The Kansas City Chiefs’ playoff hopes came crashing down on Sunday - and they didn’t fall alone. Patrick Mahomes, the face of the franchise and the heartbeat of this team, suffered a torn ACL in the final moments of a 16-13 loss to the Chargers. It was a gut punch of a game that not only ended the Chiefs’ postseason aspirations but also sidelined their superstar quarterback for the remainder of the season.
For the first time in a decade, Kansas City will finish a regular season without a playoff appearance. And now, they’re staring down the final three games without the player who’s defined this era of Chiefs football.
In the immediate aftermath, tight end Travis Kelce wasn’t ready to speak to the media - and who could blame him? But by midweek, he opened up about the moment and the man at the center of it, speaking candidly on the New Heights podcast he co-hosts with his brother, Jason.
“First things first, obviously, we lost our quarterback, man,” Kelce said when asked about the team’s elimination. “(Patrick) Mahomes, our guy, our brother, our fearless leader, our face of the franchise, to an ACL.
It’s never easy seeing your guys go down... On a freakish play, to see (Mahomes) go down like that, it f---ing...
It was almost like it wasn’t real.”
The raw emotion in Kelce’s voice said what box scores and injury reports can’t. This wasn’t just about losing a player - this was about losing the guy. The one who’s been at the center of every big moment, every comeback, every championship push.
“S--- just sucks, man,” Kelce continued. “For a guy that puts in that much and puts his body on the line week-in, week-out... It sucks, man.”
This isn’t just a teammate talking. It’s a friend.
Kelce and Mahomes have built something special over the years - on the field and off. They’ve connected for countless touchdowns, shared MVP podiums, and even opened a restaurant together.
So when Kelce speaks about Mahomes, there’s more than football in his voice.
Later in the podcast, Kelce doubled down on his belief that Mahomes isn’t just going to recover - he’s going to come back stronger.
“He’s a warrior, man,” Kelce said. “I’m telling you.
This guy has played through everything, battled through everything, been crowned champion because he battled through everything and he’s gonna battle through this. It’s the only way this guy is wired.
He’s a fearless, fearless warrior when it comes to this football thing and he’s going to make sure he comes back stronger than ever. Hopefully the Chiefs can get him back as soon as possible.”
That’s the kind of confidence you earn over time - and Mahomes has earned every bit of it. From playing through ankle sprains to dragging the Chiefs through playoff dogfights, he’s shown time and again that he’s built different. And while this injury is a brutal blow, no one in that locker room - especially Kelce - is betting against him.
The road ahead for Kansas City won’t be easy. Three games remain, and for the first time in years, they’ll be played without the postseason in sight.
But this team has always been about more than just one season. With Mahomes, the long view has always been championship-caliber.
Now, the focus shifts to recovery and resilience. Mahomes will attack rehab the same way he attacks a collapsing pocket - with grit, poise, and that signature fire. And when he returns, you can bet the Chiefs will be right back in the thick of it.
For now, though, it’s about weathering the storm. And if you ask Kelce, there’s no doubt his quarterback will come out of it stronger - and hungrier - than ever.