Donald Trump couldn’t help himself but to ask about Patrick Mahomes’ injury update. During a White House Small Business Summit on Monday, the President pulled aside the owners of Kansas City’s Slap’s BBQ and skipped straight to what was really on his mind. “Most importantly, how is Mahomes doing?” he asked. One of the brothers told him he’d be OK. Trump’s reply was simple: “You tell the people of Kansas City we love him.” It was a brief exchange, but it captured just how far Patrick Mahomes’ influence extends beyond football.
Why is Donald Trump personally asking about Patrick Mahomes’ recovery?
The Mahomes family and Trump go back a bit. Before Super Bowl 2025, Patrick’s mother Randi, brother Jackson, and sister Mia met Trump in his suite. His wife Brittany famously wore a MAGA hat at Arrowhead during a Monday night game before Election Day. Trump hasn’t been shy about the connection. “I love those two women, they’re so great,” he told FOX News, referring to Randi and Brittany. “They’re so loyal. I met Patrick’s mother at the game. And Brittany, I’ve seen so much of Brittany, just being so loyal and beautiful.”That personal warmth explains why Trump even asked whether Patrick Mahomes would be ready for Week 1. Mahomes suffered the torn ACL and LCL in his left knee on December 14 during a loss to the Chargers, an injury that also ended Kansas City’s season and sent the Chiefs to their first missed playoff appearance since 2014. Since then, he has been working daily with Chiefs physical therapist Julie Frymyer and making separate trips to Dallas for checkups with his surgeon, Dr. Dan Cooper. In late March, he posted a short clip of himself completing a five-step dropback and releasing the ball, a quiet but meaningful signal of how far along the recovery had come.Mahomes’ injury has left a wide ripple. A torn ACL and LCL is not a routine setback, especially for a quarterback whose game relies on mobility and improvisation. His rehab has been steady but demanding, split between Kansas City sessions and follow-up visits in Dallas with the surgeon who handled the procedure. Progress exists, but certainty does not.
Will Patrick Mahomes be ready for OTAs and the 2026 season?
That question remains open, and Andy Reid isn’t rushing to provide clarity. “We’ve got to see about that,” Reid said. “He is in a good position to be able to do some things. There’s some rules and regulations that go with that. So we’ve just got to make sure that we’re on top of that part.”The Chiefs begin OTAs on May 26, but Mahomes’ participation is far from guaranteed. The team has to balance optimism with caution. Bringing him back too early risks setbacks, while holding him out limits valuable reps in a season that already carries pressure after last year’s struggles.There’s also the technical side. If Mahomes avoids starting training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list, it keeps roster flexibility intact. That detail may seem minor, but it shapes how Kansas City builds depth around him.Mahomes wants to return quickly. That much is clear. But recovery from a multi-ligament injury rarely follows a clean timeline. The Chiefs are watching closely, and so is everyone else.For now, the updates remain measured, sometimes coming from unexpected places. And until Mahomes steps back on the field, every word, from a head coach or even a president, will continue to carry unusual significance.
