The Kansas City Chiefs are coming off the most disappointing season of the Patrick Mahomes era. The Chiefs failed to make the playoffs for the first time in the superstar quarterback’s career, and to make matters worse, Mahomes went down with an ACL injury late in the campaign.
The Chiefs are hoping for a bounce-back year in 2026, and added quarterback Justin Fields this offseason. It’s unclear if Mahomes will be ready in time for the start of the season, and if not, Fields will likely get the start.
The picture behind Fields is murky, and on Monday, the Chiefs lost one of their potential depth pieces in quarterback Jake Haener, who was waived.
“We have signed Free Agents WR Xavier Loyd, DB Marlen Sewell, T Kahlil Benson. We have waived QB Jake Haener, DE Ethan Hurkett, and DT Zacch Pickens,” the franchise announced on its official Twitter account.
We have signed Free Agents WR Xavier Loyd, DB Marlen Sewell, T Kahlil Benson.
We have waived QB Jake Haener, DE Ethan Hurkett, and DT Zacch Pickens. pic.twitter.com/38vAhkR6gQ
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) May 4, 2026
Fans reacted to the news on social media.
“Jake Haener never really got a fair shot to prove himself at the NFL level,” one fan wrote on Twitter.
“Oh great, because clearly those were the moves that were going to fix everything this season,” someone else added.
“The Chiefs are staying active with roster moves as they build depth. Releasing QB Jake Haener reflects how competitive the quarterback room has grown. Wishing him success finding the right fit with another team, another fan added.
It’ll be interesting to see if the Chiefs can return to form this year.