With Patrick Mahomes dominating the NFL and taking over from Tom Brady, talkSPORT takes a holiday look at Mahomes’ 12 most important life moments…
The Kansas City Chiefs are dominating the NFL at the moment.
GettyMahomes proved he could come up clutch on the biggest stage[/caption]
Whether it’s chasing a three-peat on the field, or flooding the airways off it thanks to Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift‘s Love Story, it is hard to think of football without the men in red.
But before Mahomes arrived in Kansas City, things were a little different.
The Chiefs’ won their maiden Super Bowl in 1970 and waited five decades to lift another – it was also an elusive first title for Andy Reid after 20 years as a head coach.
It was a surprise that Mahomes even had a chance to win Super Bowl LIV in 2020.
The Chiefs trailed 24-0 and 17-7 in their two postseason outings before their enigmatic QB rescued them.
And it was a similar story in the big game itself as the San Francisco 49ers led 20-10 in the third quarter at the Hard Rock Stadium.
Mahomes had thrown two interceptions and it looked like the occasion was getting the better of the then-24-year-old against a heralded Niners defense.
Those doubts were quickly put to bed as he led his team to 21 straight points in the final 6 minutes and 13 seconds.
“We never lost faith,” Mahomes said. “That’s the biggest thing.
“Everybody on this team, no one had their head down. We believed in each other. That’s what we preached all year long.”
GettyIt took Reid a long time to get his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy[/caption]
Reid had won a Super Bowl ring as the 1996 Green Bay Packers‘ tight end’s coach but the sport’s biggest honor had eluded him at the Philadelphia Eagles.
“This is what it’s all about,” Big Red said after his triumph. “What a great team, great coaches. Appreciate every bit of it.”
Kyle Shanahan was the Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator when the GOAT Brady led probably the greatest Super Bowl comeback ever.
And the 49ers coach, who has zero rings despite the respect with which he is held, witnessed another historic collapse against Brady’s heir apparent.
“We’ll lick our wounds and we’ll get over this,” he said, unaware that Mahomes would torment him again on the biggest stage four years later.
Former Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt coined the phrase Super Bowl but never saw his team get their hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
“It’s a beautiful trophy,” his son Clark said in 2020. “I’m so happy for our players, coaches and fans.
“And especially Andy Reid. Nobody deserves this trophy more than Andy Reid.”
Mahomes finished with 286 yards and three total touchdowns, with Tyreek Hill taking nine receptions for 105 yards.
Damian Williams rushed for 104 yards and a score on 17 carries, as well as catching another touchdown.
“We have an ability as a team not just on offense, as team, to figure out what the other team is doing and put our foot in the ground and say enough is enough,” said superstar tight end Travis Kelce said. “It’s special.”
That ability is part of the Chiefs DNA and a major factor that Mahomes, Kelce, and Reid are chasing their fourth rings this season.
Happy Holidays
With Patrick Mahomes in action on Christmas Day when the Chiefs face the Steelers on Netflix, talkSPORT are taking a look at the stories that have shaped the face of the league
Day 1 – Chiefs struck deal with Bills to move up for most fateful trade in NFL history
Day 2 – ‘No filter’ – Mahomes sat and watched before Chiefs unleashed rookie who stunned Kelce
Day 4 – The $450m contract that led Mahomes to become NFL first
Day 5 – Andy Reid had to lower expectation after Mahomes 6 TD super show
Day 6 – Marriage to high school sweetheart showed off Mahomes’ wholesome side
Day 7 – 105-point outburst in stadium that hosted Olympics
Day 8 – The true sports fan who invests his fortune in a massive portfolio