Kansas City Chiefs Exodus: These 5 Players Are Out for 2025—Here’s Why!

After the Kansas City Chiefs’ devastating loss in Super Bowl LIX, the sting of falling short in their quest for a three-peat is still fresh. Yet, as the dust settles on their season, the Chiefs are gearing up for another shot at redemption. Unfortunately, not all of the familiar faces that graced the field during the 2024 season will be part of the 2025 campaign. With crucial free-agent decisions and the need to reshape their roster, several key players will not be back for the Chiefs as they aim for a Lombardi Trophy next year.

Here’s a look at five players who won’t be back in Kansas City for the 2025 season:

5. Carson Wentz Won’t Back Up Patrick Mahomes in 2025

Carson Wentz’s time with the Chiefs was a quiet one—thankfully, that means Patrick Mahomes stayed healthy throughout the 2024 season. Wentz, a former high-first-round pick, was brought in as a backup, but with very little on-field action, his tenure in Kansas City didn’t leave much of a mark. As we head into the 2025 offseason, the quarterback market is likely to be crowded with QB-needy teams, and Wentz might be able to find a more lucrative opportunity to start elsewhere. With Mahomes entrenched as the starting quarterback, the Chiefs will likely be looking for a more affordable and reliable backup plan, meaning Wentz’s time in Kansas City is likely over.

4. Derrick Nnadi Could Be the Odd Man Out on the D-Line

Kansas City’s defensive line is one of the areas where tough decisions will be made this offseason. Derrick Nnadi, a third-round pick in 2018, has been a consistent presence on the Chiefs’ defensive front. However, the 2024 season revealed some cracks in his performance. With just a limited role and disappointing play, Nnadi ranked among the lowest-graded defensive linemen in the league, according to PFF. His struggles, paired with the effectiveness of other free-agent defensive linemen like Mike Pennel and Tershawn Wharton, suggest that the Chiefs may opt to part ways with Nnadi as they look to improve their defensive line depth.

3. Joshua Uche: A Trade Deadline Bust

At the 2024 trade deadline, the Chiefs made a high-risk, high-reward move by acquiring pass-rusher Josh Uche from the New England Patriots. Unfortunately, Uche’s stint in Kansas City didn’t live up to expectations. He played only 37 snaps between Weeks 9 and 13 and, after being a healthy scratch for much of the second half of the season, he was largely absent from the Chiefs’ playoff push. Given his lack of impact and the Chiefs’ ongoing need for a reliable pass-rusher, Uche is unlikely to return in 2025. His tenure in Kansas City was more of a missed opportunity than a success story, and another team may take a chance on him, but it’s unlikely to be the Chiefs.

2. DeAndre Hopkins Will Likely Be Gone as the Chiefs Reshape Their Offense

DeAndre Hopkins’ time with the Chiefs was brief and ultimately underwhelming. Acquired after the injury to Rashee Rice, Hopkins did provide some stabilization to the Chiefs’ offense in the regular season, but his playoff performance left much to be desired. In the Super Bowl loss to the Eagles, Hopkins made little impact, recording just two catches on five targets. With the Chiefs in need of a faster, more dynamic receiving corps, it makes sense that they would allow Hopkins to walk in free agency. His slow decline in production, combined with the Chiefs’ need to get younger and quicker on offense, means Hopkins will likely be on a different team in 2025.

1. Travis Kelce’s Retirement May Be Imminent

Now, this might seem like a bit of a stretch, but the signs are starting to pile up that Travis Kelce could be nearing the end of his career. The Chiefs’ superstar tight end has been the heart of the offense for years, but after a disappointing Super Bowl performance, Kelce’s future in Kansas City is clouded. In his mic’d-up conversation with Mahomes during the Super Bowl, as well as comments on his podcast, Kelce hinted that retirement could be on the horizon. The decline in his play—especially in blocking, where he struggled against the Eagles—has been noticeable, and with the Chiefs looking to get faster, Kelce’s slower pace may no longer fit the team’s evolving needs. While it may be tough for Chiefs Kingdom to imagine life without Kelce, his retirement might be closer than fans think.

As the Chiefs move into the 2025 offseason, the roster will look markedly different. With these five players—Wentz, Nnadi, Uche, Hopkins, and potentially Kelce—likely out, Kansas City will be faced with the task of rebuilding and retooling in order to make another run at the Super Bowl. It’s going to be a challenging offseason, but the Chiefs have the resources and leadership in place to come back stronger. The team’s future is still bright, even if some familiar faces won’t be around to share in the next chapter.