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The Kansas City Chiefs’ decade-long streak of playoff appearances came to an abrupt end last Sunday. The Chiefs came up short at Arrowhead Stadium in a critical matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers.
The 16-13 loss dropped Kansas City’s record to 6-8 and mathematically eliminated last season’s AFC champions from playoff contention. To make matters worse, star quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending ACL injury as he struggled to try to gain some yards in the final minutes of the game.
Mahomes underwent a procedure in Dallas to repair damage to his left ACL, the Chiefs confirmed Monday. According to a report from NFL Network, a doctor also needed to repair the torn LCL in Mahomes’ knee. The Chiefs later said Mahomes would “begin his rehabilitation process immediately.”
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New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) after the game at Gillette Stadium on December 8, 2019 in Foxborough, Mass. (Paul Rutherford/USA TODAY Sports)
During the Week 16 edition of “Let’s Go!” by NFL legend Tom Brady. On the podcast, the seven-time Super Bowl champion reflected on the grueling rehab process he went through after his ninth season ended due to a similar injury.
“It’s a tough rehab. It’s one of the toughest rehabs. I just remember to push myself every day,” Brady said. “And it’s always the same amount of pain and discomfort, except you’re progressing through that pain and discomfort, which is a difficult psychological thing to combat. You feel like, God, every day, you don’t feel good. Except you’re gaining range of motion and you’re gaining strength and you’re on the road to recovery. So I wish you the best.”
(L-R) Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes participate in the quarterback roundtable prior to Capital One’s The Match VI – Brady & Rodgers v Allen & Mahomes at Wynn Golf Club on June 1, 2022 in Las Vegas. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images for the match)
Brady then offered some advice on where Mahomes should focus during the process.
“The only thing you can do is focus on what’s ahead of you and don’t look back,” he said. “And just say, OK, this is part of what my career is going to be. And a lot of people have been through it and a lot of people have overcome it. You just have to put so much diligence into the rehab process. And I always feel like the quicker you rehab, the quicker you can get back to playing the sport that you know you love.”
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Added Brady: “I think sometimes people go at their own pace. Instead of training mode, they’re in rehab mode. I think you have to get through rehab mode as quickly as possible and then get back into training mode. But that takes a total commitment and it’s the same commitment that great professional athletes make to be great at their profession. When you go through the rehab process, you need that same level of focus and determination.”
After appearing in only one game in 2008 due to injury, Brady recovered and played in every regular season game in 2009. He then received NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors.
In a message posted on social media after suffering the injury, Mahomes thanked fans and said he would put his “trust in God.”
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes clutches his knee after being injured during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Reed Hoffmann/AP Photo)
“I don’t know why this had to happen,” Mahomes wrote. “And I’m not going to lie, it hurts. But all we can do now is trust in God and attack every day again and again. Thank you Chiefs Kingdom for always supporting me and for everyone who reached out and sent prayers. I will come back stronger than ever.”
Gardner Minshew will replace Mahomes beginning with the Chiefs’ Week 16 matchup against the Tennessee Titans.
