One of the major hurdles the Kansas City Chiefs are going to be forced to overcome early in the 2026 season is a lack of established defensive chemistry. There was a major defensive overhaul in the offseason with Leo Chenal, Bryan Cook, Jaylen Watson, and Trent McDuffie all departing. This was an expected adjustment as the Chiefs work to get the defense more affordable and a younger unit that Steve Spagnuolo can shape and help push KC into the next phase of its dynasty.
Still, this is going to be with its fair share of growing pains, and Spagnuolo made it clear he understood this. A to Z Sports Charles Goldman reported Spagnuolo's quote on lost pieces this offseason: "I'm really happy for all of them... other than when we play them, I hope they do really good." This speaks to the character of Spagnuolo and how much investment the coordinator had in pieces that he helped make into stars that contributed to Super Bowl runs.
Kansas City cannot discount the difficulty of losing this experience and the road it is going to create early in the season. There should be an expectation from fans that a heavier load is going to be on the offense to carry the team as the new pieces make needed adjustments and Spagnuolo figures out who he can rely on.
Chiefs should expect early growing pains after major 2026 defensive changes
The Chiefs are helped by the fact that, after a Week 1 matchup with the Denver Broncos, they have what should be a softer schedule. The Colts, Raiders, and Dolphins are three very winnable games, with none of these offensive trios expected to be near the top of the league in offense. Kansas City will still suffer growing pains, but they have the perfect schedule to figure things out.
Spagnuolo's understanding of the task that lies ahead and having the schedule to pick up wins while figuring things out is undeniably in Kansas City's favor. It should also be noted that the most difficult stretch of Kansas City's schedule comes in the final weeks of the season, giving the defense plenty of runway to figure out its new pieces.
It is important to note that this isn't to discount the difficulty of the changes ahead and the likely struggles the team will face early in the season. Rather, it's pointing out the consistency of Spagnuolo in figuring out whatever pieces he is given, and Kansas City having the league's best quarterback to help pile up wins early in the season as the defense makes needed adjustments.
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