Patrick Mahomes used an amazing goal to fuel his injury recovery

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has a legitimate chance of playing in Week 1 of the NFL season, and he may have his daughter to thank for that.

A new story from Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star revealed that shortly after undergoing surgery on his ACL and LCL, Mahomes set himself an ambitious goal. He told those close to him that he wanted to walk before his 11-month-old daughter learned to do so herself.

Mahomes managed to narrowly achieve it. His daughter is now 20 months old and running, but the Chiefs quarterback was walking just before she started to do it herself.

Mahomes had a grueling nine-month recovery from his torn ACL and LCL, which he suffered at the tail end of the 2025 season. An injury that significant can keep players out for as much as a full year, but Mahomes immediately said he wanted to be ready for the start of the 2026 season and appears to have accomplished that.

The Chiefs still have full faith in Mahomes, as they signed him signed him to an 8-year, $504.75 restructured contract extension in June.