Patrick Mahomes is in immense pain for two reasons. Not only did Sunday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers end in a 13-16 loss, but the 30-year-old quarterback hopped off the field with a torn ACL, crushing their playoff hopes.

But How Did It Happen?

In the final two minutes of the game, Chargers defensive lineman Da'Shawn Hand tackled Mahomes from behind after he threw an incomplete pass. Mahomes fell, grabbing his knee, and received immediate medical assistance. Garden Minsinshew, his backup, replaced Mahomes for the short remainder of the game. The game, however, was lost. Minshew’s throw was intercepted, and the Kansas City Chiefs lost the Week 15 game.

Implications

Mahomes’s ACL tear has benched him for the remaining 2025 season. The Chiefs will miss the playoffs for the first time in ten years. And Mahomes will not make it to the playoffs for the first time in his career. With the loss against the Chargers, Mahomes and his team were also eliminated from the postseason.  

Mahomes’s Reaction 

Mahomes appears to be heartbroken. In an X post on Monday, he shared his confusion and hope to recover stronger. “Don’t know why this had to happen. And not going to lie it’s hurts,” Mahomes wrote. "But all we can do now is Trust in God and attack every single day over and over again."

Apart from Mahomes, other players are reeling from this loss in their own way. If Travis Kelce, Chiefs’ beloved wide receiver, does retire after the 2025 season, it will be a bitter note. The Chiefs rank 3rd in the AFC West at 6-7 this season.

“Every season I've had with him these last few years, I try to cherish because you never know [if it’ll be Kelce’s last],” Mahomes opened up after their loss on 7 December.

Will the Chiefs, three-time Super Bowl champions under Mahomes and Kelce, learn from this season and come back stronger next year? And with the same team? What are your thoughts on this?

Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Joyita Das