The Kansas City Chiefs’ 2025 season concluded with an ending that not many people bet on at the beginning of the season. Expectations were high. Some fans even thought they would come back from their 2025 Super Bowl loss with more chances than ever. However, this campaign finished with a palpable sense of disappointment following their elimination from playoff contention, even compounded by the devastating torn ACL suffered by Patrick Mahomes.
Yet, for those familiar with NFL history, this abrupt end to Mahomes’ ninth season in the league carries an intriguing similarity with another legendary career: Tom Brady’s. The surprising parallels in their early trajectories, particularly at similar points in their careers, offer a powerful hint that Mahomes’ story may just be entering its next chapter.
Career coincidences: Season 8 and 9
The parallels between Mahomes and Brady at same stages of their careers are remarkably specific and historically significant:
- NFL Season 8: The Super Bowl setback
In his eighth NFL season, Brady led the New England Patriots to the Super Bowl final, but against all odds, the Patriots lost in a monumental upset against the New York Giants (17-14).
Patrick Mahomes found himself in the Super Bowl in his eighth season too, also aiming for his fourth ring. In a stunning turn of events, the Chiefs suffered a defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles (40-22) , mirroring Brady’s Super Bowl disappointment.
- NFL Season 9: Knee Injury and missed playoffs
Tom Brady’s ninth year in the NFL was cut short by a severe knee injury (a torn ACL) that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Consequently, his team, the Patriots, missed the playoffs entirely.
Patrick Mahomes’ ninth NFL season also culminated in a torn ACL in his left knee. Like Brady before him, this season-ending injury directly resulted in his team, the Chiefs, missing the playoffs.
Although surprising, these are not merely statistical anomalies, they represent crucial inflection points in two of the most successful careers in football. Both quarterbacks faced the dual blow of a Super Bowl loss followed by a season-ending injury which culminated in a missed postseason.
A promising future for Mahomes
For Chiefs fans, this can be a source of optimism, as Tom Brady, after his own Season 9 injury, did not just return, he went on to win three more Super Bowls with the Patriots and another with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, solidifying his status as the greatest of all time.
Some people say injuries are not just physical setbacks but mental challenges. Brady’s ability to overcome such a significant challenge early in his career defined his legendary resilience and legacy. Mahomes, now faces a similar test. The road to recovery from an ACL tear is really tough, demanding months of intense rehabilitation.
The comparison to Tom Brady suggests that Patrick Mahomes is far from done. He is merely following a path that, for another legend, led to undisputed glory
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