The 2014 season was Kashima Antlers' 22nd consecutive season in J.League Division 1, the top flight of Japanese football since the introduction of professional football in 1993. The club finished the 2014 J.League Division 1 in third place, two places above their position from the previous season. They also competed in the Emperor's Cup where they were surprisingly knocked out in the second round by JFL club Sony Sendai FC and the J.League Cup where they did not make it past the group stage.