Not many players can have a 2020 calendar year like Patrick Mahomes. In the wake of a world-wide coronavirus pandemic, Mahomes led the Kansas City Chiefs to their first title in 50 years, winning the Super Bowl MVP after helping their team return from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter and became the richest athlete in North American sports history after signing a 12-year, $ 503 million extension with the Chiefs this offseason.
Mahomes has become the face of the NFL with a bright future ahead. Still only 24 years old, Mahomes already has what is essentially the NFL version of a triple crown (Super Bowl title, MVP, and NFL MVP). He has thrown for 9,128 yards and 76 touchdowns against 18 INT in his two full seasons as a starting quarterback (109.6 rating) and the Chiefs have averaged 32 points per game in their 31 starts, including scoring more than 30 points 19 times and more. 40 points seven times.
Mahomes has become a bigger than life figure in a sport that dominates the American sports scene. From video game numbers to humble personality, Mahomes is the quarterback and leader that any team would covet. Mahomes sat with me in an exclusive 1-on-1 interview for CBSSports.com as the NFL training camp is about to begin.
You are the richest man in professional sports right now. That $ 500 million deal was historic. Can you guide us through the contract negotiations with the Bosses? Did things turn out as well as they seemed?
Mahomes: “They really did. The best thing that happened was the Chiefs and my team, we went in with an open mind. We tried to discover what was best not only for me and my family, but also what was best for the team movement to build Something great, you must have that open communication.
“Obviously, I’m very excited, very happy. Having security for my family and security for future generations, but at the same time I’m happy that our franchise is able to sign guys like Chris Jones and sign guys who were able to help. I build this team together and we can have something that we can build for a long, long time. “
The Chiefs promised to put you in a deal that would keep them in contention for the life of the contract. Was that one of the main trouble spots in your agreement?
Mahomes: “100 percent. There were two things I said when we entered into negotiations: I wanted to keep the great players around me and I wanted to have long-term security for my family. I certainly wasn’t thinking about 10 years. I didn’t even know that the NFL contracts did that.
“With these two things in mind, the way we structured the deal and the way we did it, we’re going to have a lot of flexibility to keep the best players around me and when you have great players around you, you’re going to have a great football team. ”
How important was Andy Reid’s presence in all this?
Mahomes: “Very. When you have a great organization from top to bottom, from property to staff, to general manager, to coaches, to players, we do things the right way. With Coach Reid we build that culture of how to play soccer and how to just be people and how to have a culture of winning and at the same time being great people for each other, that gave me the security of knowing that this will be something that will be good for a long time.
“Knowing that having a guy (Reid) who has built it the right way, I can continue to maintain that same culture in the locker room as much as possible.”
Coach Reid promised you he would be in Kansas City for 12 years?
Mahomes: “(Laughter). He told me he won’t try to leave soon! He’s all in it. He loves this game. He loves everything. The family atmosphere he has with everyone is special. You see the number of plays he draws every day and he shows: you know his fire is still burning and is not trying to go out any time soon. ”
Is there any additional pressure for you and the Chiefs to be the defending champions of the Super Bowl and have all those expectations of going back there?
Mahomes: “I don’t think it exists, honestly. Obviously we have a great soccer team and I always try to go out there and be the best player and person I can be every day. But I think when you have great players around you, you can lean on those guys And you know you’ve done it before, you know what it takes to do that every day.
“It’s going to be difficult. Winning the Super Bowl is not an easy thing. A lot of people can’t do that in their lives and I know it. I’m going to take every opportunity I have. Have it every day and hope to have another chance to be in a Super Bowl and try to find a way to win it again. ”
Do you feel any pressure trying to fulfill your contract?
Mahomes: “Not necessarily. I’m going to go out there and be the best player and person I can be. Obviously, you want to win a lot of soccer games, but I feel like if I not only have an impact on the soccer field but the Kansas City community during a long time, that will represent the contract and that will be worth it.
“Not only do I win a lot of soccer games and hopefully win a championship, but I want to have an impact on the community and the people around me.”
You have already accomplished a lot in your short career. Your first year you win the league MVP and you throw 50 touchdowns, then the next year you win the Super Bowl MVP and you literally prevent the Chiefs from losing 10 points in every postseason game and win a championship.
Where am I going with this: Is there any part of your game that you need to improve?
Mahomes: “There’s still a lot I can improve on. The mental part of the game, you learn more and more every year you’re in the NFL, especially in the quarterback position. You learn from reps, you learn by seeing different things and we understand that defenses They will continue to throw different things at us and fight the things we do so well.
“I’m going to keep trying to learn as much as possible. I’m going to keep digging into the fundamentals. I’ve really only been playing quarterback for six or seven years. Not that I’ve been playing for a long time in the position, so I will do my best to try to improve more and more on the fundamentals.
“When things break down, I can go back to where I learned to play freestyle and let that succeed. I’m excited about this challenge of trying to improve and trying to be the best soccer player I can be.”
What was your favorite Chiefs offseason move so far?
Mahomes: “I think it was how many people we brought in. I mean, we kept this together. When you’re in times like this when you can’t be around the team, you can’t see everyone everyday as you’re used to and you learn to build those cultures together. Having those long lasting relationships and knowing where you can count on people and having those people in the building that do things the right way, I think that was huge for us to do.
“So when we go back to the building and when we’re together, we can pick up right where we left off. The young men we brought along like Clyde (Edwards-Helaire) and all these great young soccer players, we can get immersed in that culture very quickly and already have something stable they can build on. ”
What was the first thing you bought after signing the contract?
“I got a house, but that was before the contract occurred. That was more like ‘you’re quarantined, you need a place to exercise at home,’ so I got a house and an exercise room and stuff like that in Texas. So I suppose you can count that, but I haven’t bought anything.
“My dad texted me a couple of days after the contract: ‘Do you feel different?’ I said I feel exactly the same. I will be the same person I was before I got the contract and before I came to the NFL: to be the best Patrick Mahomes I can be every day. ”
How are you preparing for this year given the current situation? Did you say you bought a house to quarantine, so tell me what you’ve been doing to prepare for 2020?
“I try to do my best to stay indoors, not just for myself and my family, but for the rest of the world. I’m just trying to do my share of quarantine and stuff. I’m training as much as I am at home and running around the neighborhood, like everyone else with the mask on and all that. “
“I think the most important thing for this season is to be ready for the challenges and be ready for the unexpected. You never know what can happen day by day, but I will be ready to accept those challenges.” Do the right protocols, the safe protocols, and try to find a way to practice the sport I love and win soccer games. “
You will have to convince me here with your obsession with ketchup. It seems that you put it in everything.
“(Laughter) There are certain things I put ketchup on that people don’t like. You don’t have to put it on everything, but it adds a little flavor to certain things that people won’t try.”
“The three things I put on people who don’t like it are steak, macaroni and cheese, and eggs. I love it. When I go to a grill and order ketchup, they look at me weird and just say, ‘Hey, I’m buying a expensive steak. I’m eating it how I want. ”
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The Chiefs’ full roster is slated to be presented at training camp on Saturday, July 25. Mahomes and Kansas City will seek to become the first team since the New England Patriots in 2003 and 2004 to repeat as Super Bowl champions.
