Chiefs owner Clark Hunt gives update on Patrick Mahomes rehab, return
Patrick Mahomes is used to playing football into late January and early February.
This year, he is rehabbing a knee injury with an eye towards the 2026 NFL season. The Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback is continuing to work his way back from a torn ACL that he suffered in the fourth quarter of Week 15 against the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 14.
Mahomes had surgery the following day, beginning what promised to be a long road to recovery.
Chiefs owner Clark Hunt shed some light on the quarterback's recovery during an appearance on "Good Morning Football" on Jan. 27.
"I was with Patrick a couple days ago in our training room, watching him go through the work that he's doing to get back on the field with the rehab," Hunt said. "And nobody works harder than Patrick."
Hunt also isn't doubting the quarterback's ability to return for the start of the regular season.
"He certainly has a goal to be back for the beginning of the season," Hunt said. "I wouldn't put it past him. He's somebody in the past who has healed very quickly and, again, his work ethic, I think, gives him a huge advantage in getting back and being ready to play in 2026."
Chiefs vice president of sports medicine and performance Rick Burkholder said on Dec. 17 that Mahomes was looking at about a nine month recovery, which would put him right up against Week 1.
"Ballpark on this thing is nine months," Burkholder said. "Could be a month or two less, could be a month or two more. You never know what goes and everyone's designed differently bio-mechanically so you just have to go through it and then he has position-specific things he needs to do."
Mahomes shared some thoughts on social media after suffering the injury, telling fans that he plans to be back stronger than ever.
"Don't know why this had to happen," he wrote. "And not going to lie [it] hurts. But all we can do now is Trust in God and attack every single day over and over again. Thank you Chiefs kingdom for always supporting me and for everyone who has reached out and sent prayers. I Will be back stronger than ever."
The Chiefs were 0-3 without the quarterback following the injury, ending the season on a six-game losing streak and missing the playoffs for the first time in the Mahomes era.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chiefs owner Clark Hunt won't rule out Patrick Mahomes Week 1 return