Patrick Mahomes: More than Just an Athletic Star

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Patrick Mahomes is undeniably one of the biggest stars in the NFL today. As the quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, Mahomes has established himself as one of the most talented and accomplished players in the league. He has shattered numerous franchise and league records, won both a Super Bowl MVP and league MVP award, and signed one of the largest contracts in sports history. However, beyond his incredible on-field accomplishments, little is widely known about Patrick Mahomes the person. This article aims to provide a more well-rounded look at Mahomes by delving into details of his personal life and exploring one of his favorite pastimes – music.

Early Life and Family

Patrick Lavon Mahomes II was born on September 17, 1995 in Tyler, Texas. He comes from an athletic family, as his father Pat Mahomes played major league baseball as a pitcher for 11 seasons in the 1990s. Growing up, Mahomes looked up to his father and naturally took an interest in sports from a young age. He began playing baseball and football in his youth, showing promise in both. Mahomes attended Whitehouse High School in Whitehouse, Texas, where he was a dual-threat quarterback and led his football team to multiple playoff appearances. He received numerous accolades for his play and was considered one of the top quarterback recruits nationally.

Mahomes has one younger brother, Jackson, who also plays football. The two are very close and Mahomes has said Jackson is one of his best friends. He is also close with his mother Randi, who he has credited as being hugely influential and supportive in his life and career. Off the field, Mahomes enjoys spending time with his long-time girlfriend Brittany Matthews, who he has been dating since high school. The two recently got engaged in September 2020 and had their first child, daughter Sterling Skye Mahomes, in February 2021.

College Career at Texas Tech

Mahomes chose to play college football at Texas Tech University. As a freshman in 2014, he saw limited playing time behind starting quarterback Davis Webb. However, he made the most of his opportunities, throwing for 891 yards, 8 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions in spot duty. The following year, Mahomes took over as the full-time starter. He had a breakout sophomore campaign, throwing for over 4,000 yards and 36 touchdowns to lead the Big 12 in both categories. His stellar play helped Texas Tech to an 8-5 record and a bowl game appearance.

Entering his junior year in 2016, Mahomes was named the preseason Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year by the conference’s coaches. He lived up to the hype by putting together one of the greatest individual seasons by a quarterback in college football history. Mahomes set FBS single-season records with 5,052 passing yards and 50 touchdown passes. He led the nation in both categories and added 8 more scores on the ground. While Texas Tech finished only 5-7 on the year, Mahomes’ record-breaking performance cemented his status as a potential top NFL draft pick. He decided to forgo his senior season and enter the 2017 NFL draft.

Drafted by the Chiefs

Despite putting up video game numbers in college, some scouts had doubts about Mahomes’ pro potential due to playing in an Air Raid offense at Texas Tech that didn’t fully showcase his skills. However, the Kansas City Chiefs saw his immense talent and selected Mahomes with the 10th overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft. As a rookie, Mahomes spent the season as the backup to veteran quarterback Alex Smith. He saw limited action in mop-up duty but made the most of his opportunities, showing flashes of his big arm and playmaking ability.

Behind the scenes, Mahomes was diligently preparing to take over as the starter. He spent countless hours studying film and working on his mechanics with QB coach Mike Kafka. When Smith suffered a season-ending injury in 2018, Mahomes was thrust into the starting role in Week 17. He made the most of his opportunity, throwing for 284 yards and 4 touchdowns in a come-from-behind win over the Denver Broncos. This gave Chiefs fans and the football world their first real glimpse of Mahomes’ immense potential as the future franchise quarterback.

MVP and Super Bowl Champion

In his first full season as the starter in 2018, Mahomes put on a show that cemented him as the new face of the NFL. He led the league with 50 touchdown passes and over 5,000 yards, joining Peyton Manning as the only QBs to ever surpass 5,000 yards and 50 scores in a single season. Mahomes’ incredible play carried the Chiefs to a 12-4 record and the AFC West division title. He was named the league and Associated Press NFL MVP, becoming the youngest player ever to win the award.

The magical 2018 season culminated with Mahomes leading the Chiefs on an improbable playoff run to Super Bowl LIII. After overcoming a 24-point deficit against the Indianapolis Colts in the divisional round, Mahomes threw for nearly 300 yards in the AFC Championship to down the New England Patriots in overtime. In the Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers, Mahomes accounted for three total touchdowns to secure a thrilling 31-20 victory and capture the first Super Bowl title in 50 years for the Chiefs franchise. At just 23 years old, Mahomes had already reached the pinnacle of success in just his second season as a starter.

Continued Excellence and Record Contract

Since that breakout MVP campaign, Mahomes has continued playing at an elite level for the Chiefs. In 2019, he led the league in passing yards (4,031) despite missing two games due to injury. The following season in 2020, Mahomes again led Kansas City to the Super Bowl, where they fell just short against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Off the field in 2020, Mahomes signed a 10-year contract extension worth up to $503 million with the Chiefs, making it the largest contract in sports history.

Through five NFL seasons thus far, Mahomes has established himself as one of the most productive passers in the league. He has amassed over 17,000 passing yards and 140 touchdowns against only 29 interceptions in the regular season. In the playoffs, Mahomes has added another 2,000+ yards and 20 TDs. At just 26 years old, he still has his best years ahead of him as he continues chasing more championships in Kansas City. Barring injury, Mahomes is on pace to shatter numerous NFL records and cement his legacy as one of the greatest quarterbacks ever by the time his career is over.

Musical Tastes and Influences

When he’s not dominating on the football field, Mahomes enjoys unwinding by listening to and discovering new music. In interviews over the years, he has opened up about some of his favorite artists that provide the soundtrack for his life. Unsurprisingly given his age, Mahomes has eclectic tastes that span multiple genres from rap to R&B to pop. Some of the artists he has publicly cited as influences include:

– Drake – Mahomes has called Drake one of his favorite rappers and was seen singing along to “God’s Plan” in a viral video. He enjoys Drake’s hit-making ability and mainstream appeal.

– J. Cole – A fan of J. Cole’s thoughtful, introspective lyrics and soulful delivery. Mahomes has worn Cole’s Dreamville clothing line and praised his music.

– Kendrick Lamar – Cited Lamar’s albums like good kid, m.A.A.d city and To Pimp a Butterfly as among his favorites for their storytelling and conscious themes. He’s attended Lamar concerts.

– Post Malone – Appreciates Post Malone’s catchy crossover pop/rap style and has been to his shows, dancing and singing along in the crowd.

– Justin Timberlake – Admires Timberlake’s musicianship and success transitioning from boyband star to respected solo artist. Enjoys his upbeat pop/R&B hits.

– Ed Sheeran – Recently said he’s been listening to a lot of Ed Sheeran for his melodic songwriting and ability to create hits in different genres.

– Kanye West – Praised West as one of the most influential artists of his generation for continually pushing creative boundaries and having a massive catalog of classic albums.

– U2 – Cited U2 as one of his favorite rock bands growing up due to their anthemic songs and stadium-filling live shows. Bono is someone he looks up to.

Mahomes isn’t afraid to explore new music either. On social media, he’ll often post about discovering fresh artists and sharing songs he’s vibing to. With his high profile, Mahomes has also developed friendships with some of the musicians he admires. He’s been seen exchanging jerseys and kicking it backstage with the likes of Drake, Post Malone, and J. Cole after their concerts. Music clearly plays a big role in Mahomes’ life outside of football as both an art form he appreciates and a way to unwind from the pressures of his high-stakes career. It’s yet another layer of the multidimensional superstar’s personality for fans to appreciate.