Patrick Mahomes is still recovering from knee surgery, and his rehab timeline may be the reason NFL fans have to wait a little longer for the 2026 schedule release.

The league typically drops the schedule during the second week of May, but this year could see a delay into the third week—or even later. Mike North, the NFL's vice president of broadcast planning, recently hinted at the possibility during an appearance on the "It's Always Game Day in Buffalo" podcast.

"Is there any magic to May 12, 13, 14? No," North said. "Is there any real downside to May 19, 20, or 21? No. I don't think it's coming out in June, but that second week in May has been our target the last few years, but I don't know that it's impossible to think about that third week in May."

The holdup? The league wants to make sure its biggest stars are ready to play—especially when it comes to prime-time matchups. And no player looms larger than Mahomes.

"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," North explained.

While the Chiefs have signed a veteran starting quarterback to back up Mahomes, it's clear the league wants to avoid scheduling a marquee game that ends up being a showcase for a backup. For now, fans eager to map out their team's season may need to stay patient—Mahomes' recovery timeline is calling the shots.