Patrick Mahomes has confirmed he tore his ACL in his left knee during the Kansas City Chiefs’ 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, December 14. The injury ends his season and officially knocked the Chiefs out of the NFL playoffs. This is the first time in 11 seasons that Kansas City won’t be competing for the Super Bowl.
According to the US Magazine, the 30-year-old quarterback shared his feelings on X after the game. “Don’t know why this had to happen. And not going to lie it’s hurts,” he wrote. He said the only way forward is to “Trust in God and attack every single day over and over again.”
The injury happened in the final two minutes of the game when Mahomes was tackled along the sideline. He grabbed his left knee right away and was helped by trainers before being taken to the medical tent. He didn’t return to the game, finishing with 189 yards passing, one interception, and one rushing touchdown. An MRI after the game confirmed the torn ACL.
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The Chiefs’ playoff run comes to a shocking end
This loss means the Chiefs, who won three Super Bowls in the last five seasons including back-to-back wins in 2022 and 2023, are completely out of playoff contention. Gardner Minshew, who replaced Mahomes on Sunday, will likely be the starting quarterback for the rest of the season. Mahomes had been dealing with an ongoing knee problem for weeks, which may have made this serious injury more likely.
The team was already under heavy pressure before the injury. After losing to the Houston Texans on December 7, tight end Travis Kelce talked about their slim playoff chances on his New Heights podcast. The Chiefs have face harsh criticism from analysts recently, adding to the team’s mounting struggles.
Mahomes had strong support at the game. His wife Brittany was there, wearing a white fleece-lined jacket, red leather gloves, and Chanel earmuffs. She kissed her husband on the field before kickoff. Some analysts have even questioned Mahomes’ elite status compared to other top quarterbacks this season.
Travis Kelce’s fiancée Taylor Swift was also at Arrowhead Stadium with Kylie Kelce. Swift wore a beige-and-red coat with her signature red lip and loose waves. Kylie, 33, wore a New Heights sweatshirt and brought her daughters. They sat with Swift’s mom Andrea, and Travis’ mom Donna.
Despite the season-ending injury, Mahomes ended his message with determination. He promised fans, “I will be back stronger than ever.” He also thanked Chiefs Kingdom for their support and prayers during this difficult time.
Published: Dec 15, 2025 03:15 pm