The 2017 Kansas City Chiefs season was the
franchise's 48th season in the
National Football League, the 55th as the
Kansas City Chiefs, the 58th overall, the fifth under
head coachAndy Reid, and first under general manager Brett Veach. They won the AFC West, but lost to
Tennessee in the wild-card round after blowing a 21–3 lead at the half. The season was the first to feature future two-time MVP and three-time Super Bowl MVP
Patrick Mahomes whose first start came in the last game of the regular season against the
Denver Broncos, a game which had no playoff implications as the Chiefs had secured the division in Week 16.
As of 2023, the 2017 season is the most recent season that the Chiefs did not win a playoff game, as well as the most recent season that the team failed to advance to at least the
AFC Championship Game.
Season notes
General manager
John Dorsey was fired on June 22, 2017.[1] On July 10, the Chiefs promoted co-director of player personnel
Brett Veach to general manager.[2] The only other personnel change for the Chiefs that occurred was co-offensive coordinator
Brad Childress was promoted to assistant head coach, leaving
Matt Nagy as the only offensive coordinator. The Chiefs most notable transaction of the off-season came when they released the franchise's all-time leading rusher,
Jamaal Charles, after 9 seasons. After being released, Charles signed with the Chiefs division rival, the
Denver Broncos.
Following the
Atlanta Falcons 23–17 loss to the
Buffalo Bills in Week 4, the Chiefs became the
last undefeated team left in the NFL for the fourth time in team history, and the second time under Andy Reid, with the previous times being in
2003,
2010, and
2013. After their 5–0 start, the Chiefs lost 6 of their next 7 games, the lone win coming against the Broncos. During this stretch, the Chiefs offense struggled, leading to head coach Andy Reid giving play calling duties during games to offensive coordinator Matt Nagy.
After four straight losses, the Chiefs won three straight games to win the AFC West for the second consecutive season. It was the first time in franchise history that the Chiefs have won back-to-back division titles. It also marked the Chiefs qualifying for the playoffs three consecutive seasons, which they had not done since they made six consecutive playoff appearances from 1990 to 1995.[3] They finished the season with a 10–6 record, earning the AFC's fourth seed in the playoffs. In the wild-card round, they would lose to the
Tennessee Titans 22–21. In the game, the Chiefs had a commanding 21–3 lead at halftime, but failed to score a single point in the second half. The loss extended their NFL record six straight home playoff losses.[4] It was the second time under Andy Reid they lost a playoff game after being up by more than 10 points at halftime. The Chiefs have lost three consecutive playoff games, and have lost 11 of their last 12. The Chiefs first two wins of the season came against teams that eventually meet in
Super Bowl LII to end the season. the
New England Patriots and
Philadelphia Eagles. Additionally by beating the Patriots in Week 1, the Chiefs extending their winning streak against the defending Super Bowl champs to six.
NFL Top 100
The Chiefs had 6 players ranked in
NFL Network's annual Top 100 players list, which was tied for the 3rd most.
The Chiefs forfeited their original 6th round selection (what would have been the 211th overall selection) as part of their punishment for a
violation of the NFL's Anti-Tampering policy during the
2015 free agency period.
The Chiefs traded their 1st round selection, (27th overall), their 3rd round selection (91st overall), and their
2018 1st round selection for the
Buffalo Bills 1st round selection (10th overall)
The Chiefs traded their 3rd round selection (104th overall), 4th round selection (132nd overall), and 7th round selection (245th overall) to the
Minnesota Vikings for their 3rd round selection (86th overall)
The Chiefs traded tight end
James O'Shaughnessy and their 6th round selection (216th overall) to the
New England Patriots for the Patriots 5th round selection (183rd overall)
The Chiefs traded two 5th round selections (170th overall and 180th overall) to the Minnesota Vikings for their 4th round selection (139th overall)
^
abNew England claimed the No. 1 seed over Pittsburgh based on head-to-head victory.
^
abJacksonville claimed the No. 3 seed over Kansas City based on conference record.
^
abcdTennessee finished ahead of Buffalo, Baltimore and Los Angeles Chargers based on conference record, claiming the No. 5 seed. Buffalo and Baltimore finished ahead of Los Angeles Chargers based on conference record. Buffalo claimed the No. 6 seed over Baltimore based on strength of victory.
^
abOakland finished ahead of Miami based on head-to-head victory.
^
abDenver finished ahead of the New York Jets based on head-to-head victory.
^
abIndianapolis finished ahead of Houston based on head-to-head sweep.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.
For the first round of the playoffs, the Chiefs played the Tennessee Titans at home. The Chiefs entered the game looking to win their first home playoff game since 1994, a streak of 5 straight home playoff losses. The Chiefs had a strong first half, building a 21–3 halftime lead and sending the home crowd into a frenzy. However, the Titans were able to catch fire, with a batted down touchdown pass from
Marcus Mariota to himself, to make the score 21–10. The Chiefs were not able to recover after this touchdown, and the Titans outscored Kansas City 19–0 in the second half to win 22–21. The Chiefs, looked as though they had taken the lead on a fumble by
Derrick Henry. However, the turnover was reviewed, and upon review, the call was overturned and Tennessee kept the ball. Henry was then able to run for a first down on third down to seal the game. With the loss, the Chiefs ended their season at 10–7 and lost 6 straight home playoff games, the worst in NFL history.
The 2017 Kansas City Chiefs season was the
franchise's 48th season in the
National Football League, the 55th as the
Kansas City Chiefs, the 58th overall, the fifth under
head coachAndy Reid, and first under general manager Brett Veach. They won the AFC West, but lost to
Tennessee in the wild-card round after blowing a 21–3 lead at the half. The season was the first to feature future two-time MVP and three-time Super Bowl MVP
Patrick Mahomes whose first start came in the last game of the regular season against the
Denver Broncos, a game which had no playoff implications as the Chiefs had secured the division in Week 16.
As of 2023, the 2017 season is the most recent season that the Chiefs did not win a playoff game, as well as the most recent season that the team failed to advance to at least the
AFC Championship Game.
Season notes
General manager
John Dorsey was fired on June 22, 2017.[1] On July 10, the Chiefs promoted co-director of player personnel
Brett Veach to general manager.[2] The only other personnel change for the Chiefs that occurred was co-offensive coordinator
Brad Childress was promoted to assistant head coach, leaving
Matt Nagy as the only offensive coordinator. The Chiefs most notable transaction of the off-season came when they released the franchise's all-time leading rusher,
Jamaal Charles, after 9 seasons. After being released, Charles signed with the Chiefs division rival, the
Denver Broncos.
Following the
Atlanta Falcons 23–17 loss to the
Buffalo Bills in Week 4, the Chiefs became the
last undefeated team left in the NFL for the fourth time in team history, and the second time under Andy Reid, with the previous times being in
2003,
2010, and
2013. After their 5–0 start, the Chiefs lost 6 of their next 7 games, the lone win coming against the Broncos. During this stretch, the Chiefs offense struggled, leading to head coach Andy Reid giving play calling duties during games to offensive coordinator Matt Nagy.
After four straight losses, the Chiefs won three straight games to win the AFC West for the second consecutive season. It was the first time in franchise history that the Chiefs have won back-to-back division titles. It also marked the Chiefs qualifying for the playoffs three consecutive seasons, which they had not done since they made six consecutive playoff appearances from 1990 to 1995.[3] They finished the season with a 10–6 record, earning the AFC's fourth seed in the playoffs. In the wild-card round, they would lose to the
Tennessee Titans 22–21. In the game, the Chiefs had a commanding 21–3 lead at halftime, but failed to score a single point in the second half. The loss extended their NFL record six straight home playoff losses.[4] It was the second time under Andy Reid they lost a playoff game after being up by more than 10 points at halftime. The Chiefs have lost three consecutive playoff games, and have lost 11 of their last 12. The Chiefs first two wins of the season came against teams that eventually meet in
Super Bowl LII to end the season. the
New England Patriots and
Philadelphia Eagles. Additionally by beating the Patriots in Week 1, the Chiefs extending their winning streak against the defending Super Bowl champs to six.
NFL Top 100
The Chiefs had 6 players ranked in
NFL Network's annual Top 100 players list, which was tied for the 3rd most.
The Chiefs forfeited their original 6th round selection (what would have been the 211th overall selection) as part of their punishment for a
violation of the NFL's Anti-Tampering policy during the
2015 free agency period.
The Chiefs traded their 1st round selection, (27th overall), their 3rd round selection (91st overall), and their
2018 1st round selection for the
Buffalo Bills 1st round selection (10th overall)
The Chiefs traded their 3rd round selection (104th overall), 4th round selection (132nd overall), and 7th round selection (245th overall) to the
Minnesota Vikings for their 3rd round selection (86th overall)
The Chiefs traded tight end
James O'Shaughnessy and their 6th round selection (216th overall) to the
New England Patriots for the Patriots 5th round selection (183rd overall)
The Chiefs traded two 5th round selections (170th overall and 180th overall) to the Minnesota Vikings for their 4th round selection (139th overall)
^
abNew England claimed the No. 1 seed over Pittsburgh based on head-to-head victory.
^
abJacksonville claimed the No. 3 seed over Kansas City based on conference record.
^
abcdTennessee finished ahead of Buffalo, Baltimore and Los Angeles Chargers based on conference record, claiming the No. 5 seed. Buffalo and Baltimore finished ahead of Los Angeles Chargers based on conference record. Buffalo claimed the No. 6 seed over Baltimore based on strength of victory.
^
abOakland finished ahead of Miami based on head-to-head victory.
^
abDenver finished ahead of the New York Jets based on head-to-head victory.
^
abIndianapolis finished ahead of Houston based on head-to-head sweep.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.
For the first round of the playoffs, the Chiefs played the Tennessee Titans at home. The Chiefs entered the game looking to win their first home playoff game since 1994, a streak of 5 straight home playoff losses. The Chiefs had a strong first half, building a 21–3 halftime lead and sending the home crowd into a frenzy. However, the Titans were able to catch fire, with a batted down touchdown pass from
Marcus Mariota to himself, to make the score 21–10. The Chiefs were not able to recover after this touchdown, and the Titans outscored Kansas City 19–0 in the second half to win 22–21. The Chiefs, looked as though they had taken the lead on a fumble by
Derrick Henry. However, the turnover was reviewed, and upon review, the call was overturned and Tennessee kept the ball. Henry was then able to run for a first down on third down to seal the game. With the loss, the Chiefs ended their season at 10–7 and lost 6 straight home playoff games, the worst in NFL history.