2015 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 2015 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 46th in the National Football League, their 56th overall and their third under the head coach/general manager tandem of Andy Reid and John Dorsey. The Chiefs went through a poor start in their first six games as they were 1–5, and lost their star running back, Jamaal Charles, to a torn ACL in his right knee during an 18–17 Week 5 loss at home against the Chicago Bears. In week 16, after their ninth consecutive victory and the Baltimore Ravens win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Chiefs clinched a playoff berth, their second in three years. They are the first team since the 1970 Cincinnati Bengals to start the season 1–5 and qualify for the playoffs. The Chiefs also set the franchise record for the most consecutive victories, winning 10 in a row.
In their Wild Card matchup, the Chiefs shutout the Texans 30–0 to earn their first playoff win in 22 years, ending what was at the time, until the [2015 Cincinnati 2015 Cincinnati Bengals season|Bengals season|Bengals] broke the record the night the Chiefs won, an NFL record for consecutive playoff losses. The shutout was the Chiefs first ever playoff shutout and remains, as of the 2023–24 playoffs, the most recent playoff shutout in the NFL. The following week, they were defeated by the [2015 2015 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots season|New England Patriots] in the divisional round 27–20. Two Chiefs took home awards at the 5th NFL Honors, honoring performances from the 2015 season. Cornerback Marcus Peters won Defensive Rookie of the Year after leading the NFL in interceptions. Safety Eric Berry won Comeback Player of the Year after a being named All-Pro the year after having his season cut short due to a lymphoma diagnosis.
This was the last season that the Chiefs did not win the AFC West until 2025, as the franchise went on to win 9 consecutive division titles.
Roster changes
Offseason
Cuts
| Position | Player | 2015 team |
| LB | Joe Mays | New York Jets |
| DT | Vance Walker | Denver Broncos |
| TE | Anthony Fasano | Tennessee Titans |
| WR | Donnie Avery | - |
| WR | A. J. Jenkins | Dallas Cowboys |
| WR | Dwayne Bowe | Cleveland Browns |
| G | Mike McGlynn | New Orleans Saints |
Trades
| Position | Player/pick received | Team | Compensation |
| G | Ben Grubbs | New Orleans Saints | 5th round pick, 2015 NFL draft |
| FS | Kelcie McCray | Seattle Seahawks | 5th round pick, 2016 NFL draft |
Draft
Notes- The Chiefs traded their fifth-round selection to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for guard Ben Grubbs.
- The Chiefs traded their 3rd round pick and their 6th round pick to the Minnesota Vikings for their 3rd round pick
Preseason transactions
Cuts
| Position | Player |
| WR | Kenny Cook |
| T | Anthony Dima |
| LS | Andrew East |
| CB | Aaron Hester |
| DE | Vaughn Martin |
| CB | Kenneth Penny |
| G | Marcus Reed |
| TE | Adam Schiltz |
| WR | Jeret Smith |
| DL | Charles Tuaau |
| WR | L’Damian Washington |
| WR | Junior Hemingway |
| OL | Tavon Rooks |
| Position | Player |
| WR | Da'Ron Brown |
| DE | Mike Catapano |
| S | Sanders Commings |
| LB | Ja'Gared Davis |
| DT | Hebron Fangupo |
| C | Garrett Frye |
| DL | David Irving |
| LB | James-Michael Johnson |
| C | Eric Kush |
| WR | Tello Luckett |
| C | Daniel Munyer |
| DB | Deji Olatoye |
| G | Jarrod Pughsley |
| RB | Darrin Reaves |
| DB | Kevin Short |
| OT | Derek Sherrod |
| TE | Ryan Taylor |
| FB | Spencer Ware |
| WR | Fredd Williams |
| TE | Richard Gordon |
Regular season transactions
Players involved in multiple transactions
This list is for players who were involved in more than one transaction during the season| Position | Player | Final status |
| LB | Dezman Moses | Chiefs active roster |
| WR | Frankie Hammond | Chiefs active roster |
| WR | Saalim Hakim | Free agent |
| OL | Daniel Munyer | Chiefs active roster |
- Indicates player was signed off the practice squad of the team listed
Regular season
Schedule
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.Game summaries
Week 1: at Houston Texans
With the win, the Chiefs started their 2015 campaign at 1–0.Week 2: vs. Denver Broncos
The Broncos would score two touchdowns in the final minute to steal the win from the Chiefs. The second touchdown was a critical fumble by running back Jamaal Charles.With the heartbreaking and stunning loss, the Chiefs fell to 1–1, and picked up their seventh straight loss to Denver. This marked their last loss to the Broncos until 2023 and their last home loss to Denver until 2025.
Week 3: at Green Bay Packers
In a rematch of the 2011 game, the Chiefs fell to 1–2. This was also their first loss at Lambeau Field, as well their first loss in Wisconsin.Week 4: at Cincinnati Bengals
Cairo Santos would kick 7 field goals in this game, setting a new franchise record for most field goals in one game by a Kansas City kicker. The 7 kicks also tied an NFL record. However, the 7 field goals by Santos were not enough to beat the Bengals, as the Chiefs fell to 1–3.Week 5: vs. Chicago Bears
The Chiefs would build a 17–3 lead at one point, but Chicago would pull off a miraculous comeback to win 18–17. The Chiefs tried a 66-yard field goal, but Santos kick went wide right and missed everything near the goalposts. During this game, the Bears fans at times outnumbered the Chiefs fans, as Chicago fans are best known for good travel.With the loss, Kansas City fell to 1–4. They would also lose Jamaal Charles for the season, as he tore his ACL in this game.
Week 6: at Minnesota Vikings
With their fifth straight loss, the Chiefs fell to 1–5.Week 7: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger would not play in this game for the Steelers, so backup quarterback Landry Jones led the way for the Steelers. In his first career start, the Chiefs defense would force 3 turnovers, 2 of them interceptions, and the Chiefs would hold on to win 23–13.With the win, the Chiefs improved to 2–5.
Week 8: vs. Detroit Lions
NFL International SeriesIn their first ever game in London, the Chiefs routed the crestfallen 1–6 Detroit Lions. With the win, Kansas City improved to 3–5 and they finished 1-3 against the NFC North.
Week 10: at Denver Broncos
Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning would set the all-time record for most passing yards in NFL history in this game, but the Chiefs defense would have themselves a day, picking off Bronco quarterbacks five times, four on Manning, one on Brock Osweiler, and the Chiefs routed the Broncos, 29–13.With the win, the Chiefs went to 4–5, and snapped their seven-game losing streak against the Broncos. This marked the first of 15 straight wins against the Broncos.
Week 11: at San Diego Chargers
With the huge win, Kansas City went to 5–5, and climbed back into playoff contention.Week 12: vs. Buffalo Bills
With the win, Kansas City went to 6–5.Week 13: at Oakland Raiders
With the win, the Chiefs went to 7–5.Week 14: vs. San Diego Chargers
With the low-scoring win, the Chiefs went to 8–5 and swept the Chargers for the second straight season.Week 15: at Baltimore Ravens
Rookie Marcus Peters would put the dagger into the Ravens, as he returned an interception 90 yards for a touchdown. With the win, the Chiefs went to 9–5 and they finished 5-3 on the road.Week 16: vs. Cleveland Browns
The Browns, led by Johnny Manziel, attempted a comeback to put a stop to Kansas City's playoff hopes, but Cleveland did not have any timeouts remaining, and they ultimately ran out of time when Manziel couldn't advance the ball down the field fast enough.With the win, the Chiefs went to 10–5 and clinched a playoff spot. However, Denver's win over Cincinnati meant the Chiefs failed to clinch the AFC West for the 5th straight season. This was the last time the Chiefs didn't clinch the AFC West until 2025.
Week 17: vs. Oakland Raiders
With their 10th straight win, the Chiefs ended their season at 11–5. They were the first team to end a season with 10 or more consecutive wins since the 2012 Broncos won 11 in a row to end their season.Postseason
Game summaries
AFC Wild Card Playoffs: at (4) Houston Texans
The Texans, who won the AFC South division with a 9–7 record, were completely crushed by the Chiefs. The Chiefs were the first team since the 2006 Bears to score a kick return touchdown on the opening play of the playoffs, when Knile Davis returned the opening kick 106 yards for a touchdown. After that, the game started to slow down, with both teams going three-and-out before a string of turnovers, Eric Berry's interception of Brian Hoyer, Brian Cushing's interception of Alex Smith two plays later, and a Hoyer fumble recovered by Dontari Poe on the ensuing drive. The Chiefs made a field goal on the drive, and although the team was able to get to the 2-yard line, a negative run by J. J. Watt and another interception by Hoyer ended the Texans' closest chance at scoring in the entire game. Although the Texans' defense forced a three-and-out, Hoyer threw his third interception to Marcus Peters on the second play of their drive.The win was Kansas City’s first playoff win since 1993, ironically in The Astrodome. This was also the Chiefs last shutout win until 2025.