The serious injury to Patrick Mahomes represents a turning point for the Kansas City Chiefs. But it is too early to say goodbye to the Chiefs dynasty. Tom Brady and the New England Patriots can serve as role models. A comment.
By Julian Huter
It was a symbolic moment: Patrick Mahomes, the face and engine of the Chiefs dynasty, was felled and never got up again.
By this point, it would have been clear to most observers that the Kansas City Chiefs’ 2025 season was over. And that was even before replacement Gardner Minshew finally threw away the game against the LA Chargers.
The worst fears have now been confirmed: Patrick Mahomes has torn his cruciate ligament. The NFL world immediately sang a requiem for the most dominant team in recent years. “The Chiefs dynasty is over,” was the tenor.
Patrick Mahomes injured: Chiefs dynasty isn’t over yet
But this thesis is premature. The golden era of the Chiefs is far from over: provided that the Chiefs management draws the right conclusions from this overall disappointing season. The blueprint should be the dynasty against which the Chiefs have been measured for years: the New England Patriots with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.
The parallels are almost scary: Mahomes and Brady were each aiming for their fourth Super Bowl title in their ninth NFL season. Instead, both tore their left ACLs and their team missed the playoffs.
Ultimately, of course, a strange coincidence. Nevertheless, this moment is a turning point – and therefore also an opportunity for the front office to question its strategy.
NFL: Chiefs weren’t a title contender even with Mahomes
Mahomes had already been injured before, but even with a fit Mahomes, the Chiefs would have only had an outside chance of making the Super Bowl this season.
The star quarterback didn’t deliver the top performances expected, but the KC offense overall seemed old and slow – almost lethargic.
In recent years it has seemed more like the Chiefs are relying entirely on the Mahomes magic and mastermind Andy Reid offensively. Last season things went well until the Super Bowl with a lot of luck, but this season the acknowledgment was due for past failures.
Kansas City Chiefs: Travis Kelce’s time is over
Kansas City invested more draft capital in defense – the few top picks that were used on offensive players were too rarely able to fulfill the hopes placed in them or had to struggle with injury problems or suspensions.
Due to their enormous success, the Chiefs had to invest a lot of money to keep their existing team core together. Big jumps were hardly possible in free agency.
In Kansas City it is now time for a change of course. The team needs to be rejuvenated, protect Mahomes better in the future and let old fan favorites go. Travis Kelce is an example of this. Mahomes’ long-time safety net reared up again against the Chargers – but his time is up.
New England Patriots schafften Rebuild um Tom Brady
The Patriots also built a new team around Brady in the late 2000s and early 2010s and did not stop at big names: Brady’s top receiving stations Randy Moss and Wes Welker were replaced by Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman. The offensive line was also overhauled.
The result: In 2012, the Patriots were back in the Super Bowl. From 2015 to 2019, the Foxborough franchise won three more Vince Lombardi Trophies. The dynasty that was declared dead was not so lifeless after all.
Bald Chiefs 2.0?
It’s a blueprint the Chiefs can follow. Mahomes remains a bargaining chip, with a future Hall of Famer at the quarterback position you always have a chance in the NFL. However, the Chiefs must take precautions to ensure that the engine of their dynasty does not overrev.
A more stable O-line, better passing stations, more focus on the running game and short passes – to better protect an aging Mahomes from injuries. If those responsible succeed, we will soon see a Chiefs dynasty 2.0.
