We are less than 24 hours removed from Super Bowl LIX, and some NFL fans have already moved on to the 2025-26 season.
Super Bowl LX is scheduled to take place in Santa Clara, California on February 8th, 2026, and there are already some teams that should be considered favorites to appear in that game. The Philadelphia Eagles look poised to make another run at the Lombardi Trophy. Though they suffered a beatdown, the Chiefs are always a threat to win the Super Bowl as long as Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid are together.
With franchises already looking ahead to Super Bowl LX, let’s determine the four squads most likely to appear in next year’s big game.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles have a legitimate shot at winning back-to-back titles.
Jalen Hurts is under contract for at least three more years, while Saquon has another season before Philly has a potential opt-out after 2026. Then again, if he continues to put up numbers like he did this season, I expect him to sign a contract extension with the Eagles soon. Meanwhile, four of their five stud offensive linemen are under contract for at least one more year, meaning the Eagles will get to run it back in 2025 with the best offensive line in the NFL.
They will need to make some business decisions on the defensive side of the ball. I expect linebacker Zack Baun to sign a lofty contract extension this off-season after he led Philly in tackles during the regular season and the playoffs. Defensive linemen Josh Sweat and Milton Williams also earned themselves renewed contracts with the way they played in the Super Bowl.
Philly will need to replace some backups/meaningful contributors on both sides of the ball. Offensive lineman Mekhi Becton, defensive end Brandon Graham, running back Kenneth Gainwell, and linebacker Oren Burks are all scheduled to become free agents this off-season. Still, I am confident that the Eagles will find solid replacements for all of those guys.
With most of Philly’s key pieces and coaches staying with the team for the next couple of years, they should be contending for a Super Bowl in 2025-26.
Kansas City Chiefs
Just because the Chiefs lost Super Bowl LIX, that doesn’t mean they’re not in line to contend for Super Bowl LX. In fact, I would argue that the 2025-26 Chiefs will be a greater threat to win the Super Bowl than the 2024-25 Chiefs because they will be motivated to make people forget the blowout they suffered last night.
Patrick Mahomes is still under contract with the Chiefs for at least the next three years. Meanwhile, head coach Andy Reid signed an extension in the off-season that will keep him in KC through 2029 unless he decides to retire before then. With those two still leading the charge, the Chiefs are a threat to make the Super Bowl every year, just like Tom Brady and Bill Belichick were for the New England Patriots.
At the same time, All-Pro defensive lineman Chris Jones is scheduled to play at least two more seasons for KC, so the Chiefs’ best defensive player will be returning next season. Plus, Travis Kelce will likely come back to the team in 2025-26, so that’s two massively important contributors that Kansas City has coming back next year.
The Chiefs will need to be active in the free agency and the draft. Six of their most productive wide receivers and running backs are scheduled to be free agents this off-season. They’ll also need to figure out if they want to bring back offensive lineman Trey Smith and linebacker Nick Bolton.
If they can sure up their skill position groups, sign Bolton, and make some upgrades along the offensive line, there’s no reason KC can’t reach a fourth straight Super Bowl in 2026.
Detroit Lions
Though I am a Green Bay Packers fan, I will be the first to admit that I thought the Detroit Lions were going to run away with the NFC. Despite all of their injuries, they still managed to record the most wins in a single season in franchise history with 15. Unfortunately, the injuries and poor preparation by Detroit’s offensive and defensive coordinators caught up to them in the Divisional Round of the 2025 NFL Playoffs. Had guys like defensive linemen Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeil played against the Washington Cammanders, that game might’ve gone differently.
The Lions lost the two best coordinators in the NFL, but many of the other key pieces from 2024-25 will still be there next season. Head coach Dan Campbell, quarterback Jared Goff, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, offensive lineman Penei Sewell, and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown will all be back in Detroit next year. They’ll also get back several defensive contributors, including linebacker Jack Campbell, cornerback Amik Robertson, safety Kerby Joseph, and linebacker Alex Anzalone.
Aidan Hutchinson will play a huge role in the Lions’ success next year. If he can perform next year the way he was playing before he broke his leg, then he could potentially win the Defensive Player of the Year award. That type of contribution would be invaluable for a team that just surrendered 45 points in the playoffs.
There will need to be some replacements made throughout the roster. With Carlton Davis III, Kindle Vildor, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Khalil Dorsey, and Emmanuel Mosley set to become free agents, the Lions will either need to re-sign some of those guys or replace them through the draft and free agency. They’ll also need to add some offensive line depth with Kevin Zeitler and Dan Skipper scheduled to test the free-agent market.
More importantly, Detroit needs to make up for the production they lost at defensive coordinator and offensive coordinator. If former Denver Broncos passing game coordinator John Morton and former Detroit linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard can hold their own as play-callers, then the Lions will be in a prime position to compete for the Super Bowl in 2026.
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are right there in the thick of the Super Bowl hunt with the Kansas City Chiefs, but they have not yet been able to get over the hump. Still, they should be considered one of the favorites to win Super Bowl LX.
Quarterback Josh Allen just had the best year of his career with only three Pro Bowlers on the roster (two of which were offensive linemen). Now, it’s on general manager Brandon Beane to surround Allen with talent. James Cook is the second-best offensive weapon that the Bills have, but after him, there’s a major drop-off at the skill positions. It doesn’t help that Buffalo’s number two receiver, Mack Hollins, is scheduled to be a free agent this off-season. Number two running back Ty Johnson will be a free agent, too. Also, Amari Cooper, the wideout they traded for in the middle of the season, will likely test free agency this Spring. There’s a chance Buffalo will lose three important offensive contributors this off-season, something they cannot afford.
Though they need to spend a lot in free agency and use their draft capital wisely to give Josh Allen more weapons, the Bills need to improve defensively. After having two defensive Pro Bowlers in 2023, Buffalo has had only one defender named an All-Pro or a Pro Bowler over the last two seasons (cornerback Taron Johnson was named a Second-Team All-Pro last year). That’s not good enough for a team trying to win a Super Bowl right now.
Buffalo needs to make a few splashy moves this off-season. Making a trade for Cleveland’s Myles Garrett or Las Vegas’ Maxx Crosby would be the type of decision that could change the complexion of this team and the AFC as a whole. It also couldn’t hurt to sign a true number-one wide receiver like Cincinatti’s Tee Higgins or New York’s Davante Adams.
Buffalo should compete for a Super Bowl next season if they don’t make any of the aforementioned moves. However, they would be looked at as a much more serious threat to hoist the Lombardi Trophy if they can bring in another star or two.
