Fittingly, on a heartbreaking play, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes got his left knee torn ACL. This injury happened in the last few minutes of a pivotal game against the Los Angeles Chargers, making him miss the rest of the 2020 season. The injury occurred with less than two minutes remaining in a hard-fought game. The game ended with the Chiefs on the short end, a 16-13 loss. This bummer of a blow has pretty much snuffed out the team’s playoff hopes for this year.
Mahomes had just turned the tide on two key clutch plays, putting the Chiefs ahead with a huge comeback before losing Mahomes to the injury. His ability to keep plays alive and revolutionary footwork is something to behold. Sadly, an injury will prevent him from stepping on the field for the rest of the season.
This is far from the first time Mahomes has dealt with major injuries over the course of his young career. In 2019, he dislocated his right kneecap yet somehow only missed two games. Just that same season, he carried that same momentum and energy to win the Chiefs’ first Super Bowl in 50 years. His fight came out again when he recovered from a concussion to return to the mound. He played through turf toe during the 2020 playoffs, which then needed surgery that offseason.
So in 2022, the MVP showed that same perseverance when Mahomes quarterbacked the Chiefs to their second Super Bowl win in four seasons. He did all this while overcoming a high right ankle sprain. So much has gone wrong this season for Mahomes that a turnaround feels like an understatement. He has never dealt with anything like this, losing three in a row for the first time as the Chiefs’ starting quarterback.
That ideal timing for an injury raises questions about what the future holds for Mahomes. He’ll now miss the entirety of his new team’s offseason program, and serious questions hang over his preparedness for the start of next season. As it stands, the Chiefs have no other quarterback under contract for 2026. That scenario leaves Mahomes in a dangerous spot for this stage of his young career, with questions surrounding his backup and contract status hanging over the season.
In the wake of his injury, Mahomes took a moment to reflect on all of support he received from fans and teammates.
“Thank you, Chiefs kingdom, for always supporting me and for everyone who has reached out and sent prayers. I will be back stronger than ever.” – Patrick Mahomes
Both head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes recognized their failure to execute in the game’s decisive moments—that’s how big the stakes were.
“A lot of greats have done it, I think it’s just about being a competitor. You want to be out there, especially in these games.” – Patrick Mahomes
As defensive tackle Chris Jones reminded us, success in football is very unpredictable.
“We’ve got to do better when you get opportunities in the red zone or with favorable field position,” – Andy Reid
Backup quarterback Gardner Minshew talked about entering the fray after Mahomes’ injury.
“Success is rented every year. Sometimes it don’t go the way you planned for it to go. I think we learned a lot this year.” – Chris Jones
Minshew messaged assurance in terms of running the offense when his number is called.
“It’s been hard to watch for Pat,” – Gardner Minshew
“I felt very comfortable to go in and execute the offense,” – Gardner Minshew
As the Chiefs begin to adapt to this new reality without their star quarterback they have a tough road in front of them. Regardless, how well this team is able to rally in Mahomes’ absence will go a long way in deciding the future trajectory of this season. A cloud of doubt now surrounds Mahomes ability to return next year. Fans and analysts alike will be eager to see how this situation plays out.
“Sorry guys, it’s not the time,” – Travis Kelce
As the Chiefs transition into this new reality without their star quarterback, they face an uphill battle ahead. The team’s ability to rally in Mahomes’ absence will be crucial in determining their future trajectory. With uncertainty looming over Mahomes’ recovery and potential return next season, fans and analysts alike will be keenly observing how this situation unfolds.
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