Patrick Mahomes received a notable honor after a frustrating end to the 2025 NFL season.
Even though the Kansas City Chiefs finished with a losing record and Mahomes suffered a season-ending knee injury in December, the star quarterback still earned national recognition after landing high on ESPN’s annual 100-player list ranking the NFL’s most valuable players. The honor reinforced Mahomes’ standing among the league’s elite, even in a year that did not follow the usual script for Kansas City.
Patrick Mahomes Earns Honor on NFL Top 100 Value List
Mahomes’ honor came from a value-based ranking by ESPN’s Seth Walder that sought to identify the league’s most impactful players, beyond the traditional MVP finalists. The list ranked 100 players and included quarterbacks at the top, reflecting the strong tie between value and the position.
Mahomes finished just outside the very top group of quarterbacks. The ranking placed five quarterbacks ahead of him: Drake Maye, Dak Prescott, Matthew Stafford, Josh Allen, and Jordan Love.
While the Chiefs did not contend for a playoff spot this season, Mahomes still graded as one of the most valuable players in football because of his performance level before the injury and his importance to Kansas City’s offense.
Patrick Mahomes Earns Honor Despite Chiefs’ Disappointing 2025 Season
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The Chiefs finished 6-11 in the 2025 NFL season and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014. It was also the first time Kansas City missed the postseason since Patrick Mahomes became the starter in 2018.
Still, Mahomes posted strong efficiency marks before his injury ended his season. He ranked sixth in QBR and fifth in points above average, despite missing the final three games after tearing his ACL and LCL on Dec. 14.
The analysis also noted that Mahomes’ accuracy was not up to his usual standard. His accuracy rating was listed as minus-3% relative to expectation, one of the worst marks among QBR-qualifying quarterbacks.
Mahomes continued to add value with his scrambling. He produced 23.6 expected points added on scramble plays, which helped drive his overall ranking even in a year where his passing numbers were less dominant than normal.
Chiefs’ QB1 Honor Highlights Value Despite Chiefs Receiver Problems
The evaluation also pointed to the challenges Mahomes faced with his supporting cast in 2025.
Kansas City’s team receiver score for wide receivers and tight ends graded as a 32 on a 0-99 scale, ranking as the third-worst mark in the league.
Drops also played a significant role. Mahomes dealt with a 7.6% drop rate, which ranked third-worst. The list also highlighted that Mahomes faced light boxes 76% of the time, the fourth-highest rate among quarterbacks, showing that defenses rarely felt forced to overload against the run.
Even with those conditions, Mahomes remained efficient and still graded as one of the most valuable quarterbacks in the league.
Patrick Mahomes Discusses Rehab Progress After Knee Injury
Mahomes spoke with reporters Thursday, January 15, for the first time since the injury and said his rehab has gone well so far after undergoing surgery on Dec. 15.
“Rehab is going great so far,” Mahomes said. “I’ve been doing all of it here in Kansas City, and [Assistant Athletic Trainer] Julie [Frymyer] has been crushing it [and] pushing me. The doctor gives you goals to [reach], and I just try to maximize those. They [have to] hold me back because I always want to go a little bit further, so it’s been going great.”
Mahomes shared that his goal is to return by the start of the 2026 season.
“Obviously, I want to be ready for Week 1,” Mahomes said. “The doctor said I could be, [and while we] can’t predict what’s going to happen throughout the process, that’s my goal. I’ll try to prepare myself to play in Week 1, and have no restrictions.”
Mahomes’ rehab will change parts of Kansas City’s offseason routine. In recent years, Mahomes hosted informal “camp” sessions in Texas with his pass-catchers, but this offseason’s gathering will not take place.
Instead, Mahomes expects the team to be around the facility early as he rehabs in Kansas City.
“I can’t speak for exactly what [Head] Coach [Andy] Reid is going to do, but I would expect us to be here a little bit earlier just with me already being here,” Mahomes said. “I’ve talked to some of the receivers already, and I think that’s the mindset that we have – we want to be in the building and getting back to it…The guys are hungry to get back out there.”
Patrick Mahomes Earns Major Honor Despite Chiefs’ Disappointing Year