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Mahomes Mirrors Brady's Comeback Trail
16 Jul
Summary
- Mahomes contacted Tom Brady about knee injury recovery.
- Zach Ertz also recovered from a similar knee injury.
- Mahomes found watching his kids the hardest part.
Patrick Mahomes has found a remarkable parallel between his career and that of Tom Brady, particularly concerning recovery from knee injuries. By their mid-20s, both quarterbacks had secured three Super Bowl victories. However, each also faced a season-ending knee injury in their ninth NFL year.
As Mahomes underwent reconstructive surgery on December 15, 2025, he sought advice from Brady, who had previously navigated a similar rehabilitation. Brady's experience of returning to elite performance after his own knee surgery, even playing in six more Super Bowls, offered Mahomes valuable insights.
Mahomes also connected with former teammate Tyrann Mathiew and tight end Zach Ertz, who suffered a torn ACL just seven days before Mahomes. Ertz, who previously played under Mahomes' college coach Kliff Kingsbury, became a significant recovery partner.
Mahomes and Ertz engaged in a competitive recovery process, exchanging videos to track progress and motivate each other. This camaraderie proved crucial for Mahomes, especially during his lowest point around Christmas 2025, when he couldn't actively play with his three children.
The Chiefs demonstrated immense confidence in Mahomes' recovery by signing him to an eight-year, $504.75 million contract extension in June. By January 4, 2026, Mahomes reached a mental turning point, feeling ready to return to his previous performance level.
Mahomes and Ertz have maintained a strong friendship through their shared ordeal, both now progressing well in their respective careers. Ertz is currently an unrestricted free agent after his contract with the Washington Commanders concluded.
