This year, the Mahomes family shared an unusual Christmas. After the Kansas City Chiefs were eliminated from the playoffs, Patrick Mahomes has been in rehab and not preparing for a game. But recently, as his wife, Brittany, gave fans a very real look at their Christmas celebration, it wasn’t all smiles.

On Christmas Eve, Brittany shared an Instagram post that showed how the holiday unfolded for the Mahomes family. The Mahomes family appeared in matching outfits amidst celebrations. But the photos shared with the post also documented both joyful and difficult moments with their kids.

“Merry Christmas 🎄❤️,” Brittany wrote in the caption of her IG post.

The carousel of photos in the post then opened with a black-and-white portrait of the Mahomes family outdoors. Patrick and Brittany posed with their three children, calm and composed. The moment looked peaceful. Almost picture-perfect. But as parents know, those moments don’t always last long.

As the carousel continued, the tone shifted. Brittany shared photos from a holiday photoshoot with Santa Claus. Patrick and Brittany stood alongside their kids as Santa joined them in full red-and-white attire. Mahomes’ kids wore festive outfits, including cozy sweaters, red velvet pants, and bows. Everything looked holiday-ready, but Sterling and Golden appeared overwhelmed during the photoshoot. 

In one photo, Golden sat on Santa’s lap wearing a cream-colored sweater, and she looked clearly unhappy. Sterling also seemed close to tears in other photos, and the stress on both her and Golden was obvious as Santa attempted to calm them. Santa even raised a finger to his lips in an attempt to calm them. Meanwhile, Bronze stayed close to Golden in a green outfit and looked more at ease. 

Anyway, instead of cutting those emotional moments of kids, Brittany shared them as they showed what many families experience during the holidays. Mahomes’ kids got overwhelmed, emotions ran high, and not every holiday tradition went smoothly. Later photos of the Mahomes’ family, however, brought the calm back. 

The Mahomes family changed into matching green plaid pajamas embroidered with their initials in the photos they took at home. Even with a leg brace, Patrick joined the kids on the couch for celebrations as toys and gifts covered the room. Meanwhile, Brittany, with her hair casually pulled back, cuddled her children on the couch. 

The final photos with the post then showed Mahomes’ kids playing on the carpet surrounded by books, toys, and Christmas gifts. Bronze, the youngest, even smiled brightly while wearing a red-and-white Santa hat. Moreover, in the Christmas photos, the Mahomes family finally looked tired but content. But Brittany’s post carried more weight this year as her husband shared these moments with his family while recovering from a serious injury. 

How has Patrick Mahomes been dealing with his injury? 

Patrick Mahomes suffered a knee injury late in the Chiefs’ Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. While he was sidelined for the rest of the game, doctors evaluated him, and an MRI later confirmed tears to his ACL and LCL in his left knee. After seeking a second opinion, Mahomes then underwent season-ending surgery, which the Chiefs confirmed was successful.

So, the Chiefs’ QB has already started rehab, with a recovery timeline of about nine months. That puts Mahomes’ potential return around the start of the 2026 season, though there is optimism he could be ready for Week 1. He ultimately finished the season with 3,587 yards for 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 14 games.

Still, the injury gave Mahomes something unexpected – time. Instead of grinding through December football, he spent the holidays with his family. Then, later during the Chiefs’ Christmas Day game against the Denver Broncos, Mahomes also appeared in a suite at Arrowhead Stadium, cheering on his teammates.

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