How Patrick Mahomes is looking at the Chiefs’ difficult 6-11 season differently after his injury and why he calls it “part of the journey”
Patrick Mahomes is ready to look ahead as the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback is nearing his return after tearing his ACL and MCL last December, an injury that ended his 2025 season. The Chiefs also missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade after going 6-11. ESPN reported that Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Mahomes was often spending about seven hours a day at the team facility working on his recovery.
Now, as Mahomes prepares for his 10th NFL season, he says the difficult year was simply another part of his story. Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE, Mahomes said the time away from football gave him a chance to focus on parts of his life that can be harder to enjoy during a busy NFL season. “Football is a huge part of my life, but I’ve always tried to keep perspective,” Mahomes told PEOPLE. The quarterback said that slower pace helped him appreciate time with his family. “During the season you’re so locked in, so having that time to slow down, be present with the kids, and just enjoy the people around you makes it special,” he said. “What makes great teams work is knowing that every year is a different team and every guy brings something different to the table,” he said.
“Family, friends, my teammates, my foundation work, those things have always been important to me. Mahomes spent months working through his recovery while also having more time with his wife, Brittany, and their three children. The injury also forced Mahomes to spend much of the offseason focused on rehab. Mahomes knows the team cannot simply repeat what worked before.