Patrick Mahomes Undergoes Season-Ending Knee Surgery, Chiefs Face Uncertain Future
The Kansas City Chiefs’ 2025 season took a crushing turn on Sunday when Patrick Mahomes went down with a major knee injury against the Chargers. The diagnosis?
A torn ACL and LCL in his left knee - a brutal double blow for one of the league’s most dynamic quarterbacks. Less than 24 hours later, Mahomes was in Dallas for surgery, a quick turnaround that tells you everything about the seriousness of the situation and the urgency to begin the road back.
The procedure was performed by Dr. Daniel E.
Cooper, the Dallas Cowboys’ head team physician, who has handled high-profile knee repairs before. The Chiefs confirmed the surgery Monday night, stating that Mahomes would begin rehab immediately.
This is uncharted territory for Mahomes. At 30, he’s been remarkably durable throughout his career, playing through ankle tweaks and bruises that would sideline most.
But this - a torn ACL and LCL - is a different kind of challenge. Recovery from one ligament tear is tough.
Recovery from both? That’s a long, demanding process that tests more than just physical strength.
For the Chiefs, Mahomes’ injury didn’t just end his season - it ended theirs. The loss to the Chargers officially knocked Kansas City out of playoff contention, but even a win wouldn’t have changed the bigger picture.
This team, even with Mahomes, had been fighting uphill all year. Without him, the climb became impossible.
This marks the first time in Mahomes’ career that he’s missed significant time due to injury. And while there’s no reason to doubt his ability to return to elite form - his work ethic, competitive drive, and football IQ are second to none - this moment does feel like a turning point for the Chiefs.
Let’s be real: this offense hasn’t looked like the Kansas City machine we’ve gotten used to. The protection up front has been inconsistent, the receiving corps has struggled to separate, and even Travis Kelce, the ever-reliable safety valve, hasn’t been quite as dominant. Now, with Mahomes sidelined and Kelce’s future uncertain - the veteran tight end is expected to get married next year and may be considering retirement - the core that powered multiple AFC title runs could be nearing its end.
The Chiefs will need to take a long look at their offensive identity this offseason. Mahomes is still the franchise, no question.
But the pieces around him? That’s where the questions begin.
Retooling this group isn’t just about adding talent - it’s about reshaping the offense to support Mahomes as he returns from a major injury and enters the next phase of his career.
For now, all eyes are on his recovery. The rehab process begins immediately, and if there’s one thing we know about Mahomes, it’s that he’ll attack it with the same fire he brings to the field every Sunday. The Chiefs’ season may be over, but the next chapter in Mahomes’ career is just beginning - and how Kansas City builds around him will define what comes next.