What's happened
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL during a game on December 14, 2025, ending his season and eliminating the team from the playoffs. Mahomes expressed optimism about recovery and thanked supporters. Backup Gardner Minshew is expected to start the remaining games.
What's behind the headline?
The injury to Mahomes is a critical blow to the Chiefs' season, ending their playoff run and raising questions about their future prospects. The timing of the injury, in a game that decided their elimination, underscores the vulnerability of even top-tier athletes to career-altering injuries. Mahomes' public expression of resilience and gratitude highlights his mental toughness, but his absence will likely impact the team's offensive performance. The Chiefs now face the challenge of rebuilding their offense around Minshew, whose leadership will be tested. This injury also emphasizes the importance of injury prevention and the risks inherent in high-stakes football. The broader implications include potential shifts in team strategies and the AFC playoff landscape, with Chargers benefiting from the opportunity to advance. Overall, Mahomes' injury will have lasting effects on the Chiefs' season and possibly their long-term outlook, depending on his recovery trajectory.
What the papers say
Al Jazeera reports that MRI confirmed Mahomes' torn ACL, and he expressed determination to return stronger. The NY Post highlights Mahomes' emotional response and gratitude to supporters, emphasizing his resilience. Both sources note the Chiefs' elimination from the playoffs and the impact on their season, with the NY Post quoting Mahomes' social media message and teammates' reactions. The coverage underscores the severity of the injury and the uncertainty surrounding Mahomes' recovery, while also reflecting on the team's prospects without their star quarterback.
How we got here
Mahomes sustained the injury in the final minutes of a game against the Chargers, where he was scrambling when taken down. The MRI confirmed the ACL tear, and the team is exploring surgical options. This injury marks a significant setback for the Chiefs, who had been playoff contenders with Mahomes as their leader.
Go deeper
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The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League as a member club of the league's American Football Conference West division.
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Patrick Lavon Mahomes II is an American football quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He is the son of former Major League Baseball pitcher Pat Mahomes.