4 reasons why Patrick Mahomes will have strong comeback year for Chiefs
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4 reasons why Patrick Mahomes will have strong comeback year for Chiefs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2026 season for the Kansas City Chiefs is a big one, as it might be the last season with Travis Kelce and others on the roster and playing at a high enough level to contend in the AFC.
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Patrick Mahomes is coming back from an ACL tear late last season, so it's fair for there to be concerns about this team heading into 2026. However, there are a few reasons to believe in Mahomes in 2026.
As ESPN's Dan Graziano outlined, there are four reasons why Mahomes is poised to have a strong comeback season for Kansas City in 2026. They involve some new personnel, a new weapon, and two key receivers hopefully back to full health.
4 reasons why Patrick Mahomes could have a big 2026 season for Chiefs
"They replaced Matt Nagy with Eric Bieniemy at offensive coordinator, which doesn't seem like a big change given Bieniemy's history there, but they also changed out several other offensive assistants," Graziano writes.
The return to Bieniemy as the Chiefs' offensive coordinator should prove to be a good change for the Chiefs. Mahomes and the Chiefs offense have found immense success with Bieniemy over the years, and his return, replacing Nagy, is a positive change.
Changing the coaching staff should be a good starting point for Mahomes to turn things around. But the other key reasons why 2026 could be a big year for Mahomes are thanks to three players.
"And they are counting on a fully healthy Xavier Worthy, a (hopefully) fully healthy and engaged Rashee Rice, and newly signed running back Kenneth Walker III," Graziano writes.
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Rice and Worthy were not at 100% last season, with Worthy getting hurt very early in Week 1 and Rice dealing with a whole slew of on- and off-field issues.
If in 2026 they can be healthy and productive receivers, Mahomes could be in for a big season. That's not to mention the major upgrade at the running back position.
Instead of trying to rely on a veteran Kareem Hunt or some other stopgap options, Walker should be a major component of the run and pass game after winning Super Bowl MVP for the Seattle Seahawks in 2025.
Mahomes getting Bieniemy back, alongside a healthy Worthy and Rice, plus Walker's addition, is massive. The Chiefs' future Hall of Fame QB might bounce back in a big way this year, as his surroundings are much improved from last season.
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