Tom Brady gives Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes advice about returning from torn ACL

Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL as the Chiefs were eliminated from the playoffs this past Sunday.

Living legend and retired signal-caller Tom Brady is quite familiar with recovering from that injury. During the latest edition of the "Let's Go!" SiriusXM show and podcast, Brady offered Mahomes advice about what is to come for the 30-year-old.

Patrick Mahomes already going down road suggested by Tom Brady

"The only thing you can do is focus on what’s ahead of you and not look back," Brady explained, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "And just say, 'OK, this is part of what my career is going to be.' And a lot of people have gone through it, and a lot of people have overcome it. You’ve just got to put as much diligence into the rehab process. And I always feel like the faster you rehab, the faster you can get back to practicing the sport that you know you love."

For Mahomes, that process began Monday when he underwent successful surgery in Dallas. Typically, athletes require a recovery timeline of 9 to 12 months following such a procedure. While it's far too early to guess what Mahomes' status will be for Week 1 of the 2026 season, it seems as if he wants to play for a majority of that campaign. 

"I think sometimes people will pace themselves," Brady continued. "Instead of training mode, they’re in rehab mode. I think you gotta get through rehab mode as fast as possible, and then you get back to training mode. But that requires an all-out commitment, and it’s the same commitment that the great professional athletes make to be great at their profession."

Tom Brady shares harsh truth for Patrick Mahomes

Brady was a three-time Super Bowl champion in his ninth NFL season and eighth as a starter when he suffered a torn ACL and MCL in September 2008. Mahomes is a three-time Super Bowl champion who was also in his ninth NFL season and eighth as a starter this fall. 

Of course, Brady went on to claim four more Super Bowl rings during his illustrious career following his injury. On Monday, he reminded outsiders that Mahomes has a difficult road ahead as it pertains to reclaiming his best form. 

"It’s a tough rehab," Brady added. "It’s one of the toughest rehabs. I just remember every day pushing myself. And it’s always the same amount of pain and discomfort, except you’re making progress through that pain and discomfort, which is a hard psychological thing to battle. You feel like, God, every day, it doesn’t feel right. Except you’re gaining range of motion and you’re gaining strength, and you are on the road to recovery. So I wish him the very best."

Mahomes' recovery could become the top storyline of the NFL offseason. Perhaps he will reach out to Brady for advice once the rehabilitation process gets underway.