Patrick Mahomes tears ACL in Chiefs' loss to Chargers

Pete Grathoff and Blair Kerkhoff, The Kansas City Star on Dec 14, 2025

Published in Football

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs’ playoff hopes evaporated on a blustery Sunday afternoon at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, but quarterback Patrick Mahomes wasn’t there to see the final seconds tick away.

He was in the Chiefs’ locker room when backup Gardner Minshew threw an interception that sealed the Los Angeles Chargers’ 16-13 victory. Minshew was in the game after Mahomes’ left knee was injured.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid later said Mahomes would have an MRI Sunday evening or Monday morning to determine the extent of the damage. Asked immediately after the game if he feared the injury was serious, the coach said, “I don’t know. It doesn’t look good. We’ll just see where it goes.”

Unfortunately for the Chiefs, Reid’s initial assessment was correct: The team announced Sunday evening that Mahomes has a torn ACL in his left knee and will miss the remainder of the season.

“Patrick and the club are currently exploring surgical options,” the Chiefs wrote on social-media site X.

Mahomes, 30, shared his own message on X after the diagnosis.

In it, he wrote: “Don’t know why this had to happen. And not going to lie it’s hurts. 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.”

Mahomes crumpled to the ground after throwing an incomplete pass as he was attempting to lead the Chiefs on a game-tying (or possibly game-winning) drive. Chargers defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand hit Mahomes, whose knee seemed to buckle.

The injury occurred on the first play after the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter.

Mahomes completed 16 of 28 passes for 189 yards. On the Chiefs’ final possession, he led them from their own 8 to the Chargers’ 46. He had completed all four pass attempts for 40 yards on the drive before getting hurt.

Minshew, who had seen snaps in just two games this season — in kneel-down situations — took over and got the Chiefs into field-goal range at the Chargers’ 34. But then his pass to tight end Travis Kelce was intercepted by the Chargers’ Derwin James with 14 seconds remaining.

“You hate that situation, hate that you couldn’t deliver and get a win,” Minshew said.

Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones said he gave Mahomes a hug after the game.

“That’s my brother,” Jones said. “We love Pat.”

Mahomes had been on the injured list the last two weeks because of an unspecified left-knee ailment. He was able to walk off the field after Sunday’s injury, but he was clearly limping and needed help. While going down through the tunnel to the Chiefs’ locker room, he was assisted by two trainers.

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