It’s been seven long years since Patrick Mahomes took a snap from under center and ran a QB sneak, a play that last ended with a dislocated kneecap on October 17, 2019, forcing the Chiefs’ superstar quarterback to miss two games. That injury, which initially looked far worse, effectively took football’s most traditional short-yardage play out of Kansas City’s playbook for Mahomes. Now, with the Chiefs struggling in those crucial situations during the 2026 season, Mahomes is speaking out, and it sounds like he’s ready to do whatever it takes to turn things around.
No Sneaks, No Success?
After Mahomes’ 2019 injury, the Chiefs got seriously creative in short-yardage spots. We even saw tight ends taking snaps under center, which, let’s be real, is wild. They had success with former Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt last season in those situations. But fast forward to 2026, and their effectiveness converting short-yardage downs has just dwindled. Mahomes himself acknowledged the drop-off during his Wednesday press conference. “It’s something that we’ve been better at in the past years, but obviously this year, we haven’t been able to execute in those situations,” he said. Mahomes pointed to a lack of cohesion, adding, “It always comes down to one guy here or there and just not being on the same page. I think that’s something that we have to continue to be more and more physical.” That’s a blunt assessment, and it tells you everything you need to know about the frustration building up in Chiefs Kingdom.
The Call That Didn’t Happen
The struggles hit a boiling point on the final drive against the Denver Broncos. Picture this: 3rd and goal from the one-yard line. The perfect spot, right? You’d think Mahomes would tuck the ball and dive behind right guard Trey Smith, hitting that A-gap for the score. But that’s not what happened. The called play was a handoff, and it got blown up in the backfield. Mahomes defended the call, saying, “The play call is what we called, and we want to execute that play.” He added that the Broncos “were able to stunt and kind of get people in position where Kenneth wasn’t able to get going downhill and score a touchdown.” Of course, the drive stalled, and the entire situation, especially the lack of a sneak, became a huge talking point after the loss.
Reid Says No, Mahomes Says Yes?
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid jumped into the fray on Monday, telling local media the team has been “pretty successful without sneaking” during their current run. It’s a polarizing comment, for sure, especially when your short-yardage game is struggling. But it’s not a definitive ban on the sneak. When it comes to Mahomes, his message is clear. The two-time MVP is willing to put his body on the line. “I’m going to do whatever it takes to win,” Mahomes stated. “It’s not like I’m scared to go out there and put my body on the line, that’s kind of how I’ve played. It’s kind of gotten me in trouble sometimes, and then there are sometimes it has helped the team.” Mahomes believes he should be trusted at the line to audible, but he knows it has to be the right time. The question isn’t whether he’s ready; it’s whether the coaching staff will finally let their superstar take that old-school snap and solve a critical problem that is holding them back.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Arrowhead Pride.
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