Patrick Mahomes gave the only response that made sense after Haliburton’s injury

The stage was set for the dramatic. Then things turned devastating.

When Tyrese Haliburton went down with an Achilles injury shortly after torching the Oklahoma City Thunder early in the first quarter of a rare Game 7 in the 2025 NBA Finals, an eerie silence fell on a raucous arena. In that brief moment, when Haliburton went down awkwardly (and painfully), the turn could be felt. Nothing would be the same.

As a native Hoosier, it was exhilarating to watch this year's Pacers roster pull off the upset, round by round. The team felt destined; the narrative felt inspired—until Haliburton was lost and so were Indy's title hopes.

That level of loss is tough to watch, even for those on the outside looking in. It wasn't just Pacers fans who felt the gut-punch of it all. Even in OKC, fans were grieving the circumstances. The visceral responses posted immediately on social media followed suit, and even Patrick Mahomes expressed his worries.

Kansas City Chiefs fans have felt this sentiment before when watching their favorite team. Last year, Mahomes fell on Rashee Rice awkwardly and prematurely ended his season in the midst of a breakout season.

Mahomes himself was the source of such fan concern when he called for help when laying under a pile of 300-pound linemen in a Thursday Night Football game against the Denver Broncos back in 2019. The knee injury would only keep Mahomes out for a few games, but the fear in the moment was overwhelming.

Such a physical sport is going to demand a few sacrifices, and critical injuries impact every NFL season. Some teams find their playoff hopes derailed early, while other franchises suffer death by a thousand paper cuts—as depth becomes a real issue while dealing with myriad issues. When the hero is lost, the fear is not only about the short-term but the future of the player and franchise as well.

Mahomes expressed the only thing that any of us can do—to offer up a prayer (for those who with such faith practices) and well-wishes for Haliburton's recovery. It's tough to stomach, even as we know it's all part of the game.