The Kansas City Chiefs were fighting for their playoff lives during Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers. But the result of the game wasn’t all that the fans were worried about during the fourth quarter, when superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes limped off the field with less than two minutes remaining in the game.
Mahomes Exits In 4th Quarter, Chiefs Season Ends After Loss To Chargers
At the time, the Chiefs were down 16-13 and nearing midfield coming out of the two-minute warning. Mahomes scrambled out to his right and came under heavy pressure, which caused an incompletion, and the QB remained on the ground clutching his knee after the play. Replays showed what appeared to be a hyperextension.
KC misses the playoffs for the first time since 2014. https://t.co/Y63u1B5BR5
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 14, 2025
A usually raucous crowd at Arrowhead Stadium was hushed as the most important player in the history of their franchise limped off of the field in obvious pain. Video showed Mahomes being escorted to the locker room with full help of the medical staff under his arms, seemingly putting no weight on the injured knee.
Gardner Minshew came on in relief, and he threw the game-and-season-sealing interception with less than 20 seconds remaining.
Chiefs Out Of Postseason For The First Time Since 2014
With the loss, the Chiefs are officially eliminated from playoff contention. It ends a postseason appearance streak that began in 2014, a streak that included five Super Bowl appearances and three Lombardi Trophies. The team saw a noticeable decline beginning as early as last season, but some late-game heroics and a little bit of luck propelled them to a 15-2 record and another appearance in the championship game.
The Kansas City Chiefs have been eliminated from playoff contention.
The last time the Chiefs missed the postseason was 2014. pic.twitter.com/FM4vfVaJWm
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 14, 2025
But they haven’t been the same since losing the Super Bowl to the Philadelphia Eagles. Entering the 2025, there were questions about whether the team would be able to sustain their success from their 6-7 year run of dominance, a question that was ultimately answered on Sunday.
And there will be added concern going into the offseason, especially if the injury to Patrick Mahomes is a serious one. The chatter in the coming months won’t just be about their failures in 2025, but there will be plenty of talk about the potential end of the Kansas City Chiefs dynasty.
