Chiefs To Begin Season In Prime Time For Fourth Straight Year

BusinessSportsMoneyChiefs To Begin Season In Prime Time For Fourth Straight YearByJeff Fedotin,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Jeff Fedotin covers the Kansas City Chiefs and sports business.Follow AuthorMay 12, 2026, 11:09am EDTMay 12, 2026, 11:10am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos talk after the Broncos defeated the Chiefs in 2025. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)Getty ImagesThe Kansas City Chiefs will begin their 2026 regular season on Monday Night Football against the Denver Broncos.It marks a fourth straight year the Chiefs will begin the season in prime time.Kansas City is not only a ratings darling due to the star power of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, but the NFL always awards the very first game of the season to the defending Super Bowl champion, and the Chiefs, of course, won the Super Bowl after the 2023 and 2024 seasons, necessitating prime-time openers.Last year the Chiefs opened their season with a 27-21 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, and that game was streamed on YouTube on a Friday night.Both Quarterbacks Are Coming Back From InjuryIt has not been determined whether this Sept. 14 game will take place in Denver or Kansas City.It also is unclear whether both starting quarterbacks will play.Mahomes, the three-time Super Bowl MVP, tore the ACL and LCL in his left knee on Dec. 14, but the Chiefs staff has been raving about his recovery from that season-ending injury.Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Mahomes might even participate in organized team activities (OTAs), though that’s basically a non-contact passing camp.MORE FOR YOU“He is in a good position to be able to do some things,” Reid said. “He’s doing a lot of stuff right now.”Quarterback Bo Nix had been expected to be ready for training camp after breaking a bone in his ankle on...