Patrick Mahomes changed things for the Chiefs.(Image via Getty Images) Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs’ star player and the top quarterback in the league, has consistently been a force to be reckoned with on the field. A few weeks ago, Patrick Mahomes signed a whopping $500 million contract extension with the team as he is all set to bounce back on the field after brutal injuries in the last season. But the turning point in his career did not really come on the day he was drafted in the league.
Patrick Mahomes turned from a backup quarterback to someone who changed the Kansas City Chiefs and broke records on the field
Back in 2017, the Kansas City Chiefs traded their 27th pick, a third rounder, and a 2018 first rounder to the Buffalo Bills to bring Patrick Mahomes on board.Patrick Mahomes was brought in to be the backup quarterback to veteran Alex Smith. As the team rested their starters for the playoffs, Patrick Mahomes finally made his debut against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17 as he led the team to a 27-24 victory.In the next season, from being a backup, Patrick Mahomes became the starter and broke records on the field.Patrick Mahomes became the second quarterback in NFL history to throw for 5,000+ passing yards and 50 touchdowns in a single season, matching Peyton Manning’s record.The star quarterback led the Kansas City Chiefs to a 12-4 regular-season record and even broke a 25 year franchise drought by winning a home playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts.As luck would have it, the Kansas City Chiefs lost against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game but it was certain that Patrick Mahomes had changed the team.Later, in 2020, 2023, and 2024, Patrick Mahomes led the Kansas City Chiefs to win the Super Bowl, as he remained an impressive player on the field.
Patrick Mahomes opens up about the thoughts that have pushed him so far to be one of the top quarterbacks in the league
In an interview with CNBC Make It, Patrick Mahomes opened up about his mentality on the field as he said, “People see me on the field playing and winning a lot of football games, and [they see] the contract and the different businesses that I work with, and they think that everything I’m doing is kind of just working out…”The star quarterback added, “I think defeat helps you more than success…I just do whatever I can to be better and learn from the mistakes.”Patrick Mahomes continued, “Love the game that you’re playing and leave everything you have on that field because you’ve put in that work and that time with the guys that you’re playing with. You want to make sure that you’re giving everything that you have every single time that you’re out there.”He added, “Because you never know — it could be your last. They usually change rosters pretty drastically every single year, so you want to make sure that you’re enjoying every single moment that you have those guys on the team.”While Patrick Mahomes does have three Super Bowl wins to his name, the team also did not end up winning the championship in 2021 and 2025 as the team lost in the finals.The last season also seemed brutal for Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs as the team finished with an underwhelming 6–11 regular-season record and failing to make it to the playoffs.To make things worse, Patrick Mahomes sustained brutal injuries in Week 15 of the last season as he tore both his ACL and LCL.Though Patrick Mahomes had to be rushed to surgery as he missed the remaining season, he recorded 3,587 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions across 14 starts.
When is Patrick Mahomes coming back to the field?
Ever since the Kansas City Chiefs’ top quarterback sustained injuries in the last season, there have been doubts about when he can come back to the field.Many believed that Patrick Mahomes would end up missing the initial few matches in the upcoming season.But the star player has focused on his recovery during the off season as he seems fully ready to bounce back on the field.Over the last few weeks, Patrick Mahomes was often spotted in the team’s minicamps as he gears up for the next season.In an interview, he said, “I feel stronger than I’ve ever felt, as far as strength and lifting [weights]…I feel amazing. I’m excited just to be able to play football. I’ve been seeing cinderblock walls rehabbing every single day in Kansas City. Now, to be on that practice field with my teammates, it’s going to be a lot of fun.”