Watch: Patrick Mahomes Signs $504 Million Contract—Biggest in NFL’s History
Patrick Mahomes will take a knee, but he’s not letting his knee take him.
Six months after the Kansas City Chiefs player tore his ACL and was forced to end the 2025-2026 football season early, he shared an update on his recovery.
“The process isn’t over,” Mahomes—who had surgery to repair his ACL and LCL in his left knee in December—admitted to reporters July 24at the Chiefs’ training camp in St. Joseph, Mo., per ESPN. “It’ll be something I’ll probably be dealing with the next few years of my career and throughout the rest of my career.”
Nevertheless, the 30-year-old—dad to Sterling, 5, Bronze, 3, and Golden, 18 months, with wife Brittany Mahomes—feels ready to hit the field this fall.
“I feel amazing,” Mahomes assured. “I’m excited just to be able to play football.”
Indeed, the quarterback has been putting all of his focus on ensuring he is cleared to play when the Chiefs kick-off with a game against the Denver Broncos Sept. 14.
“I’ve been seeing cinderblock walls rehabbing every single day in Kansas City,” he added. “Now, to be on that practice field with my teammates, it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
And while his injury may define the rest of his time playing ball, Mahomes just might be gearing up for his best season yet.
“I feel stronger than I’ve ever felt, as far as strength and lifting,” he considered. “I feel comfortable now being able to go out there and run the offense the way offense is supposed to run.”
Still, Mahomes—who signed a $500 million two-year contract extension with the Chiefs last month—admitted, “This will be the hardest training camp that you can have, as far as preparing for the season.”
(Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Part of that difficulty will, of course, be the pressure. After all, Mahomes’ eligibility as starting quarterback still hangs in the air like a Hail Mary pass.
“I’m going to want to be out there,” he added. “But I understand the process of getting myself ready to play in the regular season is more important. We’ll see. The coaches and doctors will make that decision for me, but I’ll prepare myself like I’m going to play.”
As for Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, he’s hesitant to share a definitive answer on whether Mahomes will be ready for kickoff in September.
“He’s been working so hard that you have a pretty good feel that he’s in a good place,” Reid told reporters. “We’ve got to see how things go and not make any predictions.”
For more stars who have shared insight into recoveries after health scares, keep reading…
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