The 2024 postseason left a bitter taste in the mouth of Chiefs Kingdom, but not everything should be so quickly set aside. In fact, Xavier Worthy’s three-game run through the playoffs has set the table for the single most tantalizing angle for the team’s 2025 campaign.

Yes, the return of Rashee Rice is of prime importance. Yes, Josh Simmons represents the best hope at left tackle in years. Yes, Isiah Pacheco is healthy again. But if there’s a single offensive storyline that should have Chiefs fans buzzing, it’s the potential of Worthy to build upon a very, very heartening ascent during his rookie season.

It’s no secret that the fireworks have disappeared from the Chiefs’ offense since trading Tyreek Hill away to the Miami Dolphins—not that anyone in K.C. should complain. The bountiful return allowed the Chiefs to rebuild a defensive foundation that led to three Super Bowl appearances and two wins since the deal. But suffice it to say, the Chiefs’ offense looks rather mortal these days.

The Chiefs’ hopeful return to offensive dominance is centered on Xavier Worthy’s emergence.

But there are myriad reasons for hope heading into 2025, with Worthy’s emergence atop the list. Rice’s ability to come back from a season-ending injury, Hollywood Brown’s presence to start the year, Travis Kelce’s motivation in what could be a swan song of a season, Jalen Royals’ arrival as another YAC weapon—all of these are important as well. But none of them are as important as worthy.

Even when everyone was healthy, the Chiefs weren’t able to attack defenses vertically like they were with Hill. With the drafting of Worthy, the hope was that his truly elite speed would translate to the professional level after igniting the Texas Longhorns’ offense at the collegiate ranks. It took some time for chemistry and trust and understanding to develop, but it all coalesced in the Chiefs’ postseason.

During the three-game stretch in which the Chiefs ultimately lost to the Philadelphia Eagles while attempting a historic three-peat, Worthy put up 19 catches for 287 yards and 3 touchdowns. In his final five games overall, Worthy had 34 catches for 431 yards and 5 touchdowns. In other words, it was all coming together for Patrick Mahomes and Xavier Worthy when it mattered most.

Not only is Worthy’s trajectory so exciting, but the other aforementioned factors are only going to make it that much easier for the second-year wideout to make his mark. Rice’s presence as a trusted volume target will force defenses to key in on him, while Kelce is always going to command respect as well.

Brown’s return from injury was part of what freed up Worthy so much more in the winter months as well, so a hopefully healthy season from him will extend that effectiveness. After Hollywood missed the start of the season after suffering a preseason injury against the Jacksonville Jaguars—on his first catch—he came back for the final two games of the year and the postseason. It’s not a coincidence that Worthy’s production climbed accordingly.

After two seasons of getting by with a middling offense attack, the Chiefs look primed for a return to dominance in 2025. Several contributors will be responsible for this, but Xavier Worthy is likely to be the most important of all of them.