Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is confident he will recover from his season-ending knee injury and come back stronger in 2026.
The team’s dynasty may depend on that, an analyst predicts.
The two-time league MVP saw his season come crashing to an end in December, when he suffered a torn ACL and LCL as the team was eliminated from the playoffs. It’s not clear yet if he will return in time to start the season, but SI.com’s Fernando Alfaro-Donis identified a bigger, more long-term concern for the Chiefs if Mahomes is not able to return to his previous form.
Chiefs Need Patrick Mahomes Healthy Again
As Alfaro-Donis noted, the team is turning the page back to the past by bringing Eric Bieniemy back as offensive coordinator. He predicted it could help the team reverse its decline in the offense, which hit Mahomes hard last season.
“While Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense weren’t their biggest problem last season, his production has been declining ever since Bieniemy left,” Alfaro-Donis wrote. “Their passing game wasn’t particularly impressive in 2025, and it oftentimes felt like their offense fell entirely on the shoulders of Mahomes and his playmaking skills outside of structure. It also impacted Mahomes’ play, with him starting to ditch clean pockets early and scramble around to get his receivers some separation.”
But Alfaro-Donis predicted it would be the injury recovery that plays the biggest role in the future, warning that the Chiefs could see their Super Bowl dynasty come to an end if Mahomes isn’t able to return to his previous form.
“Ultimately, the success of the Chiefs falls on whether Mahomes’ injury doesn’t hinder him too much,” he wrote. “They’re making the right moves to bolster their roster and coaching staff, but if he isn’t up to speed, the Chiefs’ dynasty as we know it may be over.”
Patrick Mahomes Hard at Work
Mahomes already underwent surgery for the knee injury and has remained at the team’s facility in Kansas City for the offseason, working closely with the team’s medical staff.
Head coach Andy Reid spoke to reporters last week, telling them that the All-Pro quarterback has been at the team’s facility every day as he works his way back from the injury.
“He’s around here all the time, spends a ton of time here,” Reid said, via the Kansas City Star. “Seven hours a day. He’s in there cranking away, making progress every day. It’s great to see.”
Reid gave credit to Julie Frymyer, the team’s assistant trainer and physical therapist, saying she helped Mahomes work through a high ankle sprain in 2023. The Chiefs quarterback played through the injury during the playoffs, leading his team to a Super Bowl win despite the injury.
“She makes sure he stays on task, and challenges him,” Reid said. “And he keeps showing up. That’s about half the battle on these things. “It’s not going to be a pleasant thing. Every day you’ve got to fight through it and attack the challenge of the workout. He’s doing a great job with that.”
Chiefs Face Dire Warning Over Future of Patrick Mahomes