Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs pumps up the crowd prior to the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium on December 14, 2025
The Kansas City Chiefs have leaned heavily on quarterback Patrick Mahomes during the team’s run of five Super Bowl appearances and three wins, but one former NFL quarterback turned analyst believes the team may need to take some pressure off the former league MVP.
Mahomes saw his season crash to an end in December when he suffered a torn ACL and LCL, an injury that will now involve a complicated recovery. With uncertainty around when he will be ready to return, ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky warns the Chiefs that they must take some pressure off Mahomes if they want to sustain their success.
Chiefs Warned About Heavy Workload on Patrick Mahomes
In an interview with Jason Anderson on Sports Radio 810 WHB in Kansas City, Orlovsky said the Chiefs found success by increasing the workload on Mahomes over the past few seasons, but will need to find ways to reduce it.
“It’s like a slow fade with Patrick in Kansas City, where over the past two-and-a-half years, he has been asked to do more and more,” Orlovsky said. “It’s easy to say, ‘You’re Patrick Mahomes, you can do it,’ but just because he can doesn’t mean he should carry that load for most of an 18-game season and playoffs.”
Orlovsky was optimistic that the Chiefs can develop a strong running game under returning offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, reducing the number of times that Mahomes has to drop back and be exposed to potential hits.
“I’ve been outspoken that there are a lot of scheme things that I still think are lacking,” Orlovsky said. “Go under center more, put bigger bodies in. I still think he’s going to be at the highest. He just doesn’t have to do it 45 snaps a game, and I think it helps everybody else.”
Orlovsky added that he believes the team will improve as a whole if they spread the workload, which could in turn keep everyone healthier.
“Patrick (Mahomes) is still the most talented player at that position,” Orlovsky said. “Are guys playing better than him this past year? Yes, but that doesn’t mean they are; it’s just maybe they’re in a slightly healthier situation where they’re not asked to do as much. I’ll be interested to see with EB (Eric Bieniemy) coming back, how they evolve.”