NFL Considering Chiefs Schedule Change Amid Patrick Mahomes Injury

Chiefs owner Clark Hunt says league may avoid high-profile Week 1 matchup with Seahawks due to Mahomes' recovery timeline.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 11:38pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the silhouettes of football players in motion, rendered in a palette of deep red, navy blue, and forest green, conceptually representing the uncertainty surrounding a potential Chiefs-Seahawks matchup.An abstract, cubist interpretation of a high-stakes matchup between the Chiefs and Seahawks, reflecting the NFL's cautious approach to Patrick Mahomes' recovery timeline.Kansas City Today

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is making good progress in his recovery from a torn ACL suffered last season, but Chiefs owner Clark Hunt revealed the NFL is considering changes to the team's 2026 schedule as a precaution in case Mahomes is not ready for the start of the season. Head coach Andy Reid has praised Mahomes' dedication to his rehab, but the league may opt to avoid a high-profile Week 1 matchup between the Chiefs and Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks to minimize risk.

Why it matters

Mahomes is one of the NFL's biggest stars, and his health is crucial to the Chiefs' Super Bowl aspirations. The league is being cautious about Mahomes' recovery timeline to avoid a high-profile game if he's not fully healed, which could impact the entire 2026 season schedule.

The details

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Mahomes is 'doing great' in his rehab, spending up to seven hours per day at the team facility. However, Reid hinted Mahomes may not be ready for the start of the 2026 season, leading the team to acquire quarterback Justin Fields as a backup plan. Chiefs owner Clark Hunt revealed the league is now considering changes to the team's schedule, likely avoiding a Week 1 matchup with the Seahawks to minimize risk if Mahomes is not fully recovered.

  • Mahomes suffered a torn ACL during the 2025 NFL season.
  • The NFL owners meetings took place in late March 2026, where Clark Hunt discussed the potential schedule changes.

The players

Patrick Mahomes

The star quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, who is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in the 2025 season.

Andy Reid

The head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, who has praised Mahomes' dedication to his rehab.

Clark Hunt

The owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, who revealed the NFL is considering changes to the team's 2026 schedule due to Mahomes' injury.

Justin Fields

A quarterback acquired by the Chiefs to serve as a backup plan in case Mahomes is not ready for the start of the 2026 season.

Seattle Seahawks

The Super Bowl champion team that was originally scheduled to face the Chiefs in a high-profile Week 1 matchup, which may now be changed.

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What they’re saying

“He's doing great. He spends a ton of time in the building. ... He's in there for seven hours a day. It's showing, the progress. Now, to tell you a timeline? I mean, I know what he's striving for. We'll just see where it goes from there.”

— Andy Reid, Head Coach, Kansas City Chiefs

“Well, we snuck out and got a good quarterback to back him up. So, if he doesn't, you know, if he's not able to make it for the beginning of the season, then we know we've got a legitimate backup there that can go win games for us.”

— Andy Reid, Head Coach, Kansas City Chiefs

“I don't think that's on the table anymore. I think from a league standpoint, there would be some concern whether [Patrick Mahomes] would be ready to go. My guess is the [NFL] won't want to take that risk. We've all seen some of the videos of [Mahomes'] rehab. By every indication, he's ahead of schedule, and has worked really hard to be ahead of schedule.”

— Clark Hunt, Owner, Kansas City Chiefs

What’s next

The NFL is expected to announce the full 2026 regular season schedule in the coming months, which will reveal if the league has decided to change the Chiefs' Week 1 matchup against the Seahawks.

The takeaway

The NFL is being cautious with Patrick Mahomes' recovery timeline, potentially altering the Chiefs' 2026 schedule to avoid risk if the star quarterback is not fully healed by the start of the season. This highlights the league's concern over Mahomes' health and the importance of his presence to the Chiefs' Super Bowl aspirations.