If you walk into a bar in Kansas City and ask who the quarterback is, you’ll get one name back: Patrick Mahomes. It’s the obvious answer. He’s the face of the franchise, a three-time Super Bowl MVP, and the guy who basically owns the city at this point.
But right now? The situation is a bit of a mess.
Technically, Patrick Mahomes is still the man. He’s got the massive contract and the keys to the building. However, if the season started tomorrow, he wouldn't be under center. He’s currently deep in the trenches of a brutal rehab following a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee. It happened late in the 2025 season against the Chargers, and honestly, it changed everything for the Chiefs' immediate future.
The playoffs? Gone. The division streak? Snapped. For the first time in over a decade, the Chiefs watched the postseason from their couches. Now, the question isn't just "who is the quarterback," but rather, "who is going to take the first snap of the 2026 season?"
The Mahomes Factor: Rehab and the Week 1 Goal
Mahomes is 30 now. That’s not old for a quarterback, but it’s the age where "healing like a superhero" starts to slow down just a tiny bit. He underwent surgery in mid-December 2025, performed by Dr. Dan Cooper in Dallas. Since then, he’s been back in Kansas City working with Julie Frymyer.
If that name sounds familiar, it should. She’s the assistant trainer who famously got him through that high-ankle sprain during the 2022-23 Super Bowl run.
Mahomes told reporters on January 15, 2026, that his goal is to be back for Week 1. "I can't predict what's going to happen throughout the process, but that's my goal," he said. He’s aiming for a return with no restrictions. But a nine-month recovery for a dual-threat guy whose game relies on subtle pivots and pocket movement?
That's a tall order.
Who else is in the room?
Right now, the depth chart is looking pretty thin. Because Gardner Minshew—who stepped in after the Mahomes injury—also ended the year on IR and is heading into free agency, the "active" roster is a bit of a ghost town.
- Chris Oladokun: He’s currently the "healthy" name on the roster. Oladokun has been a developmental piece for the Chiefs for a while, spending most of his time on the practice squad. Is he a long-term starter? Probably not. Is he the guy leading huddles in January? Yes.
- Gardner Minshew (Pending FA): Andy Reid recently spoke about Minshew with a lot of warmth. He noted that while Minshew’s contract is up, he’s the exact type of veteran you want in that room—someone who has won games and understands the role. Don't be surprised if the Chiefs try to bring him back on a short-term deal to act as an insurance policy.
- Draft/Free Agency: The rumor mill is already spinning. Names like Marcus Mariota have been floated as potential bridge starters. The Chiefs aren't used to picking high in the draft, but after a 2025 season where they finished 6-11 (a stat that still feels fake to look at), they have more capital than usual.
The Contract Reality
People love to talk about the money. Mahomes signed that "lifetime" deal back in 2020, but it’s been restructured several times. As of 2026, his cap hit is ballooning to around $68 million.
That is a staggering amount of money for a player coming off a major knee reconstruction.
The Chiefs moved a lot of cash forward to keep him happy and compensated as the market for guys like Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert exploded. But now, they have to navigate a roster that needs a bit of a facelift while paying a premium for a QB who is currently in a knee brace.
What most people get wrong about the Chiefs' QB situation
The biggest misconception is that the Chiefs will just "plug and play" whoever the backup is and the offense will look the same. It won't.
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When Mahomes went down, the offense didn't just lose a pair of legs; it lost the "eraser." Mahomes erases bad play calls. He erases missed blocks. Without him, Andy Reid had to go back to a much more traditional, rhythmic West Coast offense.
Success in 2026 depends entirely on whether the Chiefs' front office accepts that Mahomes might not be 100% "Mahomes" until October or November. If they rush him, they risk the next five years of the franchise.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Offseason
If you’re a fan or a fantasy manager trying to track this, here is what you need to watch over the next few months:
- The March 11 Deadline: This is the start of the new league year. If the Chiefs haven't signed a veteran like Minshew or Mariota by mid-March, it means they are either extremely confident in Mahomes’ recovery or they are targeting a quarterback in the first round of the draft.
- Julie Frymyer’s Updates: In the world of Chiefs news, the trainers' reports are currently more important than the coaches'. Keep an eye on reports regarding Mahomes' lateral movement.
- April OTAs: Mahomes said he wants to participate in some capacity. If he’s on the field—even just throwing stationary—by late April, the Week 1 goal is realistic. If he’s still strictly in the gym, expect a backup to start the season.
The Kansas City Chiefs are in uncharted territory. For nearly a decade, the quarterback position was the one thing they never had to worry about. Now, it's the only thing anyone is talking about. Mahomes is still the guy, but for the first time since 2018, he has to prove he can actually get back on the field.
Keep a close eye on the "futures" signings the Chiefs make in the coming weeks. Those bottom-of-the-roster moves will tell you exactly how worried they are about the depth behind #15.