Patrick Mahomes is the quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs. Theteam restructured his contract this week. This change creates $43.56 million in salary cap space for the 2026 season.
The Chiefs converted 54.45 million dollars of Mahomes’ 2026 salary into a signing bonus. Hiscap number drops from $78.2 million to $34.65 million next year. The move adds $10.89 million to his cap number in each of the next four seasons. His 2027 cap hit is now over $85 million.
Patrick Mahomes and Chiefs Aim to Rebuild for 2026
This is the fourth year in a row the Chiefs have restructured Mahomes’ deal. He signed a 10-year contract worth $450 million in 2020. He remains under contract through 2031. The change does not lower the money Mahomes actually receives. It only changes how the team counts the payments against the salary cap this year.
The Kansas City Chiefs restructured Patrick Mahomes’ contract this week, lowering his salary cap number from $78.2 to $34.65 million for the upcoming season and creating $43.56 million in salary cap space, as @Jason_OTC reported. pic.twitter.com/2MShU1GAmq
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 18, 2026
The Chiefs finished the 2025 season with a losing record. They missed the playoffs for the first time in Mahomes’ career. Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL in his left knee during a December game against the Los Angeles Chargers. He had surgery on December 15 and started rehab right away. He has said he plans to be ready for the first game of the 2026 season.
Patrick Mahomes Sends Heartfelt Text to Backup QB Chris Oladokun Before First NFL Start on Christmas
Patrick Mahomes Sends Heartfelt Text to Backup QB Chris Oladokun Before First NFL Start on Christmas Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
The team was more than $57 million over the cap before this restructure. They are still about $11 million over now. The new league year starts March 11. The Chiefs need more moves to get under the cap.
General manager Brett Veach can use the extra room in free agency. The team may add players or keep some veterans. Mahomes agreed to the restructure to help the Chiefs. He has done the same thing in past years.
The Chiefs reached the Super Bowl three years in a row before 2025, but last season they had their first losing season in more than 10 years. This cap move gives them a chance to build the roster again. Mahomes is in rehab but stays a key part of the plans for 2026 and beyond.
In the 2025 NFL season, Patrick Mahomes completed 315 of 502 passes, for a completion percentage of 62.7%. He threw for 3,587 yards, scoring 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 14 regular-season games.
Despite his early exit, Mahomes remained a dual-threat asset, setting a new career-high in rushing with 422 yards on 64 carries and adding 5 rushing touchdowns. He finished the year with an 89.6 passer rating and a 68.5 QBR, ranking 6th in the league for the latter metric.