When Patrick Mahomes limped off the field in Week 15, clutching a knee that would soon be revealed as a torn ACL and LCL, Kansas City feared the worst. Early whispers around the league suggested the Chiefs might be without their superstar quarterback well into the 2026 season.
Mahomes had other ideas.
Just weeks after undergoing surgery on December 15, the two-time MVP has already locked in a bold personal goal: be ready for Week 1 next fall.
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According to head coach Andy Reid, the quarterback has thrown himself into rehab with the same obsession that once turned backyard drills into Super Bowl magic.
āFirst of all, heās doing great for just being three weeks out,ā Reid said. āHeās been in there grinding. Itās not fun work, but he keeps showing up.ā
Rather than retreating to his $3.37 million Texas home ā where Mahomes normally hosts offseason throwing camps with teammates ā heās chosen a different path this year. The quarterback is staying in Kansas City, working daily with trusted rehab specialist Julie Frymyer inside the Chiefsā facilities.
Itās a dramatic shift for a player who cherishes family time with wife Brittany and their three young children. But the mission is clear: get healthy, get strong, and get back under center as fast as humanly possible.
Before the injury, Mahomes had already thrown for 3,587 yards and 22 touchdowns in a turbulent season. Now, the numbers no longer matter. What matters is September.
The offseason that was meant for rest has become a relentless countdown. And if Mahomes has his way, the 2026 opener wonāt mark his return ā it will mark the beginning of redemption.
