Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes predicted to win major award by NFL insiders, but not MVP

The Kansas City Chiefs are ready for Week 1 of the regular season. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes will officially be back from last season’s devastating knee injury. The hype surrounding Mahomes and the Chiefs continues to build before the start of the regular season.

ESPN published award predictions sourced from NFL executives and scouts just before the beginning of the regular season. Those NFL insiders predicted that Mahomes will win 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,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote. “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.”

There is no question that this is the lowest point of Mahomes’ NFL career so far. The legendary quarterback finished with fewer than 4,000 passing yards in each of the past two seasons. Kansas City simply hasn’t been the explosive offense that they were early in Mahomes’ career.

Mahomes understands that he needs to earn back his respect around the NFL. But there is still a lot of confidence around the league that Mahomes will prove his doubters wrong in 2026.

“He’s such an elite competitor and player that I’m counting on him responding,” an AFC scout said. “He hears the noise.”

However, Mahomes was not tabbed to win MVP. Instead, that honor went to Bengals QB Joe Burrow. Other quarterbacks to receive MVP votes were Josh Allen and Justin Herbert.

It will be exciting to see if Mahomes can rise to the occasion early in the season. He will face a huge test against one of the NFL’s best defenses in Week 1.

Kansas City begins the regular season with a Monday Night Football clash with Denver. Chiefs vs. Broncos kicks off at 8:15PM ET on September 14th from Arrowhead.

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