Patrick Mahomes Is Injured as Chiefs Miss NFL Playoffs for First Time in 10 Years

Patrick Mahomes took a painful hit to close out a frustrating afternoon for the Kansas City Chiefs in their loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

In the final two minutes of the Sunday, Dec. 14 game, the 30-year-old quarterback tried to spark a last-minute touchdown drive. After an incomplete throw, Mahomes was tackled and went down clutching his left knee.

He remained on the turf as the Chiefs’ medical staff rushed over to evaluate him, while teammates gathered nearby. Mahomes was eventually helped off the field.

Backup quarterback Gardner Minshew entered in relief, but the comeback attempt quickly unraveled when he threw an interception—sealing the loss and ending Kansas City’s postseason hopes. The defeat officially knocks the Chiefs out of playoff contention, meaning they won’t have a chance to chase a return trip to the 2025 Super Bowl.

Head coach Andy Reid said after the game that Mahomes will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury, adding that “it didn’t look good,” according to ESPN reporter Adam Schefter.

The outcome also marks a major shift for the franchise: it will be the Chiefs’ first time missing the playoffs in 10 years, and the first time Mahomes has missed the postseason in his career.

Beyond the injury and elimination, the loss carried another layer of uncertainty. It may have been the final meaningful game in the career of Travis Kelce, Mahomes’ close friend and longtime teammate, who could retire after the season.

Mahomes acknowledged earlier this month that Kelce’s potential departure has been on his mind. “Every season I’ve had with him these last few years, I try to cherish because you never know [if this will be Kelce’s last season],” Mahomes said after their loss on Dec. 7.