Quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a major knee injury as the Kansas City Chiefs were ruled out of the NFL play-offs for the first time since the 2014 season.
Sunday’s 16-13 loss at home to the Los Angeles Chargers means that, despite having three regular season games remaining, the Chiefs have already been eliminated from play-off contention.
Mahomes, 30, was forced off with less than two minutes left and his team later confirmed the three-time Super Bowl winner has torn the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee.
“Don’t know why this had to happen. And not going to lie it’s hurts,” he said on X., external
“But all we can do now is Trust in God and attack every single day over and over again.
“Thank you Chiefs kingdom for always supporting me and for everyone who has reached out and sent prayers. I will be back stronger than ever.”
Kansas City’s third loss in a row – and fifth in six games – left them with a 6-8 record this season and could mark the end of an NFL dynasty.
Head coach Andy Reid has led Kansas City to the play-offs in each of the past 10 seasons and to the Super Bowl in five of the past six.
The Chiefs won the NFL’s championship game in 2020, 2023 and 2024, and were denied the first Super Bowl three-peat last February.
Mahomes became their starting quarterback in 2018 and has reached at least the AFC Championship game in each of the past seven seasons, a run bettered only by Tom Brady’s New England Patriots (2011-2018)
The Chiefs have also produced the second-longest post-season run in NFL history behind the Patriots (2009-2019).
