Patrick Mahomes. © Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Patrick Mahomes’ Agent Makes Prediction Amid NFL Offseason

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ayomide Adeduyite | Last updated Feb 6, 2026 8:00 AM ET

For the first time in his remarkable career, Patrick Mahomes is entering an offseason with real uncertainty about when he’ll next take the field. The Kansas City Chiefs’ star quarterback suffered a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee late in a Dec. 14 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, confirmed by MRI and team sources shortly after the game.

Mahomes underwent reconstructive surgery in mid-December to repair both ligaments, a procedure that typically requires about nine months of rehabilitation. This means his availability for the 2026 season opener remains a point of cautious optimism.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and medical staff have expressed confidence in his rehab process, and Mahomes himself has said he wants to be ready for Week 1 despite the challenges ahead, while emphasizing that recovery can vary day to day as he works toward full strength.

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

The Chiefs hope to have Mahomes back by the start of the 2026 campaign, but how smoothly his recovery goes will ultimately determine that timeline. Even so, there’s no doubt he remains the cornerstone of the franchise, a two-time NFL MVP and three-time Super Bowl champion whose presence has defined the team’s identity and future plans.

While Mahomes continues to recover, his agent Leigh Steinberg weighed in on the broader quarterback market and Mahomes’ contract situation.

On Thursday, Steinberg discussed the future of NFL quarterback salaries and made a bold prediction:

“We’ll inevitably see a 70 million-dollar quarterback,” Steinberg told Front Office Sports, adding that the NFL has finally caught up to other major sports like baseball and basketball in terms of quarterback compensation. He also noted that the revenue is there to support increased salaries in the near future.

Patrick Mahomes’s agent says a $70 million QB in the NFL is ‘inevitable.'

Super Bowl LX is the first without the Chiefs and Mahomes after three straight, and his agent is eyeing skyrocketing salaries.
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) February 6, 2026

Mahomes is still under contract with the Chiefs on his 10-year, $450 million extension signed in 2020, which still carries the highest total value in NFL history. However, his $45 million average annual salary ranked 14th among quarterbacks in 2025, with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott leading the position at $60 million per year.

Despite that gap, Mahomes has backed up his contract with championship success, winning two Super Bowls since signing the deal and solidifying his status among the game’s greats. In his conversation with FOS, his agent appeared unbothered by debates over his salary rankings:

“I’m going to let him speak to that,” Steinberg said.

At just 30 years old and on a deal that remains team-friendly relative to expected market growth, the Chiefs will be hopeful they can capitalize on their championship window once Mahomes returns healthy and continue making deep playoff runs.

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

More must-reads: