“I’m fighting a lot of battles out here for the Yanks,” former Kansas City Chiefs receiver Gehrig Dieter declared last week, living room chaos in full swing during the ALCS. Little did he know his Yankees fandom would spark a chain of events leading to an unexpected World Series twist.

The baseball world buzzed on October 25 when Patrick Mahomes, fresh off playfully confronting Dieter during the Yankees-Royals ALDS, couldn’t help but praise Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton. “Stanton really a dawg!” Mahomes posted on X, even tagging his former teammate Dieter in a follow-up share.

Stanton dramatically earned those stripes. In his first-ever World Series appearance, he turned a 1-2 knuckle curve from Dodgers’ Jack Flaherty into a soaring two-run homer, flipping a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 Yankees lead. The sixth-inning blast came right after Aaron Judge’s strikeout, with Juan Soto setting the table on a leadoff single. The dramatic finish of the game by Freddie Freeman too excited Mahomes, who tweeted: “Wow! Absolute bomb! Salute @FreddieFreeman5” Freddie Freeman delivered a walk-off grand slam, electrifying a sold-out Dodger Stadium and sending his team to an improbable 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees.

This respect from Mahomes carries extra weight given the recent Yankees-Royals tension. During the ALDS at Kauffman Stadium, Dieter stood out as the vocal Yankees supporter among Royals fans. “When there’s a spark of energy like that goin’ on in that inning, obviously (Patrick Mahomes) is gonna get fired up, and have some fun,” Dieter explained to TMZ about their viral moment.

The scene perfectly captured baseball’s power to forge unexpected connections. From Dieter’s two career NFL receptions worth 32 yards to his million-dollar earnings through 2024, his baseball passion now bridges the gap between NFL stars and MLB playoffs.

When rivalry meets friendship

The Yankees’ path to the World Series brought out peak entertainment between old teammates. On Good Morning Football last week, Dieter didn’t hold back: “These guys are big-time haters,” he said about Mahomes and Travis Kelce‘s reactions during the Yankees-Royals-Guardians saga.

His playoff viewing experience painted the perfect picture of a superfan. “Last night’s games went back and forth. I had a feeling they were gonna go on a little run when class 8 came on. So, I’m getting the phone ready to FaceTime Trav. I’m going crazy in my house,” Dieter shared, capturing the raw emotion of postseason baseball.

The friendly fire spread beyond just Mahomes and Dieter. Miami Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill jumped in, labeling the viral ALDS clip as “Thug Antics.” Dieter’s quick response? “Confirmed @cheetah misses KC. I’m coming out of retirement if you’re coming back to KC.”

From the ALDS showdown to Stanton’s World Series heroics, this story proves sports rivalries craft the best kind of drama. As the Yankees continue their October quest, one thing’s certain – somewhere in Kansas City, a quarterback and his former receiver are watching, ready for the next chapter of their baseball banter.