Chiefs Face Uncertain Offseason After Mahomes Injury, Veteran QB Could Be Key to 2026 Plans
The Kansas City Chiefs' 2025 campaign has gone from frustrating to downright brutal-and the latest blow might be the hardest yet. Patrick Mahomes, the face of the franchise and one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in football, suffered a torn ACL and LCL in the Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. That game didn’t just end with a devastating injury-it also officially knocked the Chiefs out of playoff contention.
Now, the focus shifts to recovery and regrouping. Mahomes is set to begin rehab immediately following surgery, but the road back is steep.
A typical nine-month recovery timeline for an injury of this magnitude puts his availability for the start of the 2026 season in serious doubt. That’s not just a storyline-it’s a real roster-building problem for Kansas City.
As of now, the Chiefs don’t have a quarterback under contract for 2026 beyond Mahomes. Both Chris Oladokun and Gardner Minshew are set to hit free agency, leaving the quarterback room completely empty behind their injured star. With Mahomes expected to miss all of the offseason program-and potentially training camp-the team is going to need a veteran presence to guide the offense through the spring and summer.
Enter Joe Flacco.
The 40-year-old quarterback has found himself back in the spotlight this season, stepping in first for the Cleveland Browns and later for the Cincinnati Bengals after Joe Burrow went down. And despite his age, Flacco delivered.
In 11 games (10 starts), he completed over 60% of his passes for 2,455 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He didn’t just manage games-he made plays, proving he still has the arm and the poise to handle starting duties when called upon.
For Kansas City, Flacco could be more than just a stopgap. He’s the kind of veteran who can run the offense through OTAs, minicamp, and training camp without missing a beat.
And if Mahomes isn’t quite ready by Week 1, Flacco gives the Chiefs a legitimate chance to stay competitive out of the gate. He’s been there before.
He’s won playoff games. He’s won a Super Bowl.
That kind of experience matters-especially for a team that still believes its championship window is wide open.
Of course, there’s a financial wrinkle. Flacco isn’t going to come cheap.
Spotrac projects him to command a one-year deal worth around $5.7 million. That’s a hefty price tag for a backup, especially for a team projected to be nearly $46 million over the salary cap in 2026.
But Chiefs GM Brett Veach has never been shy about maneuvering the cap, and if the front office sees Flacco as a key piece to weathering the Mahomes injury storm, they’ll find a way to make the numbers work.
This offseason was already shaping up to be pivotal for Kansas City. Now, with Mahomes sidelined and the roster in flux, every decision carries a little more weight. Adding a seasoned, capable quarterback like Flacco might not be flashy-but it could be exactly what the Chiefs need to stay afloat until their superstar is ready to return.