Patrick Mahomes Shares His Thoughts in First Interview After ACL Surgery

Patrick Mahomes in November 2025.
Credit: Jamie Schwaberow/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Patrick Mahomes speaks about the injury that ended his ninth NFL season.
• The quarterback discusses his torn ACL, surgery, and progress in rehab, stating he is “hitting all the checkpoints.”
• “I want to be ready for Week 1,” Mahomes emphasized.

Patrick Mahomes addressed the injury that cut short his ninth NFL season in a video released on January 15. The Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterback, now 30, detailed his torn ACL and the subsequent surgery, expressing optimism about his recovery.

“I’m hitting all the checkpoints” in rehab, Mahomes stated, conveying his determination to return to training camp this fall. “The doctor kind of gives you goals to get to. I just try to maximize those – they hold me back because I always want to go a little bit further,” he explained.

Mahomes set a clear objective: “I want to be ready for Week 1. The doctors said I could be, but I can’t predict what happens throughout the process,” he noted. “That’s my goal … to play Week 1 and have no restrictions.”

This injury occurred during the closing moments of a game against the Los Angeles Chargers on December 14, when Mahomes was seen falling to the ground in pain while clutching his left knee. An MRI subsequently confirmed the tear, leading to the Chiefs’ elimination from playoff contention.

Just a day after the injury, Mahomes underwent surgery to repair the damage, which was conducted by Dr. Dan Cooper, the head team physician for the Dallas Cowboys. In addition to the torn ACL, the surgery also addressed a torn LCL in his knee, as reported by ESPN.

The average recovery time for an injury of this nature is approximately nine months, with the NFL season slated to begin on September 10. Mahomes expressed his motivation for the recovery journey: “I’m excited for the process. It’s a long process, but I’m excited for it,” he remarked.

Despite facing challenges during rehabilitation, Mahomes remains hopeful. “What I’ve found out through this process is not every day is going to feel amazing,” he shared. “You have to have somebody you trust who’s going to get the best out of you, but that’s going to keep you safe.”

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) lies on the ground after being injured in the fourth quarter on Dec. 14.
Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty

Mahomes also shared insights into his determination to push through recovery. “Knowing me, I’m going to push it to the exact limit every single day,” he remarked. He acknowledged the need to be cautious during this process, attributing guidance to Dr. Cooper and the Chiefs’ training staff.

In his initial comments following the injury, Mahomes expressed disappointment on social media, admitting, “Don’t know why this had to happen,” and adding, “it hurts. But all we can do now is Trust in God and attack every single day over and over again.”

Retired NFL star Tom Brady reached out with advice, reflecting on his own recovery from a similar injury. “You’ve just got to put as much diligence into the rehab process,” he advised Mahomes, emphasizing the significance of swift recovery to return to the sport he loves.