The Kansas City Chiefs' season ended in devastating fashion on Sunday, not only with a loss that eliminated them from playoff contention but with a severe injury to their franchise cornerstone, quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Major Blow for Chiefs as Mahomes Suffers Knee Ligament Tear
During the crucial 16-13 defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers, Patrick Mahomes tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee. The two-time MVP was spun to the ground while attempting a play to keep his team's fading postseason hopes alive. The Chiefs confirmed the significant injury a few hours after the final whistle.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed the media on Monday, revealing that Mahomes will seek a second opinion from renowned orthopedist Dr. Dan Cooper, the team physician for the Dallas Cowboys, before undergoing surgery. This step is standard to confirm the recovery pathway. Reid stated it is currently unclear if Mahomes will be ready for the start of the 2026 NFL season.
"He's in a good place," Reid said of Mahomes' mindset via a Zoom call. "You know, he always feels like he let people down, but he comes back and he's ready for the challenge ahead... He's just got to get through surgery, whenever it might be, and then move on from there."
Double Injury Blow for NFL as Green Bay's Parsons Also Falls
In a separate but equally crushing development for the league, a source informed the Associated Press that Green Bay Packers star pass rusher Micah Parsons also tore his ACL during his team's loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
Parsons addressed his fans on social media on Monday, writing: "I may be sidelined, but I am not defeated. This injury is my greatest test... I trust His timing, His plan and His purpose. I will rise again."
Recovery Timeline and Implications for Kansas City
The recovery period for an ACL tear typically ranges from six to twelve months, depending on the severity and any additional damage within the knee. History offers Mahomes some solace: Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow returned from an ACL and MCL tear to win Comeback Player of the Year, while Daniel Jones recovered from a 2023 ACL tear to start Week 1 the following season.
"I think he'll attack it, just like he does everything else," Reid affirmed. "There have been some pretty good quarterbacks that have had the same injury and done pretty well after they came back."
The immediate consequence of Sunday's loss is stark: the Chiefs will miss the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2014. With Mahomes the only quarterback under contract for next season, the final three games become an audition for veteran backup Gardner Minshew, who finished the Chargers game.
Reid expressed confidence in Minshew, who completed three straight passes before a game-sealing interception. "I've got a ton of confidence in Gardner," Reid said. "He's started in the league. Our guys have confidence in him."
The coming months will now be defined by rehabilitation and uncertainty for one of the NFL's brightest stars, as the Kansas City Chiefs face an unfamiliar and challenging offseason.
