ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs are on a mission. After a devastating loss in Super Bowl LIX, head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes are determined to lead the team back to the pinnacle of the NFL. Their first meeting at training camp set the tone for the 2025 season, with Reid emphasizing one crucial word: urgency.

"The main thing is urgency, just keep that up," Reid said on Tuesday. "Everybody's expectations are high. When it comes down to the work, you take care of that here, the foundation that you build here."

A Season of Redemption

The Chiefs are no strangers to success, having won the AFC West a record nine consecutive times. However, their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX has fueled their desire to improve. Mahomes, who has looked sharp in early practices, is leading by example.

"You always have to get better," Mahomes said. "That's something that people lose track of when you have success. We didn't win that last game, but we had a lot of success last year. I think sometimes people want to be stagnant. They want to go out there and do it over again. We have to get better."

Challenges Ahead

The Chiefs face a tough road ahead. The AFC West is more competitive than ever, with the Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, and Denver Broncos all making significant improvements. Additionally, the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, and Houston Texans have bolstered their rosters in the offseason.

"We took a heartbreaking loss," safety Bryan Cook said. "It's just understanding what the ultimate goal is and why we do this, why we come to training camp. It's all for that bigger goal. For us to come up short, it was unfortunate. But I went to three straight in three years. That's all I know."

The Urgency of Now

Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo echoed Reid's sentiments, stressing the importance of seizing the moment.

"I just felt compelled to tell them, 'Don't ever take this for granted,'" Spagnuolo said. "It gets hard out here and all of that, but at my age [65] I'm happy to be in the first meeting at training camp, have a job and be healthy enough to do it. These guys don't realize how fast it goes by."

As the Chiefs prepare for their season opener against the Chargers in São Paulo, the sense of urgency is palpable. With Mahomes at the helm and Reid's leadership, the Chiefs are determined to reclaim their place as NFL champions.