Patrick Mahomes Reveals Chiefs' Mindset After Disappointing 2025 Season

Denny Medley - USA TODAY Sports

Patrick Mahomes Reveals Chiefs' Mindset After Disappointing 2025 Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Yagya Bhargava | Last updated Sep 1, 2026 5:11 PM ET

The Kansas City Chiefs are looking to put a rare down year behind them as they head into the 2026 season. Kansas City finished 6-11 in 2025, missing the playoffs for the first time with Patrick Mahomes under center, and the quarterback’s own numbers reflected the struggle.

Mahomes posted an 89.6 passer rating with 3,587 yards, 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions across 14 games, his first losing record as a starter, before a knee injury ended his season on December 14. The three-time Super Bowl MVP has spent the offseason rehabbing that injury and is expected to be ready for Week 1, though Andy Reid has been careful not to rush him.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes Jay Biggerstaff - Imagn Images via Reuters Connect

Mahomes sat out the entire preseason as a precaution, and reporters covering training camp have said he looks close to full speed just months removed from surgery. The early signs, at least physically, have been positive.

But it was Mahomes’ own words at a recent Chiefs event that gave the clearest read on where his head is at entering the new season. Speaking to reporters, Mahomes made clear the losing season is still fueling him.

“I think it’s just the bad taste that we have from the last season,” Mahomes said, (h/t) KSHB 41’s Matt Foster. “It didn’t go the way we wanted to. Coach [Andy] Reid talked about that, but we learned from it. We’ve gotten better, and I’ve worked to get to this point right here… Just as hungry as I am, just as hungry as everybody on the stage, and everybody in this audience. We’re gonna go out there with the mindset, we’re gonna be in a new version of the Chiefs, that goes up there, and dominates the same way the old one did.”

#Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes on the new season:

“We’re gonna be a new version of the Chiefs that goes out there and dominates the same way the old one did.”#ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/zMFfqXfAOI
— Matt Foster (@MattFosterTV) September 1, 2026

The Chiefs open their 2026 season against the Denver Broncos on Monday, Sept. 14, with kickoff set for 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN and ABC. Kansas City then faces the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Sept. 20, at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC.

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

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