After a devastating ACL tear and a rare losing season, a healthy Patrick Mahomes returns to lead a revamped Chiefs roster back toward Super Bowl contention.
The Kansas City Chiefs begin the 2026 regular season with a showdown against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football.
Bo Nix and the Broncos won the AFC West last season and earned the top spot in the AFC, although they lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC title game.
The Chiefs finished with a surprising 6-11 record, missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL.
On Tuesday, Andy Reid spoke to reporters and said Mahomes is in a pretty good spot to start Week 1, barring any setbacks over the next few days.
Ahead of Week 1, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler asked league executives and scouts for their predictions, and Mahomes made the list for this year's Comeback Player of the Year.
"This one is set up for Mahomes like a well-blocked bubble screen. The three-time Super Bowl MVP has crushed his rehab from a torn ACL and PCL. He's poised to play in Week 1. The offense should be better overall, with a Walker-led running game and a healthier receiving corps," Fowler wrote.
It's quite interesting to see a six-time Pro Bowler, three-time Super Bowl champ, and three-time Super Bowl MVP on a list for Comeback Player of the Year, but here we are.
ACL injuries are always tough to overcome, and Mahomes turns 31 years old in the middle of September, making things even more complicated.
However, he has the tools at his disposal. Eric Bieniemy is back in Kansas City as the offensive coordinator, and Travis Kelce returned for likely one final season in the NFL.
Some other names mentioned to Fowler were Minnesota Vikings QB Kyler Murray, Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald - who came out of retirement - and Washington Commanders signal-caller Jayden Daniels.
However, Mahomes should be the favorite, and here's why:
"He's such an elite competitor and player that I'm counting on him responding," an AFC scout said. "He hears the noise."
That competitiveness from Mahomes alone puts him above almost everybody else, and the Chiefs have a loaded roster with a lot of improvements on the defense that should help them be mentioned as a playoff contender.
If all goes well, Mahomes could also be in the MVP conversation. Who knows. The Chiefs begin the year on Monday night, and a lot of eyes should be on the huge AFC West battle.
