The Kansas City Chiefs received devastating news on Sunday after medical tests confirmed that quarterback Patrick Mahomes has torn the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee. The injury effectively ends the Chiefs’ playoff hopes and casts serious doubt over Mahomes’ availability for the start of the 2026 NFL season.
An MRI conducted after the game revealed the full extent of the damage, prompting the team to begin evaluating surgical options.
The Chiefs confirmed the diagnosis in an official update shared on social media. “An MRI has confirmed that Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes sustained a torn ACL in his left knee in today’s game. Patrick and the club are currently exploring surgical options.”
Patrick Mahomes 100% just tore his acl.
Non contact and he threw it out of bounds right when it happened. WOW!!!
The chiefs dynasty is OFFICIALLY over pic.twitter.com/2nMYYsF3Yr
— Duš ★ (@AkrnChld) December 14, 2025The injury compounds an already grim situation for Kansas City. With a 6–8 record, the Chiefs have now been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, marking their first postseason absence since 2014.
Final. pic.twitter.com/KIBFhmhNKq
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) December 14, 2025NFL insider Tom Pelissero described the moment as a nightmare scenario for the franchise, noting that Mahomes could miss the beginning of the 2026 season due to the severity of the injury. On the same day, the Chiefs saw both their playoff hopes fade and their franchise quarterback sidelined for the long term.
Don’t know why this had to happen. And not going to lie it’s hurts. But all we can do now is Trust in God and attack every single day over and over again. Thank you Chiefs kingdom for always supporting me and for everyone who has reached out and sent prayers. I Will be back…
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) December 14, 2025Sunday’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers may have also marked the final on-field appearance this season for the iconic duo of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. With only three games remaining, the Chiefs now face the remainder of the campaign without their leader under centre.
Veteran quarterback Gardner Minshew will step in as the starter for the final three games of the season. His run begins with a high-profile Christmas Night primetime matchup against the Denver Broncos, followed by two more games to close out a challenging year for Kansas City.
While the organisation prepares for life without Mahomes in the short term, attention will now turn toward his recovery timeline and the long-term implications for the Chiefs’ future.
