The Kansas City Chiefs have received the news they feared most. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has officially been diagnosed with a torn ACL in his left knee, an injury that will end his 2025 season and plunge the franchise into uncharted territory.

According to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, an MRI confirmed the severity of the injury, ruling Mahomes out for the remainder of the year. The two-time NFL MVP suffered the injury during Kansas City’s Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers — a defeat that also eliminated the Chiefs from playoff contention.

Just hours after leaving the game, Mahomes addressed fans directly on social media, delivering a message filled with pain, faith, and resolve.

“I don’t know why this had to happen,” Mahomes 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.”

Attention now turns to Mahomes’ recovery timeline and what it means for the Chiefs’ future. A torn ACL typically requires around nine months of rehabilitation, placing his return dangerously close to the start of the 2026 NFL season in early September. While optimism remains, there is no guarantee he will be ready for Week 1.

The injury caps off what has been a brutal and frustrating 2025 campaign for Kansas City. For the first time in the Mahomes era, the Chiefs will miss the playoffs — a stunning outcome for a franchise that has dominated the AFC for nearly a decade. Inconsistency on both sides of the ball, combined with mounting injuries, ultimately derailed the season.

With the offseason approaching, questions loom about potential roster changes and organizational direction. But for now, nothing matters more than Mahomes’ health. He is the foundation of the franchise, the face of the Chiefs, and the engine behind every championship run.

Kansas City has entered unfamiliar ground. And until Patrick Mahomes is healthy again, the entire organization waits.