Mayor Quinton Lucas watched on as Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs ended the 2025 NFL season on a six-game losing streak, finishing with a 6-11 record and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014. To make matters worse, quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL in mid-December, putting his start of the 2026 season in jeopardy.
Still, over the past decade, the Chiefs have built one of the NFL’s most successful dynasties. Led by Reid, Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce, Kansas City won three Super Bowls in five appearances during that span, with Lucas serving as the mayor throughout each title run. The Chiefs also reached seven consecutive AFC Championship games from 2018 to 2024.
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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) with Taylor Swift.© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
(© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)
Sunday’s AFC Championship Game looked much different than in recent years, as Drake Maye and the New England Patriots defeated the Bo Nix-less Denver Broncos 10-7 to advance to their first Super Bowl since Tom Brady was with the team. The Patriots own one of the NFL’s greatest dynasties, winning six Super Bowls under Brady and head coach Bill Belichick before the Chiefs took over the AFC.
Denver struck first with a touchdown pass from Jarrett Stidham to Courtland Sutton, but Maye answered in the final minute of the first half with a 6-yard rushing score to tie the game. Snow began to pour down and cover the field in the second half, and New England scored the only points of the final two quarters on a field goal, sealing the win.
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With the Chiefs missing out on the AFC Championship Game for the first time since Mahomes became the starting quarterback in 2018, let alone missing the playoffs altogether, Lucas did not appear pleased with Sunday’s result, taking to social media to apologize to the city of Kansas City.
“Sorry about that AFC Championship, y’all,” Lucas wrote on X. “Pretty slow. This is what happens when Kansas City isn’t in it. Be back soon.”
The Chiefs have already begun preparations for the 2026 NFL season, aiming to return to the AFC Championship Game and beyond. However, the offense could look different next year, as Matt Nagy has been replaced by Eric Bieniemy at offensive coordinator and Kelce continues to contemplate retirement.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.