Why former Pro Bowl QB wants Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes to sit out 2026 season

Adam Schultz

Why former Pro Bowl QB wants Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes to sit out 2026 season image

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Since Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL on Sunday, we have heard how quickly he wants to be back playing.

Week 1 is a very real chance for Patrick, who has already had surgery and is attacking his rehab.

But this isn't an injury you want to rush because we have seen players come back too early, and it ends in disaster.

For former quarterback Robert Griffin II, who suffered the same injury as Patrick and returned the following season, he wasn't himself for the rest of his career, he knows more than most about this injury.

And speaking on The Dan Patrick Show, Griffin has offered a word of advice to Mahomes and Micah Parsons, both of whom are targeting a Week 1 return from their ACL injuries.

"The number one advice I would give to Micah Parsons and Patrick Mahomes right now is to not play next year," Griffin said. "It's because of when they got hurt. It would be nine months for both of them if they were ready Week 1. But you don't really feel yourself until about 15 months after the injury.

"I would advise them to sit out the following season because of when they got hurt, and then you can play for another 10-15 years once you're fully back to health. Do I think that's what's going to happen? No, the only people that can protect them are the teams."

More: Chiefs Matt Nagy reveals raw emotion over Patrick Mahomes ACL injury

Why Mahomes should take Griffin advice

It is admirable for Mahomes to want to be back for Week 1, but if there is anyone qualified to speak on how ACL injuries can impact you playing the quarterback position, it's RG3.

Given that Mahomes likes to extend plays, run around, and do things others can't, he needs to be fully healthy and have trust in his knee.

Griffin stated that most are themselves until around 15 months post-injury. Given Mahomes' age, sitting out a year to get properly healthy isn't the worst thing, and he will still likely have another decade of football ahead of him.

But if he pushes the boundaries, comes back early, doesn't look like himself, his play suffers, and (fingers crossed) gets hurt again, then that is nightmare fuel.

 It feels like the sensible thing to do. Will it happen? I think we know the answer to that.

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Senior Editor