TODAY: The Chiefs announced that Mahomes underwent successful surgery in Dallas this evening, with the team adding that the quarterback will begin his rehab process immediately.
Meanwhile, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Mahomes also tore his LCL yesterday. While that could potentially complicate his recovery, Rapoport says it won’t necessarily extend Mahomes’ nine-month timeline.
DECEMBER 14: It looked bad when it occurred, but definitive news wasn’t expected quite this soon. The Chiefs have officially announced that star quarterback Patrick Mahomes has suffered a torn ACL in his left knee. His season has come to an end as the team explores surgical options. 
This is unprecedented territory the 30-year-old quarterback. Mahomes has damn near been an ironman since entering the NFL. He has only ever missed two games with injury. After only appearing in one game of his rookie season behind starter Alex Smith, Mahomes’ next absences occurred over a two-week stretch in 2019, when he dislocated his patella. After that, the only games Mahomes missed were the final regular season contests in 2020, 2023, and 2024 as he rested for the playoffs in each campaign.
The injury occurred today as Mahomes was rolling out right for a pass and, after releasing it, was tripped up by Chargers defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand. The two-time MVP immediately grabbed at his knee and did not return to the game. After the loss, head coach Andy Reid told reporters what he knew, that Mahomes had “injured his left knee and will get an MRI either tonight or tomorrow morning,” per ESPN’s Jeff Darlington. Asked about the degree of severity, Reid told the media, “I don’t know. It didn’t look good.”
About 90 minutes later, Mahomes himself took to X with a message. He told fans that he didn’t “know why this had to happen” and that “it hurts.” He ended his message with an ominous promise, saying, “I will be back stronger than ever,” insinuating that an absence was to come. About half an hour later, the team account delivered the results of the MRI that did, in fact, take place tonight.
Following Mahomes’ early exit, backup quarterback Gardner Minshew entered only his third game this season and did so, for the first time, not in garbage time. In fact, Kansas City was trailing when Mahomes exited, and Minshew failed to bring the team back. The Chiefs would go on to lose their third game in a row, and adding insult to injury, the team was officially eliminated from playoff contention, as a result. This is the first time Kansas City will not participate in the postseason since 2014, three years before Mahomes was drafted.
With nothing left to play for, Minshew will likely take Kansas City the rest of the way. Practice squad passer Chris Oladokun stands a strong chance at taking Mahomes’ spot on the 53-man roster as Minshew’s backup. Mahomes, though, will continue exploring surgical options with the team as they begin the long road back to what they hope will be a return in 2026.
The Chiefs have been able to count on Mahomes’ durability since his stratospheric 2018 debut, gliding to seven straight AFC championship games since the 2017 first-rounder debuted as the starter. Matt Moore was in place as his backup during the 2019 season — one that ended the franchise’s then-50-year Super Bowl drought. Moore was brought in for the ’19 season due to a Chad Henne injury, but Henne became needed when Mahomes suffered a concussion in the 2020 divisional round. Mahomes then played the 2022 playoffs with a high ankle sprain, needing to leave a divisional-round game for a short period in the first half. The future Hall of Fame QB also suffered an ankle injury late last season but did not miss any time.
Kansas City has toggled through backups since Henne’s February 2023 retirement, moving from Blaine Gabbert to Carson Wentz to Minshew. Dropped after one season as the Raiders’ primary starter, Minshew signed with the Chiefs on a one-year, $1.17MM deal. The Raiders are still footing some of the bill after giving him a two-year, $25MM contract in 2024. Minshew will have a three-game audition, as a potential 2026 raise — from the Chiefs or another team — will be in play.
As for the Chiefs, they were trending toward missing the playoffs with Mahomes. That represents a shocking development based on their finishes with the Missouri icon at the controls. Entering the season seventh in scoring defense, the team did not have issues comparable to the 2024 Bengals or the Saints during their absences amid Drew Brees‘ prime. While the Chiefs held the Chargers to 16 points, a Mahomes INT denied a potential go-ahead fourth-quarter drive. His injury occurred soon after, signaling a voyage into uncharted waters for Kansas City.
Kansas City’s defense did not quite meet its level of recent seasons, though, cutting into a bounce-back Mahomes slate. The ninth-year passer ends his season fifth in QBR, closing the campaign with 22 touchdown passes, 11 interceptions and 3,587 passing yards.
Mahomes’ MRI will help shape his timetable. More damage being discovered potentially would put the PUP list in play to open the 2026 season. The Chiefs will obviously hope for a Week 1 return; their 2026 backup search will be more important regardless of when Mahomes is expected back, however.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Long offseason to heal up..
He is going to also have to rethink the way he plays. He isn’t a pocket passer, he requires moving around and often scrambles for those 1st down. Going to be a touch slower and can’t be baiting defenders on sideline.
It’s the beginning of the end. Much like an injured Lamar, he can’t actually win as a functional QB.
Either he evolved like McNabb did or he is done.
“Can’t actually win as a functional QB.” Ah yes that’s right, he’s won 3 SBs as a gimmick QB.
While playing in 2 more SB’s.
Tell me, what happened to him in those games when he didn’t have elite protection or weapons?
He got obliterated.
Exactly how many quarterbacks have played well in a Superbowl without above average protection or weapons?
Who were his elite weapons against SF? Seems like he has the same ones. None are what is considered elite
Longest he’s ever had.
Man, that’s lousy. I’m no Chiefs fan, but I hate seeing the best players in the league go on the shelf. And sadly don’t think he’s the only one today.
Parsons non contact
That’s what I was referencing, yeah.
Davante Adams looks like a serious hamstring injury, too.
He was able to walk off on own power which was encouraging. They should still hold off he can’t play Thursday but they finish with easy schedule.
Yes in deed. Like in any sport, we, as fans want to see the absolute best. Mahomes is one of the best. His accomplishments are incredible. What he’s done and his overall run of being pretty much injury free is almost supernatural. He’ll recover and be back. Now, how long of a recovery is left to be seen. All people, especially athletes recover on different time tables. Chances are is that starting next season the Chiefs will begin looking quite different. They will start retooling the roster.
Yeah, it looked bad. Im not a Chiefs fan but I wish him a full recovery.
Knew it and it was a non contact from a weird step he took.
No way, the Charger who went after his legs knocked them out from under him in a strange way. Totally unnecessary contact, the ball was long gone. Da’Shawn Hand #91 might have ended the career of the NFL’s most creative QB (I’d still rank Joe Montana and Tom Brady above him overall).
It’s called football. Sad to see Mahomes injured (I’m a Bills fan), but that looked like a pretty clean play when viewed in real time.
So there goes most his 2026
It’s a what 10-12 month recovery?
So earliest he’d be ready is like October 2026 assuming he doesn’t hit any set backs.
Plus they say it takes a full 2 or so years to really trust the knee again.
Well.
Least they’re have a decent draft pick this year and possibly a decent pick heading into 2027
Nice opportunity to get some cheap rookie contracts at positions of need.
Willing to bet he’s back to start the season
Time to rebuild KC. Trade him to the Jets
Some guys have come back to start the next season, really depends. He just had an ACL which is different than when guys get hit and damage other ligaments. He plays QB too so he does not need to run and cut as much as other players.
Burrows tore his ACL and MCL in rookie year from hit in week 11 and came back to start the next season. 4 week difference, but everyone heals different he will have access to all the best medicine, doctors, and healers.
And Burrow went to the Super Bowl that year
But burrow isn’t fat?
It’s seems like the Chiefs have been coy about the nature of the injury because they know they will lose season ticket subs and secondary alternative streams of income without Mahomes under center. We don’t even know if it’s a complete or partial tear. The procedures and rehab are completely different. I would take TJECKS bet in a heartbeat based on the obfuscation of actual facts coming from the organization. Occams Razor would suggest it is to protect the bottom line.
forget football
i just hope he can still make it to the wedding next year
he’s supposed to be the ring boy
He’s insured by State Farm so he’ll be okay.
I did not know that.
While I’m the furthest thing possible from a fan of his, seeing him go down with something like this is awful & I hope he has a full & speedy recovery. He felt destined to have an injury like this with his need to scramble more than usual this season.
Damn I hate to see it. Hope he heals up
Adam’s and Mahomes…..there goes my fantasy season
The writing for this story is very amateurish.
“[…]adding insult to injury[…]” I see what you did there.
They should call Alex Smith. Maybe Montana.
Drew Brees is available. Or heck, get him to stop filming commercials and you might just go after Peyton Manning. New rule: Grandpas get a red non-contact jersey for all games.
Prolly can get Brady to unretire….
Elvis could be back in the building.
Grbac?
You can bet that a QB will be drafted.
Probably can get Phillip Rivers as soon as his Colts tenure wraps.
It will still be interesting if Minshew can get better and help win two or more games? Mahomes will be ready to go by Sept.
Minshew is one of the best backups in the league (and I’m no KC fan), and looked pretty good coming cold off the bench until that pick. He’ll be fine for the final three games since there’s nothing on the line.
Rehabbing right away, he must really want to be away from the wifey.
Get well soon Pat.