Patrick Mahomes Says Chiefs Need to “Have Fun Again” in 2025 – But Is That the Right Mindset? Analysts Weigh In

When Patrick Mahomes told the media that the Kansas City Chiefs need to “have fun again” in 2025, it set off a wave of head-scratching and debate among NFL commentators. How could a team that just went 15-2, secured home-field advantage, and reached another Super Bowl possibly not be having fun? Is this the right mindset for a dynasty entering its most vulnerable phase yet? Or is it a sign that the grind of greatness is finally catching up with the Chiefs?

A Dynasty’s Dilemma: When Winning Isn’t Enough

On the set of “Breakfast Ball,” Craig Carton, Mark Schlereth, and Eric Mangini tackled the question head-on. Carton, ever the skeptic, found Mahomes’ statement “comical.” He rattled off the Chiefs’ 2024 accomplishments—15 wins, another AFC title, a third straight Super Bowl appearance—and wondered aloud, “If that ain’t fun, get out of football.”

His point is hard to argue: the Chiefs have been the NFL’s gold standard for half a decade. Most teams would kill for a fraction of their success. But Schlereth, a Super Bowl champion himself, knows the grind behind the glory. “Football is both mentally and physically arduous,” he said. “Every now and then, I’d stop Mike Shanahan and remind him, ‘Hey, remember, it’s still got to be fun.’”

The reality is that even the most successful teams can lose sight of the joy that brought them to the top. The pressure to repeat, the weight of expectations, and the physical toll of the game can turn even victory into a slog. Coaches barely sleep. Players play through pain. Winning becomes the standard, not the celebration.

The Price of Sustained Success

The Chiefs’ run has been remarkable, but it hasn’t come without cost. Mahomes himself just endured one of his statistically worst seasons, even as the team kept winning. The offense, once a juggernaut, has dropped nearly ten points per game from its peak. Travis Kelce, the future Hall of Fame tight end, is now on the wrong side of 30 and coming off his least productive year. The running game is inconsistent. The receiving corps, battered and rebuilt, is still searching for a new identity.

Yet through it all, the Chiefs have found ways to win—leaning on a defense that has quietly become one of the league’s best and a quarterback who, even at less than his best, is still the most dangerous player in football.

But as Schlereth noted, “If you have a taste of the other side—losing—you’ll look back at these years and realize just how fun they really were, even if it was stressful.”

The Inevitable Crash?

Carton, whose Jets fandom has been forged in the fires of disappointment, is openly rooting for the Chiefs’ demise. With a bag of marshmallows and graham crackers at the ready, he joked about being prepared for Kansas City’s “fall”—a collapse he sees as inevitable, just as it was for the Patriots before them.

History supports his skepticism. Every dynasty eventually stumbles. The Patriots, after years of dominance, fell before rebuilding for another run. The Broncos, Packers, and Steelers have all had their peaks and valleys. No team stays on top forever, and the Chiefs’ margin for error is shrinking.

For the first time in the Mahomes era, there’s a sense of vulnerability. The AFC West—once a foregone conclusion for Kansas City—now feels up for grabs. The Chargers, with a new coach and young talent, are a trendy pick. Even the Broncos, long haunted by Mahomes’ brilliance, sense “blood in the water.”

Are the Chiefs Still the Boogeyman?

For years, Mahomes was the AFC’s boogeyman. No matter the deficit, no matter the opponent, he found ways to win. But after a Super Bowl loss and an offense that sputtered more often than soared, the mystique has faded just a bit. “There was a time when Kansas City was a lock to win the division,” Schlereth said. “Now, for the first time, people believe someone else could take it.”

Defensively, the Chiefs can be attacked. Offensively, they’re not as explosive. The supporting cast around Mahomes is aging or unproven. And as Mangini pointed out, “The fact that Kansas City’s offense has been down, and they’ve still found ways to win and reach three straight Super Bowls—that’s actually bad news for the league. Because if Mahomes gets back to his peak, it’s going to be a problem for everybody.”

The Weight of Expectations

So what does Mahomes mean by “having fun”? It’s not about water balloon fights or Taco Tuesdays. It’s about rediscovering the joy in the game—the energy, the camaraderie, the love of competition that made the Chiefs special in the first place.

Winning is fun, but it’s also exhausting. The grind of defending a title, then another, and chasing a historic three-peat can turn joy into anxiety. The Chiefs have been playing with the weight of history on their shoulders, and Mahomes’ comments suggest he feels that burden.

He’s not alone. Even Tom Brady, the ultimate competitor, spoke about the importance of enjoying the journey. When the pressure to win becomes overwhelming, teams can tighten up, play not to lose, and lose the spark that made them great.

Can the Chiefs Bounce Back?

The Chiefs’ future hinges on whether they can balance the grind with the joy. Mahomes remains the game’s best quarterback. Andy Reid is still one of its sharpest minds. The defense is young and hungry. If the offense finds its rhythm—and if the team can play loose and confident—the Chiefs could easily be back in the Super Bowl mix.

But the league is catching up. The window for dominance never stays open forever. Injuries, regression, and the relentless march of time are undefeated.

For now, the Chiefs are still the team to beat. But as Carton, Schlereth, and Mangini all agree, the NFL is waiting for their fall—and some are openly rooting for it. The only question that matters is whether Mahomes and the Chiefs can rediscover the fun, fend off the challengers, and keep their dynasty alive.

Because in the end, the only thing more fun than winning… is proving everyone wrong, one more time.