(Photo: The Ringer)
Isn’t it crazy to think that Patrick Mahomes is now considered one of the true veterans of this league? I still remember his first season as a starter and how he took the NFL by storm. In that year, he became just the third quarterback in NFL history to throw 50 touchdown passes in a single season, joining legends Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. He also helped lead the Chiefs to a first-round bye and the top seed in the AFC. Since that first season as a starter, Patrick has helped turn the Chiefs into one of the best teams in the conference, as they have either made the AFC Championship Game or the Super Bowl every year. This season, however, has been a challenging one for the defending AFC champions, as they’ve struggled to maintain any type of consistency. During yesterday’s game against the Chargers, Patrick was seen grabbing his knee and was escorted off the field to the locker room, where he struggled to put weight on it. It was later revealed that he tore his ACL and would miss the rest of the season.
He has been widely regarded as the best quarterback in the league, and some have even said he’s the best player in the game—and I can’t necessarily disagree. Year in and year out, he’s proven that he can win. Whether it’s at Arrowhead or on the road, the Chiefs have always had a chance solely because of No. 15. Patrick has become one of the craftiest players when it comes to making plays down the field and escaping the pocket. He can extend a play, buy time, and eventually find an open receiver. There have been times when I’ve seen him hold the ball for more than five seconds, draw multiple defenders toward him, and then fire a pass for a first down. He truly makes something out of nothing. When a play looks like it’s about to fall apart, he has the ability to keep it alive—so it’s never over until you bring him down. I’ve always been amazed by his improvisation. I’ve seen him fool defenses by acting as if he’s going to run, only to flip the ball to an open receiver. I remember talking with Cole Johnson one year and saying that Patrick has a mentality similar to Derek Jeter’s. Like the baseball Hall of Famer, Patrick is never fazed by anything and does the little things consistently, which is what makes him great. One magical play that will always stand out to me happened during the 2023 season. Patrick was pushed out of the pocket, and just when you thought he was going to run, he flipped the ball to Jerick McKinnon, who took it into the end zone for a touchdown. I appreciate the toughness Mahomes displays week in and week out. He’s one of those players you can never put away because he always finds a way to stay in the game. He can beat you from the pocket, and if you choose not to apply pressure and sit back in coverage, he’ll pick you apart.
Unfortunately, this was a terrible day all around for the Kansas City Chiefs. Not only did they lose their star player, but they were also eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since 2014. They struggled all season to find consistency, and the belief that they could flip a switch whenever they wanted eventually caught up to them. I honestly think the Eagles broke them in the Super Bowl back in February. Patrick Mahomes has become the face of the league and one of the biggest superstars in the NFL. But knowing his mentality and attitude, he’ll attack this rehab the same way he approaches every game. I can’t wait to see him back on the field once he’s fully recovered.
