Chiefs’ season ends after Patrick Mahomes suffers knee injury

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his left knee after being injured late in Sunday’s 16–13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, a result that ended the team’s playoff hopes.

Mahomes was hurt with less than two minutes remaining as he scrambled to extend a play. While rolling to his right under pressure, he planted his left foot to throw the ball away before his knee buckled, sending him to the turf in visible pain.

An MRI scan conducted after the game confirmed the torn ACL, the Chiefs said. Mahomes is expected to undergo surgery in the coming days, with the team exploring treatment options.

“Don’t know why this had to happen,” Mahomes wrote on social media. “It hurts. But all we can do now is trust in God and attack every single day. Thank you, Chiefs Kingdom, for the support and the prayers. I will be back stronger than ever.”

The injury cast a sombre mood over the Chiefs’ locker room, with players aware their leader had likely suffered the most serious injury of his nine-year NFL career.

“I just hugged him,” defensive end Chris Jones said. “That’s my brother. We’ve been through so much.”

Mahomes, 30, has largely avoided long-term injuries during his career. In 2019, he dislocated his right kneecap but missed only two games before leading Kansas City to its first Super Bowl title in 50 years. He later played through injuries including turf toe and a high ankle sprain during championship runs.

The defeat and Mahomes’ injury compounded a difficult season for Kansas City. Entering the weekend with slim postseason odds, the Chiefs were eliminated as other contenders ahead of them in the standings secured victories. The loss also snapped several long-standing streaks, including 10 consecutive playoff appearances and nine straight division titles.

With Mahomes sidelined, Gardner Minshew is expected to start the final three games of the regular season. On his first drive after replacing Mahomes, Minshew threw an interception that ended Kansas City’s comeback hopes.

The Chiefs now face a challenging off-season, with uncertainty surrounding their quarterback depth and Mahomes’ timeline for return ahead of next season.