Tag: Patrick Mahomes

After Lifeless Start, Chiefs’ Offense Explodes to Stun Patriots

By Terrance Turner

It was 6-3 for the entire first half of tonight’s game. The Kansas City Chiefs had two field goals. The New England Patriots had one.

No big plays. No long passes. No touchdowns.

Neither offense showed any signs of life as the third quarter began. The Patriots punted at the start of the third quarter. Then the Chiefs had to punt after an incomplete pass by Mahomes. A seven-minute drive by the Patriots took them all the way to the twelve-yard line. Then RB Rex Burkhead rushed for seven yards to the 5-yard-line. But then, Patriots QB Brian Hoyer was sacked by Chiefs player Taco Charlton. Hoyer fumbled the ball; Kansas City recovered. (Hoyer was later replaced by quarterback Jarrett Stidham.)

This low-score, lackluster offense continued through the third quarter. But then — with just 49 seconds left in the quarter — something happened. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes launched a pass to tight end Travis Kelce, who turned the play into a 45-yard pitch-and-catch. Then, just minutes later, Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill scored by skirting the edge of the field. Hill disappeared inside a sea of blue Patriots jerseys, scampering down the sideline for the touchdown.

It was now 13-3 — the score at the end of Super Bowl 53, which the Patriots won. The Patriots responded tonight with a touchdown of their own. But it was the Chiefs who would prevail. Mahomes threw another touchdown – this time to wide receiver Mecole Hardman. A left-field interception sealed the Chiefs’ win. Stidham tried a pass to veteran wide receiver Julian Edelman. The ball bounced off of Edelman’s hands and into the hands of safety Tyrann Mathieu. He ran it all the way into the end zone for the touchdown.

Follwing the touchdown, the Patriots regained possession and tried to mount a scoring drive. But after two short rushing plays, Stidham was intercepted by Chiefs’ Rashad Fenton, who returned it for 31 yards, according to MSN. That pick effectively ended the game. The Chiefs rolled over the Patriots, 26-10.

The Chiefs are now the first team in NFL history to start 4-0 in four consecutive seasons. Tonight was their 13th straight win (counting the postseason and Super Bowl). Tonight was also Travis Kelce’s birthday. Kelce will celebrate his 31st birthday with a win. He’s also breathing some rarefied air: the Chiefs are one of only six undefeated teams in the NFL.

Surprise! Patrick Mahomes Has Big News (UPDATED)

By Terrance Turner

On Feb. 2, quarterback Patrick Mahomes led the Kansas City Chiefs to their first Super Bowl win in 50 years. On July 6, he signed the most lucrative sports deal in history: a 10-year, $450 million deal worth up to $503 million. On Sept. 1, Mahomes received his Super Bowl ring at Arrowhead Stadium and proposed to longtime girlfriend Brittany Matthews. And now, just four weeks later, Mahomes is adding yet another highlight to an unforgettable year.

Mahomes and Matthews are expecting!

Matthews shared the announcement on social media this afternoon. The surprising news came via a picture of her and Mahomes, with a sonogram of their unborn baby. The two have been together for over eight years; they began dating in high school, when Mahomes was a sophomore and Matthews a junior.

The news comes just hours after Mahomes and the Chiefs stunned the Baltimore Ravens with a bravura performance. On last night’s highly anticipated “Monday Night Football” match, Mahomes scored the team’s first points with a six-yard touchdown run. Then he tossed a 5-yard shovel pass to fullback Anthony Sherman and a dazzling 20-yard TD to receiver Tyreek Hill. But the game’s highlight was arguably Mahomes’ jaw-dropping 49-yard touchdown pass to receiver Mecole Hardman. (He later threw in a two-yard TD courtesy of offensive tackle Eric Fisher.)

But it was his 13-yard pass to Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce that put Mahomes over the edge. According to ESPN, it took just 34 games for Mahomes to break the record set by quarterback Kurt Warner. Last night, Mahomes became the fastest quarterback to reach 10,000 passing yards.

And now, he’s about to become a father.

“Being able to kind of grow up and have these dreams of having a family and playing in the NFL […] it’s really cool,” said Mahomes on Wednesday. During the virtual call with reporters, Mahomes was apparently asked which of his teammates could look after his child. “As far as like an uncle? I would say like Matt Moore, or someone like that, that’s responsible. I can’t let Trav or anybody do it. You never know what would happen,” Mahomes said, smiling.

UPDATE (Oct. 19): Mahomes may not trust Kelce to babysit, but he certainly trusts him on the field. On their match with the Bills Monday night, Mahomes found Kelce for two touchdowns in the first half. One of them was a diving catch that put the Chiefs ahead 7-3 in the first quarter. The other came in the second quarter, with the Chiefs down 10-7. Mahomes threw a dart to Kelce in the end zone, making it 14-10. The team added another TD courtesy of Darrel Williams in the third quarter, then tacked on two field goals to win 26-17.

UPDATE (Oct. 21): Mahomes and Matthews are expecting a baby girl! Matthews announced the news on Twitter today via video. Mahomes shared the video on his profile, adding the hashtag #GirlDad:

PATRICK MAHOMES IS ENGAGED

By Terrance Turner

Tonight, Patrick Mahomes was presented with the Super Bowl ring that he earned in such memorable fashion on Feb. 2nd:

According to ESPN, the Super Bowl ring contains 234 diamonds and the player’s name in gold, along with his jersey number in diamonds. But tonight, Mahomes presented longtime girlfriend Brittany Lynne Matthews with a diamond ring of her own. Matthews alerted her followers of the news via Instagram Stories:

The proposal apparently happened after the Super Bowl ring ceremony at Arrowhead Stadium, according to Today. Mahomes, 24, and Matthews, 25, are high school sweethearts. According to the Kansas City Star, they started dating at Whitehouse High School in Texas, when Mahomes was a sophomore and Matthews a junior. (Mahomes is from Tyler, Texas.) When their relationship began, Mahomes was still a safety on the football team. He would eventually become a standout on the football and basketball teams, becoming a star quarterback while Matthews played on the soccer team.

Matthews went on to play at the University of Texas at Tyler and later signed to play professionally in Iceland. Meanwhile, Mahomes attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX, and later became a superstar QB for the Kansas City Chiefs. After a series of come-from-behind victories in the playoffs, Mahomes led the Chiefs to a stunning fourth-quarter comeback in this year’s Super Bowl. Powered by two touchdowns by running back Damien Williams, the Chiefs racked up 21 points in six minutes to win, 31-20. Now, after a record-breaking contract extension, Mahomes has added yet another milestone to an unforgettable year.

Patrick Mahomes Signs Largest Sports Contract in History

Image
Patrick Mahomes beams in this file photo released today. (Photo via Twitter @Chiefs)

By Terrance Turner

It should come as no surprise that the Kansas City Chiefs have signed quarterback Patrick Mahomes to a contract extension. But the details of the arrangement are nothing short of astonishing. Per numerous sources (including NFL reporter Ian Rapoport), Mahomes’ 10-year extension is worth $503 million — making it the largest contract in the history of sports.

According to Rapoport, this is the first time that an NFL player has been the highest-paid in sports. His NFL Network colleague Tom Pelissero added that Mahomes’ deal comes with a $10 million signing bonus and a “roster bonus” that grows to $49.4 million by 2027. Pelissero added that Mahomes could earn up to $103 million by next March.

The Chiefs added 10 years to what was already a two-year contract for Mahomes, ensuring that he will remain a Chief through at least 2031. Accordingly, Mahomes tweeted “Here to stay”, alongside a highlight video with captions by Mahomes. “Chiefs Kingdom, you’ve been with me since the beginning,” he wrote. “You helped us overcome adversity to become Super Bowl champs. And we’re staying together…for a long time. We’re building a dynasty.”

Mahomes, 24, has racked up 76 touchdowns and only 18 interceptions in three seasons as a Chief. After being named 2018 NFL MVP, he overcame a frightening midseason injury (a dislocated kneecap) and not only survived the 2019 season but helped power the Chiefs to a 12-4 record. Then he and the Chiefs battled other AFC standouts in the postseason. They overcame three straight double-digit deficits in the playoffs. After stunning the Texans in a come-from-behind win, they rallied to beat the Titans in the AFC Championship. (It was the first AFC Championship Game since 2010 not to include Tom Brady.)

You may recall that in February, the Chiefs won the Super Bowl in rather memorable fashion. Down 20-10 with only six minutes left, Mahomes rallied and led the team to score 21 unanswered points — including two touchdowns by running back Damien Williams. Mahomes, who is biracial, is only the third black quarterback ever to win a Super Bowl. His performance earned him the honor of being named Super Bowl MVP.

“This is a significant moment for our franchise and for the Chiefs Kingdom,” Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said. “Since he joined the Chiefs just a few years ago, Patrick has developed into one of the most prolific athletes in all of sports. With his dynamic play and infectious personality, he is one of the most recognized and beloved figures to put on the Chiefs uniform. He’s an extraordinary leader and a credit to the Kansas City community, and I’m delighted that he will be a member of the Chiefs for many years to come.”

One of Mahomes’ teammates put it more bluntly. Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu voiced approval of the deal. “The young man deserve it all,” Mathieu wrote on Twitter. “One of the best I’ve been around. One of the greats.” Mathieu previously played for the Houston Texans, whose quarterback Deshaun Watson may be in line for a payday of his own. Texans superstar defensive end J.J. Watt tagged Watson in a playful tweet today:

UPDATE: Mahomes is apparently making some money moves as the start of the season approaches. Today, news broke that Mahones is now a part owner of the Kansas City Royals. The baseball team is located in the very city for which he won the Super Bowl. That fact wasn’t lost on the quarterback. “I’m honored to become a part owner of the Kansas City Royals,” said Patrick Mahomes. “I love this city and the people of this great town. This opportunity allows me to deepen my roots in this community, which is something I’m excited to do.”

After signing the largest-ever sports contract in history, Mahomes has made history again. This deal makes Patrick Mahomes the youngest sports owner ever. NFL Insider Ian Rapoport reported the record-breaking development earlier thiis morning:

UPDATE: After the Chiefs went 2-0 in their first two games, Patrick Mahomes was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2020. After praising Mahomes’ athleticism and vision, author Derek Jeter lauded Mahomes’ commitment to his teammates and coaches. “There is a lot more promise in Patrick Mahomes’ future than just on-field accolades,” Jeter wrote. “He already has started to build a legacy as one of the most impactful athletes of his generation, and I, for one, am excited to see what is next.”

A Meditation on the Black Quarterback

By Terrance Turner

As we conclude Black History Month, I wanted to make note of a historic feat that may have gone overlooked. Four weeks ago, Patrick Mahomes became only the third black quarterback to win a Super Bowl. (Doug Williams was the first, in 1987; Russell Wilson was the second, in 2014.) Mahomes — the son of a black father and white mother — caught fire late in Super Bowl 54 to lead the Chiefs to victory. Mahomes’ stunning fourth-quarter performance helped power the Chiefs to score 21 unanswered points in the final minutes of the game.

With his surprise win, Mahomes makes history as one of only three black quarterbacks to win a Super Bowl. But he was just one of several mobile, talented black quarterbacks in professional football this year.

Lamar Jackson earned the MVP Award this year with good passing and even better rushing. In 2019, Jackson broke Michael Vick’s record for most rushing yards by a quarterback. He led the league with 36 touchdown passes and powered the Baltimore Ravens to playoff contention. Deshaun Watson likewise animated the Houston Texans’ offense with his mobility and passing, pushing them to a playoff win against the Bills. And in the XFL, the Houston Roughnecks’ P.J. Walker has scored more touchdowns than some XFL teams combined. (He eventually finished the abbreviated season with 15 touchdowns and only four interceptions.)

Could we be in the middle of a renaissance for black quarterbacks?