Patrick Mahomes Suffers Torn ACL, Ending His Season and the Chiefs’ Playoff Hopes
In a season already filled with uphill battles, the Kansas City Chiefs just hit their most devastating roadblock yet. Patrick Mahomes, the face of the franchise and one of the most dynamic quarterbacks the league has ever seen, has been diagnosed with a torn ACL in his left knee - an injury that ends his 2025 campaign and casts a shadow over the start of next season.
The injury came late in the Chiefs' 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, with just under two minutes left in regulation. Mahomes rolled out toward the sideline, looking to make a play downfield - the kind of off-platform throw he’s made look routine throughout his career.
But this time, as a Chargers defender closed in, Mahomes was pulled down awkwardly. His leg bent unnaturally beneath him, and the moment he hit the turf, it was clear something wasn’t right.
Mahomes stayed down, visibly in pain, removing his helmet as trainers rushed to his side. After a few tense minutes on the field, he was helped to his feet and taken to the medical tent before being escorted to the locker room.
Postgame, head coach Andy Reid didn’t mince words. “It doesn’t look good,” he said, confirming Mahomes would undergo an MRI.
Not long after, the worst-case scenario was made official: a torn ACL.
For Kansas City, this injury is more than a gut punch - it’s the final blow in a season that never quite found its rhythm. With the loss to the Chargers, the Chiefs have been officially eliminated from playoff contention, ending a remarkable 10-year postseason streak that was the second-longest in NFL history. This is the first time since 2014 that Kansas City will be watching the playoffs from home.
Before exiting the game, Mahomes had completed 16 of 28 passes for 189 yards. He didn’t throw a touchdown, was intercepted once, and was sacked five times. It was a gritty, pressure-filled performance, but one that ultimately ended in heartbreak - both for the quarterback and the franchise.
Now, the focus shifts to recovery. A torn ACL typically requires 9 to 12 months of rehab, and while Mahomes has proven time and again that he’s built differently, there’s no rushing this process. His availability for the start of the 2026 season is officially in question.
This moment marks a rare and sobering chapter in the Mahomes era - a reminder that even the most electric careers can be paused in an instant. For the Chiefs, it’s a chance to regroup, reassess, and prepare for life without their superstar for the foreseeable future.
But make no mistake: whenever he returns, Mahomes will be on a mission. And if history has taught us anything, it’s that doubting him is never a good idea.