The placement came despite Mahomes guiding the Kansas City Chiefs through a difficult season where many issues weren’t attributable to him. Shook noted that Mahomes fought to keep KC competitive, but his late-season struggles intensified as the Chiefs’ margin for error shrank, culminating in a 5-7 TD-INT stretch from early November through his Week 15 ACL injury.
Mahomes’ stat line for 2025 reflected a challenging year: 62.7% completion, 3,587 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions across 14 games, plus 422 rushing yards, 5 rushing touchdowns and 3 fumbles. The season ended with a torn ACL in Week 15, a setback that overshadowed what had still been a high-pressure year for the quarterback.
NFL.com’s top-12 list for 2025 included Matthew Stafford, Josh Allen, Dak Prescott, Drake Maye, Justin Herbert, Trevor Lawrence, Sam Darnold, Caleb Williams, Jared Goff, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson and Daniel Jones, with Mahomes notably missing from the group. The ranking underscored how the year’s standout performers and team contexts influenced perceived value.
Reaction to the ranking has been mixed, with many Chiefs supporters arguing Mahomes remains the league’s premier quarterback even as the 2025 season’s results were uneven. Comparisons to MVP finalists Stafford, Maye and Allen, as well as strong seasons by Prescott and Goff, highlighted a year in which several elite quarterbacks posted career-best statistics or deep playoff runs, while Mahomes dealt with a broader array of Chiefs’ issues.
Regarding his injury recovery, Mahomes has shown progress toward a return. He has stated a goal of returning for Week 1, though a cautious approach that could push his return toward early October remains possible. Chiefs leadership, including Clark Hunt, head coach Andy Reid, and trainer Bobby Stroupe, have expressed optimism, with Mahomes himself seen walking without crutches in early February, signaling ongoing rehab is on track.
