Last season, the Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive line was a disaster. The starting lineup featured:

• Left Tackle: Wanya Morris
• Left Guard: Joe Thuney
• Center: Creed Humphrey
• Right Guard: Trey Smith
• Right Tackle: Jawaan Taylor

Both tackle positions were glaring weaknesses. In the first 13 games of the 2024 season, the Chiefs allowed 40 sacks, averaging 3.08 sacks per game. During the fourth quarter of the November 29, 2024, road game against the Las Vegas Raiders, head coach Andy Reid had seen enough. He benched Morris, shifted Thuney to left tackle, and inserted Caliendo at left guard. Despite this change, the line didn’t improve significantly, as the Chiefs averaged 3 sacks per game over the final four games.

The season ended with a 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. The Chiefs’ offensive line crumbled, allowing six sacks and contributing to two interceptions by Patrick Mahomes, including a pick-six by Cooper DeJean. By the game’s end, the Eagles had backup quarterback Kenny Pickett taking snaps—a rare occurrence in a Super Bowl.

This collapse echoed Super Bowl LV against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where Mahomes had no time to throw due to massive offensive line issues. In the 2021 offseason, General Manager Brett Veach addressed those problems by:

• Signing Joe Thuney (Left Guard) in free agency.
• Acquiring Orlando Brown (Left Tackle) via trade.
• Drafting Creed Humphrey (Center) in the 2021 NFL Draft.

This overhaul rebuilt the line, giving Mahomes the protection needed to win another Super Bowl two years later.

Since that transformative 2021 offseason, the line’s composition has shifted:

• Joe Thuney was traded to the Chicago Bears.
• Orlando Brown departed to the Cincinnati Bengals in free agency.
• Creed Humphrey remains with the Chiefs.

Entering the 2025 offseason, Veach faced the same challenge as in 2021. His moves to restock the offensive line include:

• Drafting offensive tackle Josh Simmons in the first round: Simmons shows all the signs of becoming an All-Pro tackle for the Chiefs, a move I strongly support.
• Trading Joe Thuney to the Bears for a 2025 fourth-round pick: This trade baffles me. Thuney excelled when moved to tackle, and shifting Kingsley Suamataia to guard carries more risk than retaining an All-Star guard.
• Moving 2024 draft pick Kingsley Suamataia from left tackle to left guard.
• Signing left tackle Jaylon Moore from the San Francisco 49ers: I’m neutral on Moore, especially since Jawaan Taylor is likely to remain the starting right tackle. I can see the value in Moore if a player goes down he can slide into either tackle position as needed.
• Signing Trey Smith to a contract befitting the NFL’s top guard: This is a great decision. Smith is a stellar player and a leader for the offensive line.

Can the Chiefs’ Offensive Line Bounce Back in 2025?
After last season’s struggles, the Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive line looks poised for a rebound. The unit’s success will rest on Kingsley Suamataia’s ability to adapt to his new role at left guard and Josh Simmons’ recovery from a left patellar tendon rupture. That injury is no small hurdle, and Simmons, a first-round pick, must adjust to the NFL’s faster, more physical pace after dominating in college. If Suamataia and Simmons rise to the challenge, the Chiefs’ line could transform from a liability into a strength this season.