The NFL is set to drop its 2026 schedule later this month, but a major question is looming: what to do about Patrick Mahomes? The Kansas City Chiefs superstar is recovering from a torn ACL, and his availability for the start of the season is uncertain. That's forcing the league to make some tough calls.
According to NFL VP Mike North, the schedule release could slide by a week from its usual mid-May window. "Most fans know full well that the schedule comes out in mid-May now," North said. "That’s what we’ve done the last five or six years. That’s sort of our target. Is there any magic to May 12, 13, 14? No. Is there any real downside to May 19, 20, or 21? No." He added that a June release is unlikely but the third week of May is possible.
The delay isn't just about logistics—it's about Mahomes. Outside of maybe the Dallas Cowboys, no team has drawn more primetime eyeballs than the Chiefs over the past five years. But with Mahomes sidelined, the NFL faces a ratings risk. If the Chiefs get early-season primetime games, they could be without their star quarterback, potentially tanking viewership.
North acknowledged the dilemma. "He’s one of the biggest stars in the league, and I don’t think any of us would feel great if we had him in prime time early in the season and he missed the first four weeks or whatever," he said. "That being said, that’s a good football team, that’s a good coach over there, and they went and signed a veteran starting quarterback in this league."
That veteran is Justin Fields, who could start early in the season. But would a Chiefs-Bills matchup in Week 1 still be a blockbuster without Mahomes? "Would the league want to use the big Chiefs-Bills game in Week 1? That’s a fair question," North said. "I’m not sure it does 30 or 35 million viewers in Week 1 without Patrick Mahomes. So certainly some thought to maximizing that quarterback and this rivalry."
The league is also dealing with other scheduling headaches, like NFL's 2026 Schedule Release Hits Snag Over Streaming Package Negotiations. But Mahomes' health is the wild card. Andy Reid has hinted at optimism, saying Mahomes is expected to join OTAs after major knee surgery, but no one knows for sure when he'll be back to full strength.
The Chiefs have built a dynasty around Mahomes, but his injury has thrown a wrench into the league's planning. The NFL could push all of Kansas City's primetime games to late in the year, but that's easier said than done with a 17-game schedule. For now, the league is weighing its options, and fans will have to wait a little longer to see when the Chiefs will take center stage.
As North put it, "We’ll find out soon." The schedule release is coming, but the Mahomes factor means it might not be final until the last minute.
