Patrick Mahomes recently suffered a significant left knee injury: a torn ACL, with reports indicating additional ligament damage (including the LCL) discovered during surgery. The injury happened late in a December 2025 game against the Los Angeles Chargers and ended both his season and the Chiefs’ playoff hopes.

What happened to his knee?

  • Mahomes injured his left knee in the closing minutes of a Week 15 loss to the Chargers in December 2025.
  • Initial tests (MRI) confirmed a torn ACL, and the team quickly labeled it a season-ending knee injury.
  • Follow‑up reporting after surgery said doctors also repaired damage to the LCL and possibly other structures, making it more than “just” an ACL tear.

How serious is it?

  • A torn ACL with additional ligament damage is considered a major knee injury for any player, especially a quarterback who relies on mobility and quick direction changes.
  • Surgeons quoted in media coverage described it as a significant but repairable injury, noting that modern ACL reconstructions have high success rates, even for elite athletes.

Surgery and recovery timeline

  • Mahomes underwent knee surgery in mid‑December 2025 in Dallas to repair the torn ACL and associated ligament damage.
  • The Chiefs said the procedure was successful and that he would start rehab immediately, with expectations that he will return but with a long recovery ahead.
  • Typical timelines for an NFL quarterback after an ACL reconstruction are roughly 9–12 months, and additional ligament work can push recovery toward the longer end of that range.

What Mahomes and the team have said

  • Mahomes posted that he did not know why this happened again but promised he would “be back stronger than ever,” acknowledging how much the injury hurts mentally and physically.
  • The Chiefs publicly confirmed the torn ACL and said they are exploring surgical and rehab plans focused on a full, long‑term return to play.

Context and trending discussion

  • Fans immediately connected this 2025 ACL tear to Mahomes’ past left knee issues, including his 2019 dislocated kneecap, which once saw trainers “pop” his knee back into place on the field.
  • On forums and social media, discussion has centered on:
    • How the latest injury might affect his scrambling and off‑platform throws long term.
    • Whether the Chiefs should adjust their offensive style to better protect his knee when he returns.
    • Comparisons with other star QBs who successfully returned from ACL injuries.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.