2005 Kansas City Chiefs

The 2005 Kansas City Chiefs season resulted in a 10–6 record, but no playoff berth. The Chiefs became the sixth 10–6 team to fail to qualify for the playoffs since the NFL introduced the wild card.

The final season of head coach Dick Vermeil was a swan song for one of the NFL's most prolific offensive squads in years, and the breakout season of running back Larry Johnson, who finished the season with 1,750 rushing yards in only nine starts. After running back Priest Holmes was injured in week 8 against the San Diego Chargers, Johnson took over the reins of the Chiefs’ offense and it almost resulted in a playoff berth.

For the 2005 campaign, the Chiefs brought several new players to boost a defense that has finished among the worst units the past three years. Starting with first draft pick, LB Derrick Johnson from the University of Texas, free agent LB Kendrell Bell, free agent S Sammy Knight, and also trading for CB Patrick Surtain from the Miami Dolphins for a second-round Draft pick, the Chiefs had high hopes for the '05 season.

Speculation on Dick Vermeil’s future
Speculation was heavy over the future of coach Dick Vermeil’s job in Kansas City for the 2006 season. Vermeil initially signed on with the Chiefs for three years, but was entering his fifth. The 69-year old Vermeil entered the season as the oldest current head coach in the NFL.

Free agents
The Chiefs attempted to bulk up their weak defense with veteran free agents whom have proven themselves in the past. With the acquisitions of Kendrell Bell, Sammy Knight, and Patrick Surtain, the Chiefs had high hopes for the 2005 season.

2005 NFL Draft
With the 15th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs selected linebacker Derrick Johnson from University of Texas.

Regular season
The Chiefs got off to a good 2–0 start, winning their Week 1 home-opener against the New York Jets (27–7) and then went on the road to beat their old time division-rival Oakland Raiders (23–17). However, they then lost at INVESCO Field at Mile High 30–10 to the Denver Broncos, another division rival. Then in Week 4, the Chiefs hosted the Philadelphia Eagles. Kansas City got off to a fast start and led 24–13 at halftime. However, the Eagles managed to work back into the fray, despite their starting quarterback having a sports hernia. The Chiefs would go on to lose the game, 37–31. They then used their Bye Week in Week 5 to regroup and get back to what they do best. They managed to win a very good fight at home with the Washington Redskins, 28–21.

The Chiefs had little time to celebrate, because they were informed that because Hurricane Wilma was going to strike Miami on Sunday, they would have to face the Dolphins two days earlier. Despite the sudden change of the schedule, the Chiefs managed to win against the Miami Dolphins 30–20. However, despite having over a week to prepare, they couldn't defeat the San Diego Chargers on the road and lost 28–20. The Chiefs would rebound at home and win a well-fought rematch with their arch-rivals, the Oakland Raiders, with a final of 27–23. However, the Chiefs' next game would not fare as well, as they ended losing the Buffalo Bills, despite outgaining them in yards from scrimmage.

The Chiefs would then proceed to start a three-game winning streak going. First, they would beat the Houston Texans on Sunday night (45–17) and then they would win back-to-back home games against the two-time defending champion New England Patriots and then a rematch win their division rival, Denver Broncos (31–27). In the following weeks, the Chiefs dug themselves a huge hole with back-to-back interconference road losses to the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants. Fortunately, the Chiefs were able to keep their very slim playoff hopes alive after a 20–7 home victory over the San Diego Chargers in week 16. In Week 17, even though the Chiefs got a blowout win at home against the Cincinnati Bengals 37–3, the Steelers won against the Lions 35–21, taking AFC Wild Card #2 and ending the Chiefs' chances of getting into the playoffs.

Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt was honored before the week 14 game against the Dallas Cowboys and had the honors of the pre-game coin-flip. Hunt was recognized for his contributions to the City of Dallas, and his establishment of the American Football League’s Dallas Texans (now the Kansas City Chiefs), one of the Cowboys’ AFL rivals.

The loss of Priest Holmes
Kansas City's starting running back Priest Holmes was injured in the week 8 matchup against the San Diego Chargers. Holmes was injured by Chargers rookie linebacker Shawne Merriman and suffered severe head and neck trauma. Larry Johnson entered the game and claimed the starting position for the remainder of the season, an event which would eventually lead to Johnson's selection in the 2006 Pro Bowl.

Vermeil's retirement
On December 31, 2005, Dick Vermeil announced at a team meeting of his intention to retire following the 2005 season, and by the early morning, the news had spread throughout all of Kansas City and the nation.

The following day, the Chiefs soundly defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, whom were already heading to the playoffs, with a final score of 37–3. With the clock winding down on the game and Vermeil's coaching career, Vermeil was met with enormous applause and chanting of "one more year." Vermeil received a Gatorade dunk from Lional Dalton and Jared Allen for his final game.

Playoffs
Despite their 10–6 record and second place finish in the AFC West, the Chiefs failed to qualify for the playoffs.

In week 17, the Chiefs needed the Detroit Lions to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers in order to clinch the final AFC wild card. The Steelers defeated the Lions 35–21 and eventually won Super Bowl XL, becoming the first sixth-seeded team to play in and win the Super Bowl.