The Kansas City Chiefs’ quest for three straight Super Bowls ended when the Philadelphia Eagles thrashed them 40-22 in Super Bowl 59. Kansas City’s dynastic run has been one of the most impressive stretches in NFL history, but is 2025 the year the team finally takes a step back?
One ESPN analyst thinks so and recently discussed the Chiefs on “First Take.”
Chiefs’ 2025 Outlook in Doubt, Analyst Cites History and Chargers Surge
All sports dynasties eventually come to an end, and while Kansas City is still the team to beat, one ESPN analyst thinks there are cracks in the armor that will break in 2025.
ESPN’s Joe Fortenbaugh broke down Kansas City’s threats. “Well, there are two. One of which is history. There are a lot of indicators pointing to Kansas City taking a step back this season,” he predicted.
Kansas City went 15-2 and won the AFC last season despite Patrick Mahomes throwing for fewer than 4,000 yards for the first time since becoming the starting quarterback. The two-time MVP tied a career-low with 26 touchdowns and threw 11 interceptions in the regular season.
“I’ll answer the question with the Chargers. A lot of people will say, ‘We’ve heard this before.’ You haven’t heard this with Jim Harbaugh before … Look at what he did in San Francisco”, added the ESPN sports betting analyst.
“It was a six-win team under Mike Singletary. The next year, they’re in the NFC Championship Game. The next year, they’re in the Super Bowl. The guy builds a program. The team’s on the rise.”
Fortenbaugh brought the conversation back to the Chiefs’ likely decline in 2025 and stated, “When they lost that game to the Eagles in the Super Bowl last year, how many guys told you afterwards how tired they were? Four out of the last five years, they’ve been to the Super Bowl. You can’t keep that up.”
“I think history is against them, I think the Chargers can get them as well.”@JoeFortenbaugh shares the threats to the Chiefs ahead of next season 👀 pic.twitter.com/s6u2BXLtWh
— First Take (@FirstTake) June 19, 2025
Fortenbaugh finished by rattling off how the Chiefs were 12-0 in one-score games last season and have 17 straight one-score wins. He also mentioned that the offensive line, the biggest culprit for the Super Bowl loss, is still an issue, and that Kansas City has one of the hardest schedules in the NFL this season.
Mahomes Wasn’t the Only Chiefs Star to Regress in 2024
Mahomes captured his second league MVP award in 2022, but hasn’t surpassed 4,200 yards or 30 touchdowns since. There’s no doubt that he’s still one of the best quarterbacks in the league, but Mahomes isn’t the only Chief to be on a recent decline.
10-time Pro Bowler Travis Kelce has also hit the skids, failing to gain over 1,000 yards or score more than five touchdowns each of the last two seasons. Kelce’s underwhelming playoff performance (13 catches, 175 yards, and one touchdown) was a major concern.
The Chiefs remain the class of the AFC West, but the gap is closing. The Chargers and Broncos reached the playoffs last season, and the Raiders have made notable offseason upgrades.
It’s unwise to count out Kansas City until the dynasty truly falters, but with two stars showing signs of decline and real challengers emerging, the Chiefs’ reign may be nearing its end.