Joke Taken Too Far in Calls Against Dylan Raiola as Patrick Mahomes Obsession Turns Ugly for Nebraska QB

It’s no secret—Dylan Raiola admires Patrick Mahomes. From sporting the same signature Mohawk hairstyle to wearing the same jersey No. 15, Nebraska’s signal caller is basically a Mahomes clone. But, as they say, there’s a fine line between inspiration and imitation. Raiola’s fandom, aka obsession, some argue, has crossed that line. Now, as the Kansas City Chiefs star embraces a new style, a possibility of change has occurred, and even before it becomes a reality, Raiola had to bear brute fans’ takes.

On February 19, ML Football posted big news on X revealing that “Patrick Mahomes has cut off his mohawk after losing the Super Bowl last week.” Shortly after this update, the X handle made a post about Dylan Raiola, which was intended to be a joke. It wrote—“🚨BREAKING: DYLAN RAIOLA HAS CUT HIS HAIR SO HE CAN STILL LOOK LIKE PATRICK MAHOMES. 👀👀👀” Funny? Maybe. A bit much? Yeah. 

Patrick Mahomes’ new hairstyle first became public attention while he was attending his grandfather’s funeral this week. He looked sharp and different from his usual shaggy look with a new short-trimmed cut. Fans have speculated that this change might have stemmed from missing his fourth Super Bowl ring against the Philadelphia Eagles. But the 3x SB MVP already had this planned long before. 

In the 2023 Netflix docuseries Quarterback, Patrick Mahomes first revealed his desire and need for a hairstyle change. In his conversation with his trainer, Bobby Stroupe, he said, “This is my last hair with the hair… I can’t have two kids and a Mohawk.” “Why not?” Stroupe asked. The father of three gave a fitting response—“Cause I gotta be a dad at some point, know what I mean? Imagine being 40 years old with this haircut. I mean, come on.” He’s only 29 but yeah, the road to his 30s will begin soon and we can only feel his need to start shedding his ‘young-guy’ appearance. What about his 19-year-old doppelganger?

Dylan Raiola hasn’t touched the clippers yet but that hasn’t stopped the internet from piling on.

Fans bash Dylan Raiola’s imitation of Patrick Mahomes 

Given Dylan Raiola’s obsession with Patrick Mahomes, one person on X found this a perfect joke. They wrote, “Gotta give credit where credit is due—that joke was actually solid.” What’s wrong with some light-hearted speculation?

This user, however, could almost see what was about to come. “This is a joke but I wouldn’t put it past this creep,” they wrote. And it only keeps getting worse from there after the resemblance stirred headlines back in January when Chiefs RB Isaiah Pacheco jokingly called out, saying, “That ain’t Pat!”

Somehow, many people don’t find this imitation pleasing. Another person posted, “This is not getting weird….. IT’S BEEN WEIRD.” Is it really? That the late teen is copying his idol’s style from appearance to playing style? Maybe he didn’t emulate his success after compiling just 2,819 yards and 13 TDs. But even Patrick Mahomes’ gave him a shoutout, calling him “Lil Cuzzo.”

Imitation is the highest form of flattery, but is Raiola going too far? “Dude needs to find himself,” another person posted a classic criticism. Maybe there are tons of young kids out there pulling off stunts to look like their idols, some even going to the extent of surgery. But why so much hate on the Huskers QB who’s merely copying the style of his idol?

Is it because he puts himself out there and shines in the football spotlight? “At what point do we call this creepy officially? Cuz I always thought this kid is little strange,” another user wrote. Most of us have been through that stage. We can’t blame young blood for something that’s quite natural. 

At the end of the day, Dylan Raiola getting a haircut or not is his business. But one thing’s for sure—he shouldn’t have to deal with this level of backlash for simply admiring one of the best to ever do it. Let the kid live.