The Chiefs started off slowly at 3–4 but would finish the regular season 12–5, winning the AFC West division title for the sixth consecutive season. The Chiefs would host their fourth straight conference championship but lost to the Cincinnati Bengals in overtime 27–24.[1][2]
This would be the final season with long-time wide receiver Tyreek Hill, as he was traded to the Miami Dolphins on March 23, 2022. A 6-time Pro Bowler during his time with Kansas City, Hill's final game with the Chiefs was on January 30, 2022, the aforementioned AFC Championship Game vs. the Bengals.
Head coach Andy Reid recorded his 100th win as the Chiefs head coach on October 3, 2021, a 42–30 win over his former team, Philadelphia Eagles. Reid became the first coach in NFL history to win 100 games as a head coach with multiple teams as well as the first to lead multiple teams to four straight Conference Championships, previously doing so with the Eagles from the 2001 to 2004 seasons.
Season summary
On March 4, 2021, the Chiefs announced that they had officially renamed Arrowhead Stadium, GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.[3]
The Chiefs lost two of their longest tenured players in the offseason. Tackle Eric Fisher was released[4] and fullback Anthony Sherman retired.[5] Both players joined the Chiefs in 2013.
In the offseason, the Chiefs announced they would once again retire their live horse mascot Warpaint to continue with their commitment to stop using Native American imagery.[6]
The Chiefs hosting the Raiders on December 12, a game in which they would win 48–9. It was the franchise's largest victory over their rival.
The Chiefs opened the season on September 12 with a 33–29 victory over the Cleveland Browns. The win was the Chiefs' 15th consecutive win in September.[7] The Chiefs would lose their next two games to give them a 1–2 record after three games, which was their first losing record in 89 games, dating back to week 10 of the 2015 season.[8] The Chiefs' 20–38 week 5 loss to the Buffalo Bills, was the Chiefs' first double-digit loss in the regular season since 2017 and the Chiefs' first double-digit loss at home since 2014. In Week 7, the Chiefs lost 3–27 to the Tennessee Titans, which is the fewest points scored in a game since Patrick Mahomes became the quarterback. The Chiefs maintained a non-winning record until a week 9 victory over the Green Bay Packers. That 7-week stretch without a winning record was the Chiefs' longest stretch without a winning record since 2012 when they held a losing record the entire season. After starting the season 3–4, the Chiefs won their ninth game in week 14 over the Las Vegas Raiders clinching their ninth consecutive winning season, one short of the franchise record of 10. The 48–9 victory over the Raiders was the largest in franchise history over the Raiders and the largest victory against any opponent since the 2006 season.[9] In week 16, following a 36–10 victory over the Steelers and a loss by the Chargers, the Chiefs clinched their sixth consecutive AFC West division championship and their franchise record seventh straight playoff berth.[10] The Chiefs finished the regular season 12–5, their fourth consecutive 12-win season, all four since Patrick Mahomes became the starting quarterback.
Kansas City defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 42–21 in the Wild Card round of the 2021–22 NFL playoffs. They would then host Buffalo in the Divisional round, winning that game 42–36 in overtime. This game was hailed as one of the greatest modern NFL playoff games, with both teams combining for 25 points in the final two minutes of regulation.[11][12][13][14][15][16][17] The following week, despite being favored to win the AFC Championship game, the Chiefs would lose the game in an upset to the Bengals in overtime 24–27, a game in which they led 21–3 at one point in the second quarter.
NFL Top 100
NFL Network began announcing their annual top 100 list on August 15, 2021. Five Chiefs players were named to the list. Defensive end Frank Clark is the only player still on the roster that was ranked the previous season that went unranked for the 2021 season. Tight end Travis Kelce was ranked 5th, which is the highest ranking ever for a tight end in the history of the Top 100. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was ranked 1st on the list, which was the first time a Chiefs player was ranked the number one.
Offseason
Transactions listed below occurred between the day after Super Bowl LV, February 8, and August 14, the day of the Chiefs first preseason game.
Source unless otherwise noted[18]
Coaching staff changes
Players lost
Below are players who were on the roster at the end of the 2020 season, but were either released or did not re-sign after their contract expired. If a player resigns during the offseason, their name will be removed from the list.
Retirements
Players that were on the Chiefs roster at the end of the season who announced their retirement before the preseason are listed below, even if their contract with the Chiefs had officially expired prior to their announcement.
Players added
*Finished 2020 season on the Chiefs practice squad.
Trades
Listed below are trades were a player was included in the trade.
Draft
Trades
The Chiefs traded a sixth-round selection (213th overall) in the 2021 draft to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for a seventh-round selection in the 2020 NFL draft.[37]
The Chiefs received a sixth-round selection (207th overall) in the 2021 draft from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a seventh-round selection (258th overall) in the 2021 draft and running back DeAndre Washington.[38]
The Chiefs traded their first-round selection (31st overall), third-round selection (94th overall), fourth-round selection (136th overall) in the 2021 draft, and a fifth-round selection in the 2022 NFL draft to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr., a second-round selection (58th overall) in the 2021 draft, and a sixth-round selection in the 2022 NFL draft.[39]
The Chiefs traded their fourth-round selection (175th overall) and their sixth-round selection (207th overall) to the New York Jets in exchange for the Jets fourth-round selection (162nd overall) and a sixth-round selection (226th overall).
Undrafted free agents
Signed and released in the offseason
Below are players who were signed and released in the offseason before playing for the team.
Preseason transactions
Transactions listed below, occurred between August 15, the day after the Chiefs first preseason game, and September 12, the day of the Chiefs first regular season game.
Source for all transactions[18]
Cut to 85
The first preseason roster cutdown occurred on August 17. In addition the transactions below, the Chiefs placed running back Elijah McGuire on injured reserve.
Cut to 80
The second preseason cutdown occurred on August 24. The Chiefs released or waived five players and did not use reserve lists to make the 80 player limit.
Final cutdown
The third and final preseason cutdown occurred on August 31. In addition to the transactions below, the Chiefs traded a player, placed Kyle Long on the physically unable to perform list, and placed Malik Herring on the reserve/non-football injury list.
Trades
Listed below are trades were a player was included in the trade.
Signings
*Marcus Kemp was initially released during roster cut-downs, but was signed to the practice squad. The day after being signed to the practice squad, he was elevated to the active roster after linebacker Willie Gay was placed on injured reserve
Regular season transactions
Below are transactions that occurred after the Chiefs first game through their final game. Transactions below are only transactions related to the Chiefs active roster. Practice squad transactions will not be included.
Source for transactions through December 31[18]
Source for transactions after January 1[41]
Standard elevations
Standard practice squad elevations allow a player to elevated from the practice squad to the active roster for a single game and revert back to the practice squad following the game. Below are standard elevations used by the Chiefs during the season.
*No longer on practice squad
Non-standard elevations
Below are players elevated from the practice squad using a non-standard elevation, meaning, if the Chiefs want them to go back to the practice squad, they must clear waivers then sign them back to the practice squad.
Trades
Listed below are trades where a player was included in the trade.
Players cut
Injured reserve activations
Players listed below were activated off injured reserve
COVID-19 protocols
The following players missed games because of the NFL's COVID-19 protocols. Typically, a player misses because of a positive test. Vaccinated players can return simply after a subsequent negative test, unvaccinated players are out for five days.
Staff
Final roster
Preseason
Schedule
Game summaries
Week 1: at San Francisco 49ers
Week 1: Kansas City Chiefs at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson, Evan Washburn and Jay Feely
Recap, Game Book
Statistics
Team
Individual
Statistics correct as of the end of the 2021 NFL season[43][44]
References
^Staff, KMBC 9 News (January 24, 2022). "Chiefs to host record setting fourth straight AFC Championship". KMBC. Retrieved January 9, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^Palmer, Tod (January 24, 2022). "Chiefs make history by hosting 4th straight AFC Championship Game". KSHB 41 Kansas City News. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
^"Chiefs and GEHA Announce Naming Rights Agreement for GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium". Chiefs.com. March 4, 2021. Archived from the original on March 4, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
^ a b cPatra, Kevin (March 11, 2021). "Chiefs release starting tackles Eric Fisher, Mitchell Schwartz". NFL.com. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
^"Chiefs' Anthony Sherman announces he's retiring". KMBC.com. March 4, 2021.
^"Kansas City Chiefs aren't changing name. But they're putting Warpaint out to pasture". The Kansas City Star. July 27, 2021.
^"Mahomes dazzles as Chiefs rally for 33–29 win over Browns". ESPN.com. September 12, 2021.
^Kerr, Jeff (September 27, 2021). "Patrick Mahomes not concerned about Chiefs being in last place: 'I think we'll be ready for the challenge'". CBSSports.com.
^"Chiefs Put Together Complete Team Effort in Dominant Victory Over Raiders". Chiefs.com.
^"Kansas City Chiefs clinch sixth consecutive AFC West title". NFL.com.
^Rogers, Martin (January 24, 2022). "Best NFL playoff game ever? Chiefs, Bills make case". FoxSports.com. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
^Morse, Ben (January 24, 2022). "Patrick Mahomes goes 'Grim Reaper' as Kansas City Chiefs defeat the Buffalo Bills in epic back-and-forth overtime battle". CNN.com. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
^Barnwell, Bill (January 24, 2022). "Greatest NFL playoff round ever? 10 takeaways from Bills-Chiefs, struggles by Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, plus how the Rams, 49ers and Bengals won". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
^Levin, Josh (January 24, 2022). "How Chiefs-Bills Became One of the Greatest Games in NFL History". Slate.com. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
^Dodd, Dennis (January 24, 2022). "Chiefs' epic victory over Bills leaves NFL fans longing for more, but it doesn't get any better than this". NFL.com. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
^Ley, Tom (January 24, 2022). "That Was A Football Game For All Time". Defector.com. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
^"Mahomes lifts Chiefs past Allen's Bills in seesawing overtime thriller". Yahoo UK. January 24, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
^ a b c"Chiefs 2021 transactions". Chiefs.com.
^ a b"Chiefs RBs coach Deland McCullough leaving for Indiana". NBC Sports. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
^ a b"Reports: Britt Reid no longer employed by Chiefs; NFL to investigate former assistant coach". USAToday.com.
^Gordon, Grant (September 7, 2021). "RB Le'Veon Bell signing with Ravens practice squad". nfl.com. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
^Smith, Eric (June 4, 2021). "Vikings Agree to Terms with CB Bashaud Breeland". Vikings.com.
^"Lions announce signings of NB Alex Brown, S Alijah Holder, and TE Charlie Taumoepeau". Pride of Detroit. SB Nation. May 17, 2021.
^Smith, Scott (May 17, 2021). "Bucs Sign Four Veterans After Weekend Tryout". Buccaneers.com.
^"New Orleans Saints agree to terms with defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon on two-year contract". NewOrleansSaints.com. March 29, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
^"Giants have depth issues on offensive line, so who are their best free agent options, as they seek help?". NJ.com.
^Mayer, Larry (June 18, 2021). "Roster Moves: Bears sign three free agents". Chicago Bears. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
^Goldman, Charles (April 25, 2020). "Chiefs trade up into seventh round, select Tulane CB Thakarius 'BoPete' Keyes". USA Today. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
^Smith, Michael David (November 3, 2020). "Chiefs trade DeAndre Washington to Dolphins". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
^"Chiefs acquire OT Orlando Brown in trade with Ravens". NFL. April 23, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
^"Chiefs re-sign WR Marcus Kemp to 53-man roster". USAToday.com.
^"Chiefs 2022 transactions". Chiefs.com.
^"Travis Kelce, Charvarius Ward, Harrison Butker Placed on Reserve/COVID-19 List". SI.com.
^"2021 NFL Team Total Statistics". ESPN. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
