The Kansas City Chiefs restructured Patrick Mahomes’ contract this week, creating much-needed salary cap space ahead of the 2026 season, according to ESPN and multiple reports.
The restructuring, first reported Wednesday by Overthecap.com, converts $54.45 million of Mahomes’ 2026 salary into a signing bonus and lowers the star quarterback’s cap number to $34.65 million.
The Chiefs, who missed the postseason in 2025 after reaching the Super Bowl is each of the three previous seasons, created $43.65 million in cap space. Kansas City already had been more than $57 million over the cap.
Mahomes, who is recovering from knee surgery, initially was set to count for $78.2 million against the cap in 2026. The two-time league MVP had surgery in mid-December to repair two torn ligaments in his left knee, and said last month that he wanted to be ready to play in the Chiefs’ 2026 season opener.