Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has ushered in the new year from the sidelines, celebrating with his family while relying on crutches after major knee surgery.
A Family Celebration Amid Recovery
The NFL star, surrounded by his wife Brittany and their three children—Sterling, Bronze, and Golden—was pictured waving sparklers to mark the beginning of 2026. The festive image, shared on social media by Brittany, showed a smiling Mahomes with his leg secured in a brace and using crutches for support.
This followed surgery on December 15 to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The serious injury occurred just one day prior, during the Chiefs' loss to the Los Angeles Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium. That defeat officially eliminated the team from playoff contention for the season.
The Race Against the Clock for 2026
At 30 years old, Mahomes is now entrenched in a rehabilitation battle to be ready for the start of the 2026 NFL season, which is scheduled to kick off on the first weekend of September. With typical ACL recovery timelines hovering around nine months, his return for Week One will be a close-run affair.
Despite being physically sidelined, Mahomes has maintained a presence with the team. Offensive lineman Creed Humphrey praised his quarterback's leadership on Wednesday, stating, "He's still helping out, leading guys... He's been awesome to have, even through injury... He's still in the building being able to talk to guys."
Chiefs Look to an Uncertain Future
Mahomes has remained largely silent about the injury publicly. On the day it happened, he posted on X, "Don’t know why this had to happen. And not going to lie it hurts. But all we can do now is Trust in God and attack every single day over and over again... I Will be back stronger than ever."
As the Chiefs prepare to finish their disappointing campaign this Sunday on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders, attention is turning to rebuilding for 2026. Missing the playoffs guarantees the team a high-ranking draft pick, with its exact position to be confirmed after the weekend's final games.
Further uncertainty surrounds the future of veteran tight end Travis Kelce. While many anticipate the 36-year-old may retire after the Raiders game, he has insisted he will take time after the season ends to consider his next move. On an individual level, Kelce has impressed this season, amassing 839 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
