The Kansas City Chiefs are gearing up this offseason to return to the Super Bowl in 2025 and cement their legacy even further. Despite reaching the prestigious game three times on the bounce, the AFC West giants were recently beaten by the Philadelphia Eagles, who marched to a resounding 40-22 victory to claim the 2024 Lombardi trophy. Under head coach Andy Reid, the team is set for a shakeup after that stinging defeat, with the veteran star insisting on substantial changes.

At the heart of their strategy is superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who expressed his deep disappointment following Super Bowl LIX . The young quarterback said the loss was "the worst feeling" and accepted the "blame" for the crucial turnovers he committed in the clash against the Eagles.

Nevertheless, the Chiefs have faced adversity before and bounced back - it's a different tale from their earlier days, when they secured just one Lombardi trophy prior to 2020. Under Reid's leadership, they now boast a collection of three championship rings and are actively fortifying their roster with key signings already made this month.

Key acquisitions include defensive tackle Jerry Tillery from the Minnesota Vikings, former Las Vegas Raiders starting quarterback Gardner Minshew as Mahomes's backup, and cornerback Kristian Fulton from the Los Angeles Chargers - all set to strengthen the Chiefs Kingdom’s pursuit of glory in the upcoming season.

The Chiefs have been making the most of free agency this month, with Jaylon Moore and Elijah Mitchell also joining the ranks. It's a reminder that Super Bowl stars aren't always found in the NFL Draft.

Indeed, some of the sport's greatest players have found their success years after being drafted, often with a completely different team. As Reid and his team aim to capitalise on this year's free agency, we have looked back at some of the Chiefs' most successful signings who brought glory to Kansas City.

Damien Williams

Damien Williams is one name that springs to mind for Chiefs fans when you think of their greatest free-agency signings. The running back was released by the Miami Dolphins at the end of 2017 and signed with the AFC West team in 2018. His crowning moment came in Super Bowl LIV when he emerged as the standout player in a nail-biting victory over the San Francisco 49ers. In the title game, Williams rushed 17 times for 104 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown, and caught four passes for 29 yards and another touchdown.

But it was the timing of these touchdowns that secured his place in Chiefs history, scoring a receiving touchdown with just 2:44 left on the clock to give his team the lead. In a thrilling turn of events, with just 1:12 left on the clock, Williams stormed into the endzone for the Chiefs, extending their lead to 10 points and securing their second-ever Lombardi - and their first since 1970.

Despite his Super Bowl heroics, the former free agent chose not to return for another season with the Chiefs in 2020 and was released in March 2021. The now-32-year-old has had spells with the Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, and Las Vegas Raiders and was most recently cut from the Arizona Cardinals practice squad in 2023.

Tyrann Mathieu

Safety Tyrann Mathieu is another recent free agent who was signed by the Chiefs to strengthen their faltering defence following their AFC Championship game defeat to the New England Patriots in 2018. Mathieu had previously played for the Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans during his first six seasons in the NFL but signed a five-year deal with the Chiefs worth £32million ($42m) in 2019.

Following this deal, his most significant years were spent under Steve Spagnuolo's guidance in Missouri. During his three-year stint with the Chiefs, Mathieu amassed an impressive 213 tackles and three sacks from strong safety, winning one Super Bowl and earning spots in the All-Pro team and Pro Bowl team twice.

His impact helped transform the team's defence from being ranked 24th in 2018 to a top-10 formation over his three years in Missouri. He is widely considered one of the best investments the AFC West franchise has made in recent history.

Mathieu, now a key player for the New Orleans Saints, had an impressive 2024 season with 62 total tackles, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery - which are remarkable figures for the 32-year-old veteran.

Priest Holmes

Priest Holmes, a Super Bowl winner, joined the Chiefs after signing with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 1997. In 2001, he moved to Kansas City on a five-year, £9million ($11.7m) contract, and exceeded all expectations.

In his debut season, Holmes led the NFL in rushing yards with 1,555, becoming the first undrafted player to achieve this. He then delivered one of the best three-year performances in NFL history, amassing 4,590 yards and 56 touchdowns, making him the second-highest rusher in Chiefs history.

Holmes was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2002 due to his career-high yardage of 1,615 and 21 touchdowns in a season. Despite retiring in 2007 due to a neck injury, his legacy remains strong in Chiefs history.