by The Rise of a Star: The Patrick Mahomes Story
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Patrick Mahomes has taken the NFL by storm since entering the league in 2017. In just a few short years, he has established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the game and led the Kansas City Chiefs to their first Super Bowl victory in 50 years. But Mahomes’ journey to stardom began long before he stepped foot on an NFL field. This is the story of how a small town Texas kid became one of the faces of the NFL.
Early Years and High School Career
Patrick Lavon Mahomes II was born on September 17, 1995 in Tyler, Texas. He grew up in a football family, as his father Pat Mahomes played in the major leagues as a pitcher for 11 seasons. From a young age, Mahomes showed a natural talent and love for football. He would spend hours throwing the ball with his father in their backyard, developing his arm strength and accuracy.
In high school, Mahomes attended Whitehouse High School in Whitehouse, Texas, just outside of Tyler. He immediately made an impact on the football team, starting as the varsity quarterback from his sophomore year. As a junior, Mahomes threw for 3,528 yards and 45 touchdowns, leading his team to a state semifinal appearance. College recruiters took notice of his abilities. His senior season was even more impressive, with Mahomes accounting for 5,200 total yards and 50 touchdowns. He finished his high school career with over 12,000 passing yards and 125 touchdowns.
Recruitment and Commitment to Texas Tech
With his impressive high school stats, Mahomes received scholarship offers from numerous power five programs, including Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and Baylor. However, he ultimately committed to play for Texas Tech under head coach Kliff Kingsbury. Kingsbury’s air raid offense was the perfect scheme for Mahomes’ arm talent and passing abilities. At Texas Tech, Mahomes would have the opportunity to put up big stats in the passing game.
Mahomes officially signed with Texas Tech in February 2014 and enrolled that summer. He joined a Red Raiders program that had a history of producing prolific passers in the air raid offense. Mahomes was expected to compete for the starting job right away as a freshman.
Breakout Freshman Season
As a freshman in 2014, Mahomes beat out two other quarterbacks to win the starting job under center for Texas Tech. In his first career start against Central Arkansas, he threw for 413 yards and 5 touchdowns. Mahomes never looked back, putting on spectacular passing performances week after week in the high-powered Texas Tech offense.
By the end of the season, Mahomes had shattered numerous school and Big 12 records. He threw for 4,653 yards and 36 touchdowns, leading the nation in both categories. Mahomes also rushed for over 300 yards and 6 touchdowns on the ground. His breakout campaign earned him Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors. He established himself as one of the top young quarterbacks in the country and put the college football world on notice.
Record-Breaking Junior Season
After a solid sophomore season where he threw for over 4,000 yards again, Mahomes entered his junior year in 2016 with sky-high expectations. He did not disappoint, putting together perhaps the greatest individual season by a quarterback in college football history. Mahomes threw for 5,052 yards and 53 touchdowns against just eight interceptions, leading Texas Tech to an 8-5 record.
His yardage and touchdown totals shattered the FBS single season records that had stood for decades. Mahomes also added over 300 rushing yards and six more scores with his legs. For his transcendent junior campaign, he was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, a unanimous All-American, and finished third in Heisman Trophy voting behind quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Deshaun Watson.
Mahomes had cemented his place among the all-time great Texas Tech quarterbacks and positioned himself as a potential first round pick in the upcoming NFL draft. However, he made the decision to return to school for his senior season rather than enter the draft early. Mahomes wanted to earn his college degree and continue improving as a player under Kingsbury’s tutelage.
Senior Season and Draft Projections
Coming off his record-setting junior year, Mahomes entered his senior season as one of the most exciting players in college football. Unfortunately, an injury-plagued Texas Tech team struggled to a 5-7 record in 2017. While Mahomes still threw for over 4,000 yards and 27 touchdowns, his production dipped slightly with a less talented supporting cast around him.
Despite the down year statistically, Mahomes’ NFL draft stock remained sky high due to his unprecedented junior tape. Most draft experts projected him to be selected in the first round, likely within the top 15 picks. His combination of size, arm talent, athleticism, and production in the toughest conference in college football made Mahomes an intriguing prospect for NFL teams transitioning to more wide-open passing attacks.
After graduating from Texas Tech in December 2017 with a degree in general studies, Mahomes made the decision to forgo his final year of college eligibility and enter the 2017 NFL Draft. His goal was to be the first quarterback selected and have the opportunity to start right away as a rookie.
Draft Night Surprise
Heading into the draft on April 27, 2017, most analysts predicted Mahomes would be selected within the top 10 picks. The Chicago Bears at number 3 and New York Jets at number 6 were seen as potential landing spots. However, on draft night, things played out differently than expected for Mahomes.
As the first round unfolded, neither the Bears nor Jets ended up selecting a quarterback. Instead, the first three picks were defensive players – Myles Garrett, Solomon Thomas, and Jamal Adams. At pick number 10, the Buffalo Bills also passed on Mahomes to draft Tre’Davious White.
This is when things got interesting. The Kansas City Chiefs, who held the 27th overall pick, had been rumored to be interested in Mahomes as the future replacement for veteran quarterback Alex Smith. In a surprise move, Kansas City traded their first round pick (27th overall), third round pick, and 2018 first round pick to the Buffalo Bills to move up to the number 10 spot.
With the 10th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Chiefs selected Patrick Mahomes II, making him the first quarterback off the board. Mahomes was thrilled to land with Kansas City and begin his NFL career under head coach Andy Reid, known as one of the top offensive minds in the league.
Rookie Season in Kansas City
As a rookie in 2017, Mahomes knew his role would be to learn behind veteran starter Alex Smith. So he spent his first NFL season adjusting to the professional game, learning Reid’s intricate offensive system, and developing chemistry with his new teammates. Mahomes only saw mop-up action in garbage time, completing 33 passes for 284 yards with 0 touchdowns and 1 interception.
Behind the scenes, Mahomes worked tirelessly on improving his mechanics, footwork, and mental processing. He studied film of Smith and how Reid’s offense operated. By all accounts, Mahomes had an excellent rookie campaign in his development. While he didn’t put up big stats, the Chiefs were confident their future franchise quarterback was progressing well in his first year. Kansas City finished with a 10-6 record and made the playoffs in 2017.
Breakout Arrival as Starter
In 2018, Mahomes was given the keys to the Chiefs’ high-powered offense after Smith was traded to Washington in the offseason. From the jump, it was clear Mahomes was ready for the starting role. In his first career start in Week 1 against the Chargers, he threw for 256 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 38-28 victory.
Mahomes never looked back, putting on some of the most incredible passing performances the NFL had ever seen. He threw for over 400 yards four times and had shootout games against future MVPs Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees. By season’s end, Mahomes had shattered franchise records and led the league with 50 touchdown passes against just 12 interceptions.
He completed 66% of his passes for 5,097 yards and also added 272 rushing yards and two more scores with his legs. Mahomes’ eye-popping stats and highlight reel plays made him the runaway winner of NFL MVP honors, becoming the youngest player ever to win the award. He led the Chiefs to the AFC West title with a 12-4 record in his first season as starter.
Super Bowl LIV Championship
In the playoffs, Mahomes continued lighting up scoreboards. He threw for 295 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 31-13 divisional round win over the Colts. The following week, Mahomes led the Chiefs back from a 24-point deficit – the largest comeback in AFC title game history – to defeat the Patriots 37-31 in overtime and reach the Super Bowl.
On football’s biggest stage, Mahomes put on a show against the San Francisco 49ers. He threw for 286 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Chiefs overcame a 10 point fourth quarter deficit to win Super Bowl LIV 31-20. At just 23 years old, Mahomes became the youngest quarterback ever to win Super Bowl MVP honors, cementing his place among the NFL’s elite.
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