Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes shares how he leans on wife and kids during knee rehab
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Patrick Mahomes leans on wife and young children for mental support during rehab
- He uses family events and involvement with kids to sustain motivation for 2026 return
- Mahomes balances rehab protocols with limited parenting to aid psychological recovery
With three kids under the age of 5 at home, some parents need to leave the house to get a mental break.
But Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has found coming home to 4-year-old Sterling, 3-year-old Bronze and 1-year-old Golden, along with wife, Brittany, has been psychologically beneficial.
Mahomes is in full-on rehab mode following surgery last month to repair two ligaments in his left knee. He was injured during the Chiefs’ Dec. 14 game against the Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Mahomes is working hard to get ready for the Chiefs’ 2026 opener, but he admitted it’s hard to watch the playoff games as a spectator.
While Mahomes is focused on physically getting his knee ready to play, he admitted the injury has weighed on him mentally. Having that goal of being ready in September is a huge motivation and helps him mentally.
“I think that’s kind of pushed me through some of those mental hurdles, and that, as well as having a great wife that is able to keep me involved with the kids,” Mahomes said Thursday. “And the kids understanding that dad can’t necessarily be the dad that I usually am, throwing them around the couches and stuff like that.”
Yes, Mahomes needs to take it easy around his children. But interacting with them helps the psychological side of his recovery.
Things like Golden’s first birthday party have been beneficial, even if it doesn’t aid Mahomes’ knee physically.
“I think that’s been good for my mental is just being around the kids,” Mahomes said, “and being around the family and have a lot of great people around me.”
This story was originally published January 21, 2026 at 10:08 AM.
