Travis Kelce opens up about Patrick Mahomes’ injury, Chiefs missing the playoffs

Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.

Read our AI Policy.

• Travis Kelce confirmed Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending ACL injury.
• Chiefs fell to 6-8 after a loss, eliminating the team from the postseason.
• Kelce urged players to uphold professional integrity and finish the season strong.

Since starting the New Heights podcast with his brother in the 2022 season, tight end Travis Kelce has usually enjoyed recapping the most recent Chiefs game.

This season has been different, of course.

The Chiefs, 6-8, are out of the postseason picture following their 16-13 loss to the Chargers on Sunday. And quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Kelce covered both topics on the latest episode of the podcast.

“First things first, obviously, we lost our quarterback,” Kelce said. “Patty Mahomes, our guy, our brother, our fearless leader, our face of the franchise, and to an ACL (injury). And it’s just never easy seeing your guys go down. We had a bunch of guys get hurt this past game, and we fought. We fought. We had some guys fight through some stuff. We had some guys, unfortunately, not make it back out on the field.

“And for the season to be going like it did up to that point ... we’re on our last quest to try and keep our playoff hopes alive there in the fourth quarter. And on a freakish play to see 1-5 go down like that, man, it was almost like it wasn’t real. And (it) just sucks for a guy that puts in that much and puts his body on the line week in, week out, and makes this football world — he makes the best of it by how hard he works. It sucks, man.”

The Chiefs, who had a 5-3 record earlier this season, have lost five of six and won’t be in the postseason field for the first time since 2014.

Kelce talked about how things fell apart this season.

“This year, numbers-wise, we’re up there with some of the top offenses, depending on what category you’re looking at, but just critical moments,” he said. “All the games we’ve lost were one-score games. We were in it right there to the end.

“Things, when you need them the most, just weren’t falling for us, and you’ve got to go back to the drawing board. And we’ve got three games left,” Kelce said. “I know we’re still talking about this game, but the integrity of who you are as a professional, as a player, you’ve got to love this (stuff). And Chiefs Kingdom, we’re going to give you everything we’ve got.

“There’s no question about that. There’s only one way I do things. There’s only one way coach (Andy) Reid does things. And if we’re going to go out there and play some football, we’re going to do it the right way and keep trying to get these things fixed and end on the highest note that we can.”

Kelce on Mahomes’ rehab

Kelce admitted he was stunned when Mahomes went down with the injury.

Mahomes had surgery Monday on his left knee, and Kelce believes his friend has the drive to return better than ever.

“Obviously, it came out that his surgery went well,” Kelce said. “And, I mean, he’s a warrior. I’m telling you, this guy’s played through everything, battled through everything. Has been crowned champion because he’s battled through everything, and he’s gonna battle through this. It’s the only way this guy is wired. He’s a fearless warrior when it comes to this football thing.

“And he’s gonna make sure that he comes back stronger than ever and, you know, hopefully the Chiefs can get him back as soon as possible. I know right now it’s kind of right around that Week 1 or the beginning of the season next year. So I know he’s going to be doing everything he can to get back out on that field for the Chiefs as soon as possible.”

The Chiefs’ final 3 games

The Chiefs have three regular-season games remaining: at the Titans, vs. the Broncos and at the Raiders.

Some might think the Chiefs have nothing to play for, but Kelce disagrees.

“There’s an integrity thing here, that when you sign up for the gig, you’re living out your dreams, you’re living out a kid’s dream that never got a chance to do this,” he said. “You’re playing this game, obviously, to win Super Bowls. You’re playing this game to be in those playoff scenarios and stuff, but at the end of the day, you’re playing in the NFL. And that’s a ... blessing. That’s an honor. It’s an honor to be out there. It’s an honor to feel the soreness after a game, because you’re actually out there. You’re ... doing it.

“And no matter if you’re getting the ... ball thrown to you, no matter if you’re blocking your tail off and you never see the pill, it’s an honor to be out there in a uniform, playing for the guys around you, playing for your family, playing for the people back home that are watching you, that have known you since you were a little kid, dreaming about this moment.”

This story was originally published December 17, 2025 at 5:31 AM.