For the last several years, the Kansas City Chiefs have been the team confusing everyone else, forcing the league to alter everything from defensive schemes to coaching hires in order to attempt to take them down. The 2025 season has turned the tables on K.C. One year after chasing a historic three-peat, the Chiefs are the ones facing numerous questions.
The Chiefs were officially eliminated from playoff contention with three weeks remaining in the regular season, a display of just how far they've fallen from preseason expectations that pegged them as favorites to once again represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. A loss in Week 15 to the Los Angeles Chargers was the final nail in the coffin, and the AFC West rivals were quite happy to be the ones who buried the reigning divisional champs.
To add injury to insult, Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes was lost to a torn ACL with just two minutes remaining in the game. The devastating news only further clouds an offseason plan that was already facing major concerns on both sides of the ball.
Gardner Minshew believes Patrick Mahomes will come back better than ever for the Kansas City Chiefs.
The immediate concerns following the news of Mahomes' injury were about his recovery—specifically how long he might be out. While such details are unknown at this time, as he reportedly looks at surgical options, one player who's worked with him closely has no doubt about Mahomes' ability to return to his superhuman form.
Chiefs backup quarterback Gardner Minshew replaced Mahomes on a drive that could have given K.C. the lead, but he threw an interception that sealed the win for the Chargers. After the game, Minshew spoke with reporters and said he was ready for the moment, since that's his job, but that he felt bad on multiple levels after the game. "I felt very comfortable to go in, execute the offense. But I hate that situation. I hate that I couldn’t deliver and get us a win and keep our hopes alive."
After reflecting on Mahomes' injury, Minshew described the emotions of the moment while adding his trust that Mahomes will be back in 2026, ready to go for the Chiefs.
"It’s very frustrating. It’s been hard to watch for Pat. That dude puts so much into it. I don’t think I’ve ever respected anybody I’ve played with more. I’ve never seen anybody I’ve played with give so much of themselves to the team. And to not get the results is hard, but I have more confidence in him than anybody to come back better than ever."
Minshew is a free agent who might or might not be back with the Chiefs himself in '26, but perhaps one thing he can leave K.C. with as the offseason looms closer is a buoyed sense that the team's generational talent at quarterback is going to approach rehabilitation with the same dedication that he has playing the position that's made him a global icon and three-time champ.