If you turned on the TV today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, expecting to see #15 spinning out of a sack or launching a sidearm no-looker down the sideline, you’re probably staring at a screen that looks very different than usual. It feels wrong. For the first time in nearly a decade, the NFL playoffs are moving forward into the Divisional Round, and the Kansas City Chiefs are nowhere to be found.
Honestly, it’s surreal.
The short answer to why is mahomes not playing today is a brutal mix of a season-ending injury and a team that simply couldn't stay afloat without its captain. While the Houston Texans take on the New England Patriots and the Rams battle the Bears, Patrick Mahomes is at home. He isn't on the field because his 2025 season ended in a flash of pain back in mid-December, and for the first time in his starting career, he didn't even make the postseason dance.
The Injury That Changed Everything
We have to go back to December 14, 2025. The Chiefs were playing the Chargers. It was one of those late-season AFC West grinds where everything felt heavy. In the closing minutes, Mahomes went down.
At first, he thought it was nothing. He actually tried to get the training staff to just tape it up or throw a brace on it so he could finish the game. That’s just who he is. But the MRI told a much darker story: a torn ACL and LCL in his left knee.
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He had surgery about 24 hours later in Dallas with Dr. Dan Cooper. Since then, it’s been a long, quiet road of rehab. While the rest of the league is fighting for a Super Bowl ring, Mahomes is working with Chiefs physical therapist Julie Frymyer, trying to regain basic range of motion.
- The Surgery: December 15, 2025.
- The Diagnosis: Torn ACL and LCL (luckily, the MCL and PCL were clean).
- The Current Status: Post-operative rehabilitation in Kansas City and Dallas.
Why the Chiefs Aren't in the Playoffs
It wasn't just the injury, though that was the knockout blow. The 2025 Chiefs were already struggling. They finished the season 6-11. Let that sink in. For a fan base used to hosted AFC Championship games and February parades, a 6-11 record feels like a typo.
By the time Mahomes went down in Week 15, the Chiefs were already on the brink. Losing him officially eliminated them from playoff contention. Gardner Minshew stepped in to finish the year, and the team even signed Chris Oladokun from the practice squad for depth, but the magic was gone.
Today is the Divisional Round. Normally, this is "Mahomes Invitational" weekend. But because the Chiefs finished at the bottom of the AFC West, they didn't even sniff a Wild Card spot. They are currently looking at a top-10 draft pick instead of a trophy.
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What Mahomes is Doing Today (January 18, 2026)
So, if he isn't playing, what is he doing?
Today is actually a massive day for the Mahomes family, but it has nothing to do with football. It’s his mother Randi’s 50th birthday. The family has been celebrating in Texas, leaning into the "normal" life that a season-ending injury ironically allows.
Just a few days ago, on January 12, they were celebrating his daughter Golden’s first birthday. It’s a weird silver lining. For the first time since he entered the league, Patrick is a full-time dad and son in January instead of a locked-in gladiator. He’s been spotted at family events, looking relatively mobile but clearly not "football ready."
When Will He Be Back?
This is the question every Chiefs fan is obsessing over. Mahomes recently did a Zoom call with reporters where he sounded optimistic—kinda.
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He wants to be back for Week 1 of the 2026 season. That would be September 2026. Doctors say it’s possible, but an ACL and LCL combo is a nine-month recovery at minimum. If he hits every checkpoint, he might be at training camp in August.
But there’s a lot of skepticism. Some medical experts think rushing back for the opener is a recipe for a setback. The Chiefs management has been supportive but vague, emphasizing that they want him healthy for the next ten years, not just for one game in September.
The Roadmap to Return:
- Late Winter 2026: Continued strength training and linear movement.
- Spring 2025: Hitting "mental reps" during OTAs (he plan to be in the building, even if he can't run).
- Summer 2026: Testing the lateral cutting and explosive movements.
- September 2026: The target date for a return to the starting lineup.
The Reality for NFL Fans Today
Watching the Divisional Round without Mahomes is a reminder of how fragile NFL dynasties are. The league feels different. The "Boogeyman" of the AFC isn't looming over the bracket. Instead, we’re seeing the rise of the next generation and the resilience of veterans like Joe Burrow and Josh Allen who managed to stay healthy.
If you came here wondering why is mahomes not playing today, it's because the human body has limits, even for a guy who seems superhuman. He’s healing. He’s celebrating his mom's birthday. And he’s probably watching these games with a notebook in his lap, getting ready for a revenge tour in 2026.
What You Should Do Next
- Check the scores: Even without the Chiefs, the Texans vs. Patriots game is a legacy-defining matchup for C.J. Stroud.
- Keep an eye on the Chiefs’ staff: Keep a lookout for news on Matt Nagy; there are rumors he might be looking at head coaching jobs elsewhere, which would change the offense Mahomes returns to.
- Don't panic on fantasy: If you’re in a dynasty league, Mahomes’ value is at a rare "low." Now is the time to trade for him before the training camp hype begins in July.
The NFL will survive today without its biggest star, but let's be real—everyone is just counting down the days until the red and gold #15 is back on the grass.