Patrick Mahomes is one of the most talented and successful quarterbacks in the National Football League (NFL). He plays for the Kansas City Chiefs, a team he led to two consecutive Super Bowl victories in 2020 and 2024. He also won the NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) award twice, in 2018 and 2022, becoming the youngest player to do so. He is widely regarded as one of the best players in the league and a future Hall of Famer.
Early Life and College Career
Patrick Mahomes was born on September 17, 1995, in Tyler, Texas. His father, Pat Mahomes, was a former professional baseball pitcher who played in the Major League Baseball (MLB) for 11 seasons. His mother, Randi Martin, was a homemaker who supported Patrick’s athletic pursuits. Patrick grew up playing various sports, including baseball, basketball, and football. He attended Whitehouse High School, where he excelled as a quarterback and a pitcher. He also played basketball and was named the MaxPreps Male Athlete of the Year in 2014.
Mahomes chose to attend Texas Tech University, where he played both football and baseball. He made his debut as a quarterback in his freshman year, throwing for 1,547 yards and 16 touchdowns in seven games. He also pitched for the baseball team, recording a 4.60 ERA in three appearances. In his sophomore year, he focused solely on football and had a breakout season, throwing for 4,653 yards and 36 touchdowns in 13 games. He led the nation in passing yards per game (358.7) and total offense per game (393.0). He was named the Sammy Baugh Trophy winner, given to the nation’s top collegiate passer.
In his junior year, Mahomes had an even more impressive season, throwing for 5,052 yards and 41 touchdowns in 12 games. He also ran for 285 yards and 12 touchdowns, giving him a total of 53 touchdowns, the most by any player in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) that year. He set several school and conference records, including the most passing yards in a single game (734) and the most total yards in a single game (819), both of which he achieved against Oklahoma on October 22, 2016. He also became the third player in FBS history to throw for more than 5,000 yards and 40 touchdowns in a single season, joining Graham Harrell and Case Keenum. He was named a second-team All-Big 12 selection and a finalist for the Davey O’Brien Award, given to the nation’s best quarterback.
After his junior year, Mahomes decided to forgo his senior year and enter the 2017 NFL Draft. He was projected to be a first-round pick by many analysts and scouts, who praised his arm strength, mobility, creativity, and competitiveness. He was also compared to some of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks, such as Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, and Russell Wilson.
NFL Career
Mahomes was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 10th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He was the second quarterback taken, after Mitchell Trubisky, who went to the Chicago Bears with the second pick. The Chiefs traded up from the 27th pick to the 10th pick to acquire Mahomes, giving up their first-round pick and a third-round pick in 2017, and their first-round pick in 2018. The Chiefs saw Mahomes as their future franchise quarterback, who could succeed Alex Smith, their veteran starter.
Mahomes spent his rookie season as the backup to Smith, who led the Chiefs to a 10-6 record and the AFC West division title. Mahomes only played in one game, the season finale against the Denver Broncos, where he started and threw for 284 yards and an interception in a 27-24 win. He showed flashes of his potential, making some impressive throws and leading the game-winning drive in the fourth quarter.
In 2018, the Chiefs traded Smith to the Washington Redskins, making Mahomes the starter. Mahomes had a phenomenal season, throwing for 5,097 yards and 50 touchdowns, with only 12 interceptions. He became the second player in NFL history to throw for more than 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in a single season, joining Peyton Manning, who did it in 2013. He also became the first player in NFL history to throw for more than 5,000 yards in a single season in both college and the NFL. He led the league in passing touchdowns, touchdown percentage, yards per attempt, and passer rating. He also ran for 272 yards and two touchdowns, giving him a total of 52 touchdowns, the most by any player in the NFL that year. He led the Chiefs to a 12-4 record and the AFC West division title. He also led the Chiefs to the AFC Championship Game, where they faced the New England Patriots. Mahomes threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns, but the Chiefs lost in overtime, 37-31.
Mahomes was unanimously voted the NFL MVP, becoming the youngest player to win the award since Dan Marino in 1984. He was also named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year, the first-team All-Pro quarterback, and the Pro Bowl starter. He won several other awards and honors, such as the Bert Bell Award, the Best NFL Player ESPY Award, and the FedEx Air Player of the Year. He was also ranked as the fourth-best player in the NFL by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2019.
In 2019, Mahomes continued to play at a high level, despite missing two games due to a knee injury. He threw for 4,031 yards and 26 touchdowns, with only five interceptions. He also ran for 218 yards and two touchdowns, giving him a total of 28 touchdowns, the sixth-most by any player in the NFL that year. He led the league in yards per attempt and touchdown percentage. He led the Chiefs to a 12-4 record and the AFC West division title for the fourth consecutive year. He also led the Chiefs to the Super Bowl for the first time in 50 years, where they faced the San Francisco 49ers. Mahomes threw for 286 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for 29 yards and a touchdown, leading the Chiefs to a 31-20 comeback victory. He was named the Super Bowl MVP, becoming the second-youngest player to win the award, after Tom Brady, who did it in 2002. He was also named the Pro Bowl starter for the second consecutive year. He was ranked as the fourth-best player in the NFL by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2020.
In 2020, Mahomes signed a 10-year contract extension with the Chiefs, worth up to $503 million, the largest contract in sports history. He had another stellar season, throwing for 4,740 yards and 38 touchdowns, with only six interceptions. He also ran for 308 yards and two touchdowns, giving him a total of 40 touchdowns, the third-most by any player in the NFL that year. He led the league in passing yards, yards per game, and yards per attempt. He led the Chiefs to a 14-2 record and the AFC West division title for the fifth consecutive year. He also led the Chiefs to the Super Bowl for the second consecutive year, where they faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mahomes threw for 270 yards and two interceptions, and ran for 33 yards, but the Chiefs lost, 31-9.
Mahomes was named the Pro Bowl starter for the third consecutive year. He was also named the first-team All-Pro quarterback for the second time in his career. He was ranked as the best player in the NFL by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2021.
In 2021, Mahomes had another remarkable season, throwing for 5,614 yards and 51 touchdowns, with only seven interceptions. He became the first player in NFL history to throw for more than 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in a single season twice. He also ran for 316 yards and four touchdowns, giving him a total of 55 touchdowns, the most by any player in the NFL that year. He led the league in passing yards, passing touchdowns, yards per game, yards per attempt, and passer rating. He led the Chiefs to a 15-2 record and the AFC West division title for the sixth consecutive year. He also led the Chiefs to the Super Bowl for the third consecutive year, where they faced the Green Bay Packers. Mahomes threw for 342 yards and four touchdowns, and ran for 46 yards and a touchdown, leading the Chiefs to a 38-31 victory. He was named the Super Bowl MVP for the second time in his career, becoming the fourth player to do so, after Bart Starr, Terry Bradshaw, and Tom Brady. He was also named the NFL MVP for the second time in his career, becoming the fifth player to do so, after Jim Brown, Joe Montana, Brett Favre, and Tom Brady.
Mahomes was named the Pro Bowl starter for the fourth consecutive year. He was also named the first-team All-Pro quarterback for the third time in his career. He was ranked as the best player in the NFL by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2022.
Personal Life and Legacy
Mahomes is engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Brittany Matthews, a former soccer player and fitness trainer. They have a daughter, Sterling Skye, who was born in February, 2021.
Mahomes is also involved in various philanthropic and business endeavors. He is the founder of the 15 and the Mahomies Foundation, which supports initiatives that improve the lives of children, especially those from underserved communities. He is also a part-owner of the Kansas City Royals, a MLB team, and the Sporting Kansas City, a Major League Soccer (MLS) team. He has several endorsement deals with brands such as Adidas, Oakley, State Farm, Head & Shoulders, and Bose. He is also an investor in BioSteel Sports Nutrition, a Canadian company that produces sports drinks and supplements.
Mahomes is widely considered as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, and one of the most influential athletes in the world. He has revolutionized the game of football with his unique style of play, which combines arm talent, mobility, creativity, and leadership. He has inspired millions of fans and young players with his passion, humility, and generosity. He has also broken several barriers and stereotypes, as a biracial player who embraces his African American and Caucasian heritage. He is a role model and a champion, both on and off the field.