'Best in the league' Mahomes returns to lead Chiefs fightback

Andy Reid says Travis Kelce "acts like he's going to play forever" as the tight end prepares for his 14th season with the Kansas City Chiefs, who welcome Patrick Mahomes back from last year's season-ending injury; the Chiefs begin their campaign against the Denver Broncos on Monday night

Patrick Mahomes is back, Travis Kelce is braced for a potential swansong and Andy Reid has buried the disappointment of last season as his Kansas City Chiefs eye a resurgence in 2026.

The Chiefs missed out on the playoffs for the first time since 2014 last year while seeing their streak of nine straight AFC West division titles and seven straight AFC Championship Game appearances come to an end.

Reid's side entered the 2025 campaign having won three of five Super Bowl trips in six years as one of football's greatest modern dynasties, missing out on a historic three-peat after losing to the Philadelphia Eagles at Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans.

A down year was capped by a season-ending injury to Mahomes in December that saw the quarterback require surgery on a torn ACL and LCL. He is now scheduled to make his return against the Denver Broncos on Monday night.

"He's doing great," Reid told Sky Sports this offseason. "He spent seven hours a day here the whole offseason. And just busted his tail to make sure, within reason, within what the doctor's restrictions were, that he would maximize everything. And he did that.

"They keep track of him and then they give him the goals. We have a physical therapist here, Julie, that sets a standard for him. And then he has to reach that and then she won't let him go past that."

Rightly or wrongly, Mahomes will be greeted by more questions than ever before in his glittering NFL career as he returns from his first major injury layoff and his worst statistical campaign since entering the league.

By his history-making standards the three-time Super Bowl MVP has piloted a declining offense over the past two seasons, but there remains zero doubt among teammates over the man leading their charge.

"Pat is the best quarterback in the league, ain't much more we need to say about Pat," Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones told Sky Sports.

Chiefs guard Trey Smith, who signed a four-year, $94m contract extension in July, is among those tasked with protecting Mahomes upon his return, starting with a second-ranked Denver Broncos defense that led the league with 68 sacks.

"The dude's awesome, he makes it easy," Smith told Sky Sports. "He's a field general out there. He's just creative, but he's able to extend plays so much. So understand that you have an egg timer in your head going off. You have to block the guys until the last whistle.

"It's great to have him back. He's definitely a team leader. From day one when I stepped in this building, it was evident that he's one of our top guys and the talent shows for itself.

"And obviously being able to have him back is going to help us move that much further. All the guys are doing that in this place, they're doing a phenomenal job as well, but really excited to have him back."