“I’m Imitating..”: Despite His Known Modesty, Yankees Icon Derek Jeter Claims Credit for Patrick Mahomes’ 2 Super Bowl Championships

Arrowhead Stadium has gotten used to the superstars that populate it on a routine basis. For the last half-decade, it has seen the marvel of Patrick Mahomes as quarterback and his two MVP awards. But if New York Yankees icon Derek Jeter is to be believed, his Super Bowl success is all thanks to Captain Clutch. The retired slugger was never too open about claiming credit for his own success, but Mahomes is apparently not off-limits!

The Kansas City Chiefs lucked out on the day that Mahomes decided to pursue football instead of baseball. After a childhood spent around ballparks, everyone expected the youngster to take after his dad and wow the country with his baseball prowess one day. But the fates had another future in mind, although being familiar with MLB stars unexpectedly helped Mahomes out in the NFL.

The Credit for Patrick Mahomes’ Unusual Twos Goes to Derek Jeter

Before going pro in football, Patrick Mahomes was a three-sport athlete. In addition to playing shortstop and quarterback, the basketball team saw Mahomes regularly as well. Needless to say, the kid was athletic. When Derek Jeter had a talk with the 28-year-old in Kansas City recently, he pointed it out to Mahomes.

“When I watch you play, what stands out is just how athletic you are. You played everything,” the MLB Hall of Famer says. “So tell me how that’s helped you out on the field playing quarterback.” To which the Chiefs player immediately refers to his unusual throws in answer.

“I mean, first off, everybody sees the arm angles and that’s playing shortstop. Now these are the throws I’m imitating when I’m out on the football field.” Jeter doesn’t hesitate to take credit where it’s due because he used to be a big favorite in his playing days with a young Mahomes. “See? There you have it. The reason for all your success as a quarterback is because you were watching old films of me.”

The two laugh as the QB says, “I was watching old films of you, just running from shortstop to the first baseline and throwing.” Indeed, the interview video intersperses iconic throws from Captain Clutch that look eerily similar to what Mahomes does on the football field. Inspiration can come from anywhere after all!

To Mahomes, Hitting a Baseball Is the Hardest Thing To Do In Any Sport

There’s a reason why batting average is a popular tool of measurement for player abilities. Though many discard it given the obvious gaps it leaves, hitting an average of 94mph balls in the majors is not an easy task. There’s a reason hitting streaks are popular, because maintaining a batting average is not so simple.

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“Hitting a baseball has got to be one of the toughest things to do in the world,” Mahomes tells Jeter. Even Deion Sanders, who played in both the NFL and MLB at the same time, has admitted something similar!

The NFL world gets to witness Patrick Mahomes as the star quarterback today. But had he chosen differently, fans would have probably labeled him the second coming of Derek Jeter.

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