Patrick Mahomes has been cleared for full participation at Kansas City Chiefs training camp, roughly seven months after tearing the ACL and LCL in his left knee. The injury occurred during a December 14 game, and he underwent surgery the following day. His recovery drew on advice from some of the most well-known names in football.
Speaking to reporters as quarterbacks and rookies reported to Missouri Western State University on July 24, Mahomes revealed he reached out to Tom Brady, Tyrann Mathieu, and Zach Ertz at various points throughout the rehab process.
Brady Was the First Call
Mahomes said he contacted Brady early in his recovery because the former quarterback dealt with a nearly identical injury. Brady tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee during the opening week of the 2008 season, missing the remainder of that campaign before winning the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award in 2009.
Mahomes described the conversation as focused on the demands of the process — staying consistent, not cutting corners, and understanding the long haul ahead.
Mathieu and Ertz Also Offered Perspective
Tyrann Mathieu brought his own experience to the table. The former Chiefs safety tore the ACL and LCL in his left knee back in 2013 and then suffered another ACL tear in 2015. That combination made him a relevant voice for Mahomes.
Zach Ertz offered something slightly different: parallel timing. The veteran tight end tore his ACL while with the Washington Commanders just one week before Mahomes went down. Their recoveries ran on nearly the same schedule.
A Competitive Dynamic with Ertz
What started as check-ins with Ertz turned into something more structured. Mahomes described the two trading milestones — comparing deadlift weights at first, then exchanging short videos as each progressed to more demanding movements. Ertz would send clips of himself jumping or accelerating; Mahomes would respond the following week with footage of cutting drills.
Mahomes said the back-and-forth helped combat the isolation that comes with solo rehab. Competing against yourself for months is a grind. Having someone else at the same stage gave him an external target.
Eyes on Week One of the Regular Season
Mahomes acknowledged sitting on the sideline watching Kansas City play out the final weeks of last season was difficult. He said he kept pushing through by focusing on a clear goal: being cleared for training camp. That milestone is now behind him.
The next target is straightforward. He wants to be ready to play in Week 1 of the regular season. He is not yet cleared for live game action, but full practice participation has been confirmed.
