Colin Cowherd is famous for delivering some fiery takes on his weekday FS1 show, The Herd. On Friday, Jason McIntyre, substituting for Cowherd, continued this tradition with a bold prediction regarding the defending AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs have received continuous praise for their remarkable consistency over the past decade under head coach Andy Reid. Should they qualify for the postseason after the 2025 season, it would mark their tenth consecutive playoff appearance—a streak that began even before Patrick Mahomes joined the team. They’ve also competed in five Super Bowls during this period, winning three.
While many consider their playoff berth next season a foregone conclusion, McIntyre took an unconventional stance, outlining several reasons he believes the Chiefs’ playoff streak is at risk of ending. “I don’t think the Kansas City Chiefs are a playoff team next year,” he expressed.
“I don’t think the Kansas City Chiefs are a playoff team next year” 😳 @jasonrmcintyre pic.twitter.com/8Bs1OFDd6c
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) April 11, 2025
First, McIntyre pointed out the Chiefs’ offseason activities, such as the decision to part ways with All-Pro guard Joe Thuney, and referenced Travis Kelce’s decline in performance. “I love Travis Kelce. My family and I are fans of Taylor Swift. We recently attended her concert. Kelce is a Hall of Famer, but he just had his worst season as a pro. At 35, turning 36 in October, he recorded a career-low three countdown catches. If you look at his stats, you can draw a direct line… It’s like the stock market on Monday—plummeting,” he stated.
Lastly, he noted that other AFC teams are improving, while the Chiefs might be fatigued from their numerous playoff games in recent seasons. “If you look at the AFC, even the weaker teams are getting stronger. Tennessee will undoubtedly improve with rookie quarterback Cam Ward. The New England Patriots have added Mike Vrabel, an excellent coach, and they’re bound to be better. Cowherd is starting to convince me that they could be a playoff team. The Raiders, too, are set to improve with a true professional head coach in Pete Carroll and a more competent quarterback in Geno Smith.”
“Now consider the Chiefs’ home opponents. They’ll face the Ravens, Lions, Texans— all playoff teams. Plus the Colts, who were 8-9, as well as the Eagles and Commanders, who contested the NFC Championship last year. That’s certainly a tough schedule. In the last three years, Kansas City has played 10 playoff games, which is more than a full season. We see this pattern in the NBA frequently; after contending in the finals for two or three years consecutively, the subsequent year can often lead to burnout among the players. I’m making this prediction now, in mid-April before the draft: I don’t believe the Kansas City Chiefs will make the playoffs next year,” he concluded.
Although it seems audacious for McIntyre to forecast such an outcome given the Chiefs’ history of success, some of his arguments during the four-minute segment hold weight—much more than some of Cowherd’s hot takes over the years.
