When Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL on Sunday, fans were quick to point out the similarities to Tom Brady, who also tore his ACL during his ninth season. While Mahomes has long been compared to Brady, the comparisons didn’t really help in the aftermath of the injury. However, Brady knowing what Mahomes is going through could help the current quarterback on his recovery journey.
Sure enough, the retried quarterback is already offering Mahomes some advice. On a recent episode of the Let’s Go! podcast, Brady’s message to the Chiefs quarterback was to “focus on what’s ahead of you and not look back.” The former quarterback went on to say Mahomes has to accept that this injury is a part of his story, and he must now attack the rehab process with the same ”all-out commitment” that made him a great player.
Tom Brady advises Patrick Mahomes to attack his rehab with an all-out commitment
Another similarity between the two’s ACL tears is that they were both coming off Super Bowl losses. Where the comparison differs, though, is that Brady’s injury occurred in Week 1. That gave him a runway of the entire season, and offseason, to get ready for the next year. He was healthy in time, and played every game of the next season, immediately returning to Pro Bowl form, and leading the Patriots to the playoffs.
Mahomes, on the other hand, suffered his ACL tear in Week 15. That puts his availability for next season in question, but the quarterback is reportedly determined to be ready for the kick off of next season. Mahomes has already undergone surgery, so he is officially on his return to play journey. Considering that the quarterback has always been a relentless worker, attacking his rehab with the mindset Brady spoke about should come natural to Mahomes.
If his body responds to the way his mind will surely push it, anything is possible for the quarterback. In the meantime, the Chiefs must go to work to improve the circumstances Mahomes will return to. 2025 has been a rough year for Kansas City, even before Mahomes’ injury, so the franchise has to build itself back into a contender. The main focus, of course, will be getting a healthy Patrick Mahomes back on the field.