Andy Reid Confident in Patrick Mahomes’ Return: “Never Bet Against Him” 🏈💪

As the Kansas City Chiefs prepare for the upcoming 2026 NFL season, head coach Andy Reid remains optimistic about the return of quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who is recovering from an ACL and LCL tear in his left knee. Despite the significant injury, Reid expressed his unwavering confidence in Mahomes’ work ethic and commitment to his recovery process, stating, “I would never bet against him.”

A Positive Recovery So Far

Reid shared an update on Mahomes during the NFL’s annual meetings, noting that while every player’s recovery process is different, Mahomes’ determination has been evident throughout his rehabilitation. “He’s going to put in the time and effort and always push it but within reason, so he doesn’t take steps back,” Reid explained.

Mahomes, 30, sustained the season-ending injury during the final minutes of the Chiefs’ game against the Los Angeles Chargers on December 14, 2025. Since then, Mahomes has been diligently working on his recovery, and Reid confirmed that everything has been progressing well so far.

“So far, it’s all been positive,” Reid said, emphasizing that Mahomes has been showing great progress in his recovery. “He’s doing great.”

Mahomes’ Visible Progress

Mahomes himself has been open about his recovery journey, sharing a glimpse of his progress with fans. On March 25, 2026, the quarterback posted an Instagram video of himself practicing throwing a football at a training facility. He was wearing a black brace on his injured left leg during the session, signaling his determination to get back on the field.

“Day by day! Great being able to throw the ball around today!” Mahomes wrote in the post. The Chiefs also shared the video on their official Instagram, captioning it, “QB1 back in the lab 👀.”

Reid’s Confidence and Mahomes’ Timeline

While Reid remains optimistic, he refrained from giving a definitive timeline for Mahomes’ return. “To tell you a timeline? I mean, I know what he’s striving for. We’ll just see where it goes from there,” Reid said, acknowledging that Mahomes’ goal is to be ready for the 2026 NFL season opener.

Despite the uncertainty, Reid confirmed that Mahomes is putting in a tremendous amount of work. “He spends a ton of time in the building… He’s in there for seven hours a day. It’s showing, the progress,” Reid added.

Mahomes’ Own Goal: Ready for Week 1

Mahomes has been vocal about his goal of being ready for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season. Just a month after the injury, he expressed his determination to return without restrictions, sharing, “I want to be ready for Week 1… The doctors said I could be, but I can’t predict what happens throughout the process. That’s my goal … to play Week 1 and have no restrictions.”

The Chiefs’ star quarterback also shared his hope to participate in Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and training camp, aiming to be in full form by the time the season begins. “I hope to do some things in [OTAs] and training camp, and be able to do a lot there,” Mahomes said.

Looking Ahead

As the Chiefs look ahead to the 2026-27 NFL season, Mahomes’ recovery will be one of the key storylines for the team. Reid’s confidence in Mahomes’ ability to return to form is a strong indication that the Chiefs are fully invested in their star quarterback’s recovery. Fans and analysts alike will be closely watching Mahomes’ progress in the coming months as the team prepares for the new season.

With Andy Reid‘s faith in Mahomes and the quarterback’s own determination to return to the field, there’s no doubt that Patrick Mahomes will be a driving force for the Chiefs as they aim for another Super Bowl run in the upcoming season.