The Kansas City Chiefs fell short of the ultimate prize this season, but 2017 was still a season to remember as the Chiefs set a handful of records that bode well for the future.
That conversation begins with rookie tailback Kareem Hunt, who became just the sixth rookie in the Super Bowl Era to lead the NFL in rushing this season with 1,327 yards on the ground.
Hunt took the league by storm right away, setting an NFL record with 246 yards of offense in his professional debut. He tallied a touchdown of at least 50 yards in each of his first three career games, becoming the first player to ever do so, and his 100-plus yards from scrimmage in each of his first seven games are an NFL record.
He broke the franchise record for rushing yards by a rookie in Week 15, passing the late Joe Delaney, and his 11 total touchdowns are tied for the third-most by a rookie in team history.
Kansas City's third-round pick in the 2017 Draft, Hunt is just the second rookie not drafted in the first round to lead the league in rushing since 1968, joining Paul Robinson.
Hunt was recognized often for his efforts on the field, winning multiple AFC Offensive Player of the Month awards (September and December) while earning a nod from the Professional Football Writers Association as their Rookie of the Year.
Also earning a divvy of awards this season was quarterback Alex Smith, who put together the best statistical campaign of his 13-year career in 2017.
Smith established career-highs in passing yards (4,042) and touchdowns (26) while leading the league in passer rating (104.7). He ranked second in the league in yards per attempt (8.00), third in completion percentage (67.5) and fourth in passes of at least 25 yards (38).
Smith didn't toss his first interception of the season until Week 9, becoming just the third passer in NFL history to throw for at least 15 touchdowns without a pick to begin the year.
The veteran signal caller went on to throw just five interceptions on the season, joining Aaron Rodgers as the only players to throw for at least 4,000 yards with five or fewer picks.
Smith's primary targets in 2017 were tight end Travis Kelce and wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who both notched 1,000-yard seasons through the air.
The duo is the first pair of Chiefs' teammates to each record 1,000 yards receiving since Tony Gonzalez and Dwayne Bowe did so in 2008, and it marks just the fourth such occurrence in franchise history.
The efforts of all four players – Smith, Hunt, Hill and Kelce – also cemented some collective history.
The Chiefs are just the second team ever to feature a 4,000-yard passer, a 1,000-yard running back, a 1,000-yard wide receiver and a 1,000-yard tight end, joining the 1981 Chargers.
The feat is even more impressive when considering the youth of the three skill position players involved. When the season rolls around next fall, Kelce will be 28, Hill will be 24 and Hunt will be just 23.
Another young player that made the most of his brief opportunity was rookie quarterback Patrick Mahomes , who started under center for Kansas City in Week 17. Mahomes threw for 284 yards in the contest – the most in franchise history by a rookie making his NFL debut.
Paving the way for each of those players to rack up their numbers on offense was the Chiefs' offensive line, including one player who continued to display a level of unmatched consistency throughout the year.
Tackle Mitchell Schwartz hasn't missed a snap on offense since he entered the league six years ago, marking the longest active streak in the league. He's produced results as well, earning All-Pro honors in each of his two seasons with the Chiefs.
Another often unheralded player that demonstrated a similar level of consistency throughout the season was offensive guard Zach Fulton, who played in 15 games at three different positions, lining up at right guard, left guard and center.
A sixth-round pick in the 2014 Draft, Fulton is one of just four players to be drafted in the sixth round or later that season to play in at least 63 games since.
Another unexpected player to make a significant impact in 2017 was rookie kicker Harrison Butker, who rewrote the franchise record books despite joining the Chiefs four weeks into the season.
Butker missed his first-career kick but went on to make his next 23 attempts, setting a Chiefs' record for consecutive made field goals. That consistency continued throughout the remainder of the year as the rookie kicker connected on 38 of his 42 kicks, shattering the franchise mark for made field goals in a season.
Holding each of Butker's kicks and handling punting duties for a 13th straight-season was Dustin Colquitt, who put together another strong year.
The veteran punter played in all 16 contests this year, moving him past Jerrel Wilson for the third-most games played in franchise history (206). Colquitt also passed Wilson for the most punts in team history (1,031) and his 420 boots inside the 20-yard line are a franchise-best.
Joining Colquitt as the elder statesmen on the roster was linebacker Derrick Johnson, whose 169 career starts rank fourth in team history. Only Will Shields, Tony Gonzalez and Jack Rudnay have started more games for the red and gold than Johnson.
Johnson was part of a defense that included cornerback Marcus Peters, who once again established himself as one of the top playmakers in the NFL.
Peters accounted for 11 total turnovers this year, tallying five interceptions, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. The third-year defensive back leads the NFL in interceptions (19) since entering the league in 2015.
In the last 25 years, only Ed Reed (21) and Richard Sherman (20) had more picks through their first three seasons than Peters.
Each players' contributions added up to second-consecutive AFC West title and a fourth trip to the playoffs in the last five years, and although the Chiefs fell short of their ultimate goal this season, the campaign provided a glimpse of what promises to be a bright future.
