QB Patrick Mahomes names one area where Chiefs offense must improve

At the beginning of his career, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes regularly chucked the ball downfield. Now, he barely does that.

In his first five seasons with the Chiefs, Mahomes averaged 8.1 yards per pass attempt. That number has dropped to 6.9 yards per pass attempt over the past two seasons. In 16 regular-season games in 2024, he had 3,928 passing yards, his lowest mark since his rookie season in 2017.

Next season, Mahomes wants to get back to throwing the long ball. 

"There was opportunities in games for deep shots that I either didn't take or we missed barely, and I think we can get back to hitting some of those throws — we preached about this last offseason — it opens up the rest of the offense," Mahomes said Wednesday, via Pro Football Talk's Myles Simmons. "That helps the run game, that helps the medium-pass game, everything." 

Along with the missed opportunities in the passing game, the Chiefs receiving corps battled injuries. 

Wide receiver Rashee Rice suffered a season-ending knee injury in a Week 4 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. WR Marquise "Hollywood" Brown, meanwhile, missed 15 regular-season games after injuring his shoulder in the preseason. 

If Brown and Rice stay healthy in 2025, that would give Kansas City's passing attack a boost. Getting second-year WR Xavier Worthy more involved could also prove beneficial. Worthy led the postseason in receiving yards, with 287 in three games.

"It's just about keeping building," Mahomes said, per Nick Sloan of KMBC-TV in Kansas City. "I'm excited to kind of have these guys again. We've had a lot of turnover in the receiving room, and it seems like the core group will be back in its entirety." 

The Chiefs are still be one of the premier organizations in the league, but they may have cracks after losing to the Philadelphia Eagles 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX.

Reigniting their deep passing attack could help the Chiefs return to their fourth straight Super Bowl.