Tucker Franklin is a beloved host, producer, and all-around personality on KC Sports Network (KCSN) in Kansas City. He was reminded just how beloved he is when tragedy struck last week.

Doug Franklin, Tucker’s father, unexpectedly passed away on Aug. 31. Franklin shared the news on X (formerly Twitter), and the sports media community, both locally and nationally, rallied around him to the tune of 595 replies.

And while Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is preparing to face the Denver Broncos in Week 1 after making a miraculous recovery from a torn ACL, he also had Franklin on his mind.

“I think it’s easy to wonder if the quarterback of your favorite team is actually a good guy,” Franklin posted alongside a screenshot of his direct messages with Mahomes on Sunday night. “We don’t have to wonder about that in KC [red heart emoji].”

I think it’s easy to wonder if the quarterback of your favorite team is actually a good guy.

We don’t have to wonder about that in KC ❤️ pic.twitter.com/N0X5rP2RQW

— Tucker D. Franklin (@tuckerdfranklin) September 7, 2026

The screenshot shows Mahomes’s message, reading, “Praying for your family, man. Chiefs and ChiefsKingdom is with you! [Prayer hands emoji].”

“Man, thank you so much for reaching out. Means more than you’ll know. I appreciate you [red heart emoji],” Franklin replied.  Mahomes hearted it.

Franklin’s Twitter bio says that he’s a “Patrick Mahomes Propagandist,” and that’s likely never been truer than now.

Franklin’s serves as a producer across KCSN’s podcast lineup and crafts in-depth video essays about the Chiefs. Three days a week, he co-hosts That Football Show with Matt Verderame, an NFL staff writer at Sports Illustrated.

Verderame was one of several sports media personalities to react to or repost Mahomes’s extremely kind gesture.

This is awesome. Class act. https://t.co/HvbOrdxqmr

— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) September 7, 2026

that’s awesome

— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) September 7, 2026

Awesome

— Jarrett Bailey (@JBaileyNFL) September 7, 2026

Last week, Verderame welcomed ESPN’s Nate Taylor and Chiefs radio voice Joshua Brisco, who co-host Only Weird Games on KCSN, to That Football Show in Franklin’s absence. It’s unclear when Franklin will return to That Football Show or any of his KCSN duties. But whenever he does, it’s abundantly clear that Chiefs Kingdom — from Mahomes on down — will welcome him with open arms.