In the offseason, the Chiefs traded wide receiver Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins. Hill had been with the Chiefs since 2016.[1]
The Chiefs wore a decal with the number 16 on their helmets for the entire season in honor of former Chiefs quarterback and Super Bowl IV MVP Len Dawson, who died on August 24, and wore 16 his entire tenure with the Chiefs. Before the Chiefs first offensive play of the preseason game the following day, the Chiefs lined in a huddle popularized by Dawson where the quarterback stands in front of all other 10 offensive players instead of the quarterback standing in the middle with the players making a circle around him.[2]
After their ninth victory in Week 12 over the Los Angeles Rams, the Chiefs clinched their 10th consecutive winning season, a franchise record. With a Week 15 win over the Houston Texans, they won the AFC West for the seventh consecutive year.[3][4][5][6] It also was the Chiefs' franchise record-extending eighth straight year making the playoffs. With a Week 18 win against the Raiders, and the Bills–Bengals game in Week 17 declared a no contest, the Chiefs clinched the top seed in the AFC but not home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.[7][8] The Chiefs hosted their fifth consecutive AFC Championship Game after the Bengals beat the Bills 27–10,[9][10] where they defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23–20. In Super Bowl LVII, the Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38–35. It was the Chiefs' third Super Bowl appearance and second win in four years.
The Chiefs only had three players ranked in the 2022 Top 100 players, their lowest number of selections since 2018. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes was once again the highest ranked player for the Chiefs on the countdown despite dropping 7 places in the rankings.
All transactions in this section occurred between the end of the 2021 season (excluding futures contracts which began to be signed following the conclusion of the regular season) and the Chiefs first preseason game.
Players signed to futures contracts typically spent most, if not all, if the 2021 season on the Chiefs or another team's practice squad. These contracts are signed after the conclusion of the regular season through the beginning the next league year.
^ abcdThe Chiefs traded first-, third- and fourth-round selections (29th, 94th and 121st overall) to the New England Patriots in exchange for a first-round selection (21st overall).[11]
^ abcThe Chiefs traded WR Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for first-, second- and fourth-round selections (29th, 50th and 121st overall), as well as 2023 fourth and sixth-round selections.
^ abcThe Chiefs traded a second-round selection (50th overall) to the New England Patriots in exchange for second- and fifth-round selections (54th and 158th overall).[12]
^ abcThe Chiefs traded fifth- and seventh-round selections (158th and 233rd overall) to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a fifth-round selection (145th overall).[13]
^ abThe Chiefs traded a fifth-round selection (173rd overall), and 2021 first-, third- and fourth-round selections to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for OT Orlando Brown Jr., a sixth-round selection (191st overall) and a 2021 second-round selection.[14]
^ abThe Chiefs traded a sixth-round selection (191st overall) to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for CB Mike Hughes and a seventh-round selection (233rd overall).[15]
The Chiefs made their first set of roster cut downs on August 16. They made another three cuts on August 23, they also placed two on reserve lists. Their final roster cut, which will be 27 cuts, will occur by August 30. The Chiefs also placed players on reserve lists to meet the roster requirements.
Transactions below occurred after the Chiefs first game on September 11 and through their final game, which includes the playoffs.
Standard elevations
Players listed below were elevated using a standard elevation, which allows the Chiefs to add someone to the active roster from the practice squad then move back to the practice squad without needing to clear waivers first. This can only be used a maximum of 3 times per player.
KSHB carried the preseason games in the Kansas City area. Other networks throughout the region, primarily in Missouri and Kansas, also carried the games. Broadcasters provided are the Chiefs' broadcast. The Chiefs opponents also had their own broadcast team.
Week 1: at Chicago Bears
Week 1: Kansas City Chiefs at Chicago Bears – Game summary
^ abLA Chargers finished ahead of Baltimore based on conference record (7–5 vs. 6–6).
^ abMiami finished ahead of Pittsburgh based on head-to-head victory.
^ abcNY Jets and Tennessee finished ahead of Cleveland based on conference record (5–7 vs. 4–8).
^ abNY Jets finished ahead of Tennessee based on common record (3–3 vs. 2–4 against: Buffalo, Cincinnati, Denver, Green Bay, Jacksonville).
^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.