So, the Kansas City Chiefs just wrapped up a 2025 season that honestly felt like a fever dream for most of the Kingdom. We’re talking about a 6-11 finish. Yeah, you read that right. After years of dominance, the 2025 campaign was a brutal mix of injuries and a schedule that felt like it was designed by a mad scientist. But if you're looking for the chiefs football tv schedule for what just happened or what's coming next, you have to look at how the league is fundamentally changing where these games actually live.
It isn't just "turn on Channel 5" anymore.
The 2025 season actually kicked off on a Friday night in Brazil. In São Paulo. On YouTube. If that doesn't tell you the NFL is in a weird place with broadcasting, nothing will. Fans were scrambling to figure out if they needed a specific subscription or if their smart TV even had the right app. It's a mess.
The Wild 2025 Broadcast Breakdown
If you were trying to follow the Chiefs this past year, you basically needed a spreadsheet. They had eight games on CBS, sure. That’s the "normal" stuff. But then NBC snagged three, ESPN got two, and then things got experimental. FOX had the big Super Bowl rematch against the Eagles in Week 2—a game KC lost 20-17, by the way—and then Prime Video owned the Christmas Day slot.
The Christmas game was at Arrowhead against the Broncos. Imagine opening presents and then watching a 20-13 loss to a division rival on a Thursday night/holiday crossover. It was a tough sell for the holiday spirit.
Here is a quick look at the reality of that 2025 schedule:
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- Week 1: vs. Chargers (Brazil). This was the YouTube exclusive.
- Week 2: vs. Eagles. This one was on FOX, which is rare for the AFC-heavy Chiefs.
- Week 3: @ Giants. NBC’s Sunday Night Football. A 22-9 win.
- Week 4: vs. Ravens. Back to the "safe" confines of CBS.
- Week 13: @ Cowboys. Thanksgiving afternoon on CBS.
- Week 17: vs. Broncos. The Christmas Day game on Prime Video.
Most people get frustrated because they think every game is on cable. It's not. If you didn't have Paramount+, Peacock, and Amazon Prime, you basically missed a third of the season.
Why the 2026 Schedule is Already Looking Different
We are now officially in the 2026 off-season cycle. The NFL just confirmed the home and away opponents for the 2026 season. Since the Chiefs finished 3rd in the AFC West with that 6-11 record, they actually get a "last-place" or "third-place" schedule.
This is the nuance people miss.
When the Chiefs are winning 14 games, they play every other division winner. Now? They get the 3rd-place finishers from the other AFC divisions. It’s a massive break.
The chiefs football tv schedule for 2026 will include home games against the San Francisco 49ers, the Jets, and the Colts, alongside the usual AFC West suspects. Because Patrick Mahomes is still Patrick Mahomes—even after a down year—you can bet the house that the NFL will maximize his primetime appearances again. Expect at least five night games.
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How to Actually Watch the Games Without Losing Your Mind
If you're tired of hunting for the game ten minutes after kickoff, you've got to simplify your setup.
The easiest way is a "cable replacer" like Fubo or YouTube TV. They carry CBS, FOX, NBC, and ESPN. That covers about 80% of the Chiefs' games. But you're still going to get burned on the "exclusives."
For example, the NFL has moved the Christmas games to Netflix in some years, and Prime Video has a death grip on Thursday Night Football. If you are an out-of-market fan—meaning you don't live in the KC area—NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube is basically your only legal option for the Sunday afternoon CBS/FOX windows.
It’s expensive. Honestly, it’s getting a bit ridiculous. But if you want to see every snap of Creed Humphrey or Travis Kelce (who is returning for a 13th season!), that's the price of admission.
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Key Matchups to Circle
While the exact dates and times won't drop until May 2026, we know who is coming to GEHA Field at Arrowhead.
The 49ers coming to town is always a ratings goldmine. That will almost certainly be a Sunday Night Football or a late-afternoon "Game of the Week" on FOX. Then you have the Raiders. After the Raiders beat the Chiefs in the season finale on January 4, 2026, to keep KC at 6 wins, that rivalry is officially spicy again.
Keep an eye on the international games too. The NFL loved the Brazil experiment, and there’s always a chance the Chiefs get sent back overseas to Germany or London in 2026.
To stay ahead of the curve, your best bet is to audit your streaming services now. If you're paying for Peacock just for one game, cancel it the next day. Don't let the "hidden" costs of the chiefs football tv schedule eat your budget. Check the official Chiefs app for local radio broadcasts too; sometimes hearing Mitch Holthus call the game is better than the TV commentary anyway.
Actionable Next Steps:
Map out your current streaming subscriptions. Ensure you have access to a local CBS affiliate via Paramount+ or an antenna for the bulk of the Sunday games. If you are out of market, start budgeting for the Sunday Ticket early-bird pricing that usually drops in April. Watch for the official NFL schedule release in mid-May to see exactly which holidays will be "Chiefs days" this year.