The Kansas City Chiefs selected Patrick Mahomes in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He became one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, winning two Super Bowls and being named league MVP twice.
On Sunday, Mahomes will play in the fourth Super Bowl of his career. The 28-year-old has been the starting quarterback for six seasons, appearing in the AFC Championship Game in each year. Over time, Mahomes has gone through experiences that have helped him grow as a quarterback and as a person.
The version of Mahomes who hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy for the first time in his career after Super Bowl LIV is now a different person and player than he was back then. Mahomes attributes his evolution to his father. “I think you learn a lot as a father. You learn how to be patient,” Mahomes said this week ahead of Super Bowl LIV.
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February 6, 2024. Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) speaks during a pre-Super Bowl III press conference at The Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
At times, Mahomes’ role as a father intersects with his role as a quarterback, essentially making one job better than the other.
“You learn how to really try to boost people’s confidence, especially kids. Through seasons like the one I went through last year, you never lose hope and you never get too negative in adversity. Just… Just keep building people’s confidence and keep trying.” Work hard and be really patient. ”
Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes reveals his run was ‘really impressive’
This season has certainly tested Mahomes’ patience, especially when it comes to the Chiefs’ wide receiver corps. This season, this group seemed to be under constant criticism for a ton of dropped passes.
In week 11, Marquez Valdes-Scantling After a crucial fourth-quarter deficit, the Chiefs’ fate was effectively sealed on Monday night against the Eagles. In a December game, Kadarius Toney tipped a pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes, allowing a New England Patriots player to intercept the ball.
Mahomes also had to be patient, as the Chiefs offense committed the second-most penalties in the league. There were times when Mahomes was able to keep his anxiety in check, but there were times when he wasn’t able to completely control his emotions.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, 15, makes a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
In a sense, Mahomes had to reinvent himself and become what he once seemed to hate: a game manager.
Unlike Mahomes’ second ring in the championship run four years ago and the two Super Bowls since then, the Chiefs haven’t relied entirely on their offense to win this season. They have the No. 2 scoring defense in the NFL and had to help Mahomes on the ball side, which struggled mightily in the middle of the season.
So while he can still make audacious no-look throws or throw magical rockets in double coverage, he’s also learned to check all the way to the running back when a deep shot is covered. He accepted that hearing the sound of a running play when the defense overlaps the line of scrimmage isn’t the worst thing in the world. Mahomes has even learned to take sacks when it’s most advantageous to keep the clock running. He put it into practice in the AFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens.
“I think our players understood that they could play differently to win football games,” Mahomes said in retrospect.
Patrick Mahomes and wife Brittany left the field after winning the Super Bowl in February. (Matt Slocum)
“He’s a catalyst,” Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said of Mahomes. “He’s the reason we’re here and the reason we’re able to keep winning.” “And to be honest, he just gives the team some sense of urgency and confidence that we can get it done and that helps a lot.”
Mahomes has always been mature beyond his years, even if he hasn’t always had the patience that comes with experience. As a kid, Mahomes was so much better than other kids his age that he usually had to play against older kids, whether it was football, basketball, or his first love, baseball. almost had to.
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The son of longtime Major League pitcher Pat Mahomes recalled that one time during a T-ball game, the shortstop hit a grounder to him. Most kids at that level would throw a looping rainbow to first base, but he sent a laser across the diamond.
“It hit the kid in the face and broke his glasses,” Mahomes said with a smile. “So after that they wanted me to roll the ball to first base, so I ended up just playing first base and catching.” I’ve been there ever since. ”
The San Francisco 49ers will face the Chiefs in Super Bowl III on February 11th in Las Vegas.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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