahomes probably sees a little inconsistency in discipline and habits, from what he’s seen before.

“Not just in his body language, some of the things that has taken place with some of the other players.

Rich Paul attends the game between the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers at Madison Square Garden on January 31, 2023 — Paul discussed the Chiefs downfall and speculated on Mahomes’ future

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) in the second quarter of an NFL game between the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs on December 7, 2025 — Paul believes the QB could consider his options if KC doesn’t rebuild around him

“I think he would want to stay in Kansas City. He has so much equity there. As a quarterback, the only way you really want to move is if your team has not shown the capability to replenish.

“If they bring a new coach in, change things, then it’s a different situation. I think we’re a few steps removed from him saying, if he ever says, ‘I want a change of scenery.'”

Paul, clearly, doesn’t believe Chiefs fans need to hit the panic button over Mahomes yet. But some worrying trends are emerging in Kansas City.

It looks like Kelce is done, and if the front office don’t replenish the offense for their star signal caller, he might be forced to consider his options further down the line.

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