Patrick Mahomes' Recovery Has Travis Kelce Determined to Perform
Travis Kelce said Patrick Mahomes' recovery process played a big role in his decision to return to the NFL field this season.
In the 2025 NFL season, Patrick Mahomes suffered a serious injury, tearing his ACL during Week 15 of the Kansas City Chiefs' campaign. The Chiefs concluded the year with a 6-11 record, their first playoff-less season since 2014. Mahomes underwent ACL surgery and embarked on a challenging rehabilitation journey over subsequent months.
However, it appears that the star quarterback is set to play in the Chiefs' regular-season opener against the Denver Broncos, scheduled for Week 1. Travis Kelce, Mahomes' teammate, has been closely monitoring Mahomes' recovery progress, which has motivated him to elevate his own performance in the upcoming 2026 season. According to Kelce, Mahomes' determination and perseverance after his injury was a significant factor in his decision to continue playing football.
"I could see the hard work starting just weeks after the surgery," Kelce said in a recent episode of the New Heights podcast. "I could see the determination, I could see the frustration in his mind that it got to this point this year. That’s a huge reason why I’m still playing the game. I want to be there for that guy." Before his injury last season, Mahomes had a stellar performance, completing 62.7% of his pass attempts, tallying 3,587 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, while adding 422 rushing yards and five more rushing touchdowns.
The Chiefs are scheduled to host the Broncos at 8:15 p.m. ET on Monday Night Football on September 14.
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