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The Kansas City Chiefs’ decade of playoff appearances came to an abrupt end this past Sunday. The Chiefs came up short at Arrowhead Stadium in a critical game against 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 the playoffs. To make matters worse, star quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending ACL injury when he struggled for a few yards in the final minutes of the game.
Mahomes underwent surgery in Dallas to repair damage to his left ACL, the Chiefs confirmed Monday. According to a report from NFL Network, a doctor also had 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!” from NFL legend Tom Brady. 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 every day I pushed myself,” Brady said. “And it’s still the same amount of pain and discomfort, except you’re progressing through that pain and discomfort, which is a hard psychological thing to combat. You feel like, my God, every day you don’t feel good. Except you’re gaining range of motion, gaining strength, and you’re on the road to recovery. So I wish him the best.”
(L-R) Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes participate in the Quarterback Roundtable before Capital One Game VI – Brady & Rodgers vs. Allen & Mahomes at Wynn Golf Club on June 1, 2022 in Las Vegas. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images for the match)
Brady then gave some advice on areas Mahomes should focus on during the process.
“The only thing you can do is focus on what’s ahead and not 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 as much diligence into the rehab process. And I always feel like the sooner you rehab, the sooner you can get back to playing the sport that you know you love.”
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Brady added: “I think sometimes people go at their own pace. Instead of training mode, they’re in rehab mode. I think you need to go through rehab mode as quickly as possible and then get back to training mode. But it requires total commitment and that’s the same commitment that great professional athletes take to be great in their profession. When you go through the rehab process, you need the same level of focus and determination.”
After appearing in just one game in 2008 due to injury, Brady recovered and played in every regular season game in 2009. He later received NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors.
In a social media post after being injured, Mahomes thanked fans and said he would put his “trust in God.”
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes grabs 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 God and attack every day, over and over again. Thank you to the Chiefs Kingdom for always supporting me and to everyone who has reached out and sent prayers. I will come back stronger than ever.”
Gardner Minshew will replace Mahomes starting in the Chiefs’ Week 16 matchup with the Tennessee Titans.
