Patrick Mahomes. © Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Chiefs Announce Patrick Mahomes News After 9th Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ayomide Adeduyite | Last updated Jan 24, 2026 10:49 AM ET

The Kansas City Chiefs’ 2025 season did not unfold as expected, finishing 6-11 and marking the franchise’s first losing campaign since 2012. It was also the first time in more than a decade that Kansas City failed to reach the NFL playoffs, a sharp downturn for a team accustomed to annual contention.

The struggles were compounded late in the year when quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending injury, bringing his ninth NFL season to an abrupt close. Mahomes went down in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Chargers, tearing his left ACL and LCL while scrambling late in the Chiefs’ 16-13 loss.

He underwent surgery after the game to repair both ligaments and began his rehabilitation process immediately.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15).© Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

The injury halted what had been another heavy-usage season for Mahomes, as Kansas City leaned on him to keep games competitive amid broader roster issues and inconsistent results.

While the Chiefs continue to navigate the uncertainty around his health and the team’s outlook entering 2026, Mahomes was named the team’s Most Valuable Player for the 2025 season via an announcement on social media.

Despite the lack of team success, Mahomes finished the year with 3,587 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 14 games, production that underscored his importance to the offense.

This year's team MVP goes to @PatrickMahomes! pic.twitter.com/1Biin6IJ7M
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 24, 2026

Across his career, Mahomes’ résumé remains among the most accomplished in league history. He is a three-time Super Bowl champion, a two-time NFL MVP, and the holder of numerous franchise passing records since being drafted in 2017. His influence on the Chiefs’ sustained success over the past decade has been central, even as the 2025 season represented a rare down year for both player and team.

Mahomes has since been progressing through rehab and has expressed optimism about his recovery, with the expectation that he will be ready for the start of the 2026 season. His return will be central to Kansas City’s efforts to rebound after a disappointing year.

As part of that reset, the Chiefs have also made changes on the coaching staff, most notably bringing back Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator, a familiar face Mahomes previously worked with during the most successful stretch of his career.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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