Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes underwent surgery Monday night to repair his knee and before beginning his long rehabilitation, he received advice from none other than Tom Brady, who also went through the same ordeal 17 years ago.
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Mahomes saw his season and that of the Chiefs end Sunday when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the loss to the Chargers. The Chiefs will be out of the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
Originally from Texas, Mahomes underwent surgery by the Dallas Cowboys’ head doctor, who also repaired his lateral collateral ligament.
The rehabilitation period for such an injury is generally around nine months, which suggests that the Chiefs’ star player’s return to play for the start of next season is uncertain.
Similarities
In 2008, Brady also suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament. The similarities between the two legendary quarterbacks are striking.
Brady was in his ninth season, seeking his fourth Super Bowl ring at age 31. It’s exactly the same situation for Mahomes, one year younger, after his three Super Bowl triumphs.
Their joint injury comes at a time when both had just suffered a defeat in the previous Super Bowl.
The retiree, now an analyst on FOX, gave his former rival some advice via his podcast Let’s Go!.
“The only thing you can do is focus on what’s in front of you rather than looking back. The sooner you start rehabilitation, the sooner you can start playing the sport you love again.
“You have to quickly be in rehabilitation mode to return to training mode. It requires constant commitment, the kind of commitment that professional athletes impose on themselves to excel in their profession. Through rehabilitation, you need the same level of focus and determination,” explained the former Patriots and Buccaneers.
A difficult time
The one who won four more Super Bowls after suffering the same injury as Mahomes did not hide the fact that he first had to go through one of the darkest parts of his long career.
“It’s one of the most difficult rehabilitations. I remember how hard I pushed myself every day. It’s still the same amount of pain and discomfort, but you have to progress through that pain and discomfort.
“It’s a tough psychological battle. Every day you feel like something is wrong, but your range of motion and strength increase. This is where you are on the road to recovery. I wish him all the best,” Brady said.
A different style
Where the two quarterbacks’ situations differ is that Mahomes has always relied much more on his mobility than Brady, a quarterback of a more statuesque nature in his protective pocket.
Brady stood out for his boundless dedication to training and his longevity.
We will have to see if Mahomes will regain all of his movements, he whose magic often lies in his propensity to improvise in order to give his receivers more time to stand out.
It is not impossible that to endure over time like Brady, Mahomes will be forced to reinvent himself.
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