What Patrick Mahomes’ ACL injury means for Chiefs dynasty, Travis Kelce’s future and more after shocking 2025 playoff loss originally appeared on The Sporting News Click here to add Sports News as your go-to source.
Is the chapter coming to an end for the Kansas City Chiefs?
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Many things have broken the team’s path over the years – after finding a superstar quarterback in Patrick Mahomes and building effectively around him, they won multiple Super Bowls while becoming a playoff threat every year. The Chiefs have been considered a dynasty for a few years now, but judging by the past few weeks, their current reign may be over.
Not only was Kansas City knocked out of AFC playoff contention by Mahomes in Week 15 for the first time in his career, but the quarterback also went down against the Los Angeles Chargers with a torn ACL. Mahomes’ injury and the Chiefs’ woes will have a serious impact on their future prospects, as they now question what the team’s next step is in 2026.
How will Mahomes’ injury and the Chiefs’ failed 2025 season impact the futures of Travis Kelce, Andy Reid and others? Here’s what’s next for Kansas City.
More Chiefs news:
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How long will Patrick Mahomes be out?
The Chiefs announced Sunday that Mahomes has been diagnosed with a torn ACL. Although an official timeline has not yet been released, a typical ACL tear injury requires a recovery period of 8 to 12 months.
“An MRI confirmed that Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during today’s game,” a team statement read. “Patrick and the club are currently exploring surgical options.”
The Chiefs said Monday that Mahomes has undergone surgery.
“Patrick Mahomes underwent successful surgery tonight in Dallas with Dr. Dan Cooper to repair a torn left anterior cruciate ligament,” the Chiefs said in a statement. “Mahomes will begin his rehab process immediately.”
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The quarterback was injured on the final play of the Chiefs’ Week 15 loss to the Chargers; his left leg appeared to get stuck in the field and bent awkwardly when he was tackled from behind. He immediately started grabbing his left knee.
Mahomes didn’t return, and he limped into the locker room with his coach. Head coach Andy Reid said after the game that Mahomes injured his left knee and will undergo an MRI, which confirmed a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
After the game, Mahomes shared a message for Chiefs fans.
“Don’t know why this happened. And not gonna lie [it] It hurts. But all we can do now is trust God and attack over and over again every day,” Mahomes wrote. “Thank you to Chiefs Kingdom for always having my back and to everyone who reached out and prayed. I will come back stronger than ever. “
Given the typical ACL recovery timeline, Mahomes is expected to miss the start of the 2026 season and the remainder of 2025. Eight months (the optimistic outlook for the injury) would mean he would return in July or August before the 2026 season, but 11 or 12 months (the tougher outlook) would put him back in November or December 2026.
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more: Updated Week 15 AFC and NFC playoff pictures
How long will Chris Jones be out?
The Chiefs’ longtime defensive leader Chris Jones also left the game in Week 15 with an apparent injury. Jones exited the game in the third quarter against the Chargers, limping off the field and then receiving treatment on his left leg on the medical table.
After the game, Jones said he was willing to play no matter what injury he faced, allaying concerns about the star defensive tackle.
“It’s December…everyone’s battling something…injuries, big or small…to me, if I can play, I can play,” Jones said, according to Charles Goldman.
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For now, Jones appears healthy enough to consider playing again this season, but the Chiefs may be cautious with their playoff hopes dashed.
Will Travis Kelce retire in 2026?
Travis Kelce enters the 2025 offseason with his football future completely up in the air. He seriously considered retiring and said after losing Super Bowl LIX that he wanted to “take some time” to decide whether to continue playing. Finally, a few weeks later he announced that he would play out the final year of his contract with the Chiefs in 2025.
Kelce has yet to officially say whether the 2025 season will be his last, but given the circumstances, he is expected to seriously consider retirement again. The tight end is in the final year of his current contract, which means he must sign a new deal to return in 2026.
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On top of that, Kells’ numbers have been declining for years. With 727 yards in 14 games this season, he remains one of the most efficient receiving tight ends in the league, but he is by no means the athletic star he was in his prime.
Kelce’s future is currently up in the air, but expect to hear more retirement rumors in the coming weeks as the 2025 season wraps up.
more: Updated 2026 NFL Draft order
Will Andy Reid retire in 2026?
Another fixture with the Chiefs is Andy Reid, the team’s head coach since 2013. At 67, he is one of the oldest head coaches in the NFL, but Reid has not expressed any plans to leave Kansas City.
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Reed signed a contract extension in 2024 that runs through 2029. Therefore, he should not be considered likely to retire soon, otherwise he may sign a short-term contract extension.
Despite a tough 2025 season, Reid is expected to be on the sideline again next season for the Chiefs.
Chiefs 2026 draft picks
According to Spotrac, the Chiefs are expected to own all picks in rounds 1-5 of the 2026 NFL Draft, as well as projected picks from the NFL.
Kansas City will owe the Patriots a sixth-round pick, while the Cowboys will owe a seventh-round pick.
Since the Chiefs won’t make the playoffs this season, they may be able to acquire the top 10-15 picks in the 2026 draft.
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Chiefs 2026 cap space
The Chiefs will have a lot of decisions to make this offseason — Spotrac estimates the team is worth about $34.2 million as things stand Exceed With the salary cap for the 2026 season, that only accounts for the 36 players projected to be on the roster. The Chiefs currently have an estimated $2.69 million in cap space through 2025, according to Spotrac.
Mahomes is projected to have a salary cap hit of $78.2 million in 2026, ranking first on the team. Restructuring his contract could help Kansas City gain more salary wiggle room, but they will also have key decisions to make on the cap space taken up by free agents like Travis Kelce, Jaylen Watson and Isiah Pacheco, as well as players like JaWon Taylor, Chris Jones and Trey Smith.
Regardless, the Chiefs are going to have a busy offseason this spring.
