Head coach Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs had a season to overlook in 2025. They completed the yr with a file of 6-11, which was their lowest win complete since 2012. Kansas City additionally completed third within the AFC West, lacking the NFL playoffs for the primary time in over a decade.
To make issues worse, 6-time Pro Bowl and two-time MVP award-winning quarterback Patrick Mahomes sustained a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee in the course of the Chiefs’ Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
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This offseason, Reid and the Chiefs regarded to rebound and retool their staff, as they give the impression of being to return to Super Bowl-caliber kind in 2026.
One of the regular items in Kansas City’s staff over the previous few years has been the play of its punter, Matt Araiza. Araiza was taken within the sixth spherical of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. After being launched by the Bills, he was signed by the Chiefs in 2024 and has been with them since.
Over the previous two seasons, he has been Kansas City’s beginning punter, totaling 118 punts with a median yardage of 48.2 and his longest being 72 yards.
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On Monday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Araiza is resigning with the Chiefs for the 2026 season.
“Punter news: Matt Araiza is signing back to the #Chiefs on a 1-year deal, per Nick and TJ Linta of @jlsports3,” Rapoport mentioned.
This is nice information for a Chiefs staff that’s in want of some stability heading into the brand new yr. With the uncertainty of Mahomes’ availability, having Araiza again for one more yr shall be an enormous assist in particular groups.
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Related: Chiefs’ Andy Reid “Hell Bent” on Fixing One Major Issue for Patrick Mahomes
This story was initially revealed by Athlon Sports on Apr 20, 2026, the place it first appeared within the NFL part. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.