The Kansas City Chiefs spent a large portion of the offseason wondering how soon Patrick Mahomes might be back on the field and wondering what version of the quarterback would return. These are questions that have been answered as Mahomes made it back on the field for OTAs and is already showing incredible progress, planting on his injured leg and making throws that erase the memory of last season's heartbreaking injury.
As a reminder, Mahomes tore his ACL on December 14th, 2025. This is less than six months for an injury that previously was expected to take up to a full year to recover. Still, fans and pundits have reacted to the return of the quarterback as if this is normal or expected of the league's most accomplished starter. This speaks to the accepted and predictable greatness of a starter who has defied all expectations in his return.
The greatest superpower that Mahomes has is his obsession and commitment to winning above all else. While other players enjoyed the offseason, the quarterback was obsessively rehabbing and doing everything possible to move up the timeline of his expected return.
It is the type of focus you expect from a player who has put together the most impressive start to a career the league has seen. Still, Mahomes deserves more credit for what he has accomplished as the starter appears on track to start Week 1.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes deserves more credit for offseason work
Defying the typical timeline of a return isn't an accident, as he is a great athlete who put his team and career above all else. The moment that Mahomes was able to have the surgery or start rehab was the moment it got done, with the signal caller attacking rehab with the same ferocity that has made him a legend and the league's best at the position.
Mahomes deserves his flowers for this and what it means for the Chiefs as the team starts the season against the defending AFC West champion Denver Broncos. A scheduling decision that speaks to the confidence of the league that Mahomes would be back and ready to roll in Week 1 despite the late-season injury.
The greatness has become a bit underrated, with this offseason serving as a perfect example of that fact. Mahomes has every reason to enjoy his family and accomplishments, taking his rehab slowly and embracing the chance to take a bit of a step back.
Instead, Mahomes managed to defy expectations and get back on the field long before the regular season is set to kick off. An accomplishment that deserves more attention and serves as yet another example of Mahomes' legend.
Add us as a preferred source on Google