When Clark Hunt and the Kansas City Chiefs traded up in the 2017 NFL Draft to snag Patrick Mahomes with the 10th overall pick, they weren’t just drafting a quarterback—they were getting Showtime—a multi-sport enthusiast, to be precise. We know him as a Gridiron magician, golf’s his pass time, and soccer? That’s the source of his entertainment.

Even before Mahomes took over as Kansas City’s QB1, his competitive streak was already making an impression. While talking at the Kansas City Chiefs News & Analysis talk show on Jan 14, Hunt shared a story from 2017: “We had a young backup quarterback named Patrick Mahomes… soccer wasn’t per se his forte, but he was just so competitive and always looking for something to challenge himself. So, we’d get him in the mix, juggling the ball with us. That was a lot of fun.” Imagine that: the future NFL MVP juggling soccer balls to kill time.

We aren’t surprised to learn it because how many times has Pat’s name been linked to Soccer? Yeah, it’s not a coincidence at this point. His wife, Brittany, is a former professional soccer player who not only revived her love for the game after retiring but also co-owns the Kansas City Current with her QB hubby.

And it was she who brought Mahomes into the fold as a part-owner in 2023, adding “team owner” to his already stacked list of titles.

But Mahomes isn’t just dabbling in soccer ownership—he’s also casually crossing over into the soccer world. During a visit to Adidas HQ in Germany, he posed with Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp, rugby legend Siya Kolisi, and Adidas CEO Bjorn Gulden.

Let’s not forget Mahomes’ long-standing partnership with Adidas. Since signing with the brand in 2017, he’s launched multiple shoe lines and become one of their top ambassadors. That recent Adidas visit? It felt more like an international all-star summit, with Mahomes at the center of it all.

And at this is Patrick #15 Mahomes we are talking about. Of course, he isn’t just playing football; he’s shaping sports culture. But the thing is, ‘once upon a time’ even he was sitting on the sidelines, warming the bench once.

Patrick Mahomes: From warming bench to heating gridiron

Imagine this: a rookie Patrick Mahomes sitting behind Alex Smith in 2017, not as QB1 but as the understudy. Surprising, right? Mahomes, now the face of the league, spent an entire season watching, learning, and—spoiler alert—waiting to take over. And Alex? He knew what was coming.

On The Dan Patrick Show, Smith admitted, “Patrick beat me into the building almost every day that entire year.” Mahomes wasn’t just early; he was obsessed. Obsessed with football, learning, and pushing boundaries—like casually practicing no-look passes during team drills. Bold, fearless, and oh-so-Mahomes.

But why not start him immediately? Some say it was to ease his transition, others argue it was about timing. Either way, the Chiefs played it smart. By 2018, Mahomes had the reins, and what followed… Well, it’s right in front of us now! Two MVPs, three Super Bowl wins, and 7 AFC Championship appearances later, we’re all just along for the ride.

Even Smith, traded to Washington in 2018, likely doesn’t regret those days on the practice field. He knew Mahomes’ destiny… No, we are not calling him a fortune-teller. But you know, one of those intuitions about a guy you have been noticing so closely: week in and week out. Yeah, that’s why Alex knew Mahomes’s trajectory was going to take him upwards, calling his backup’s performances a “warning” of what was to come. Boy, was he right.

Fast forward to the 2024 season and Mahomes is in contention of rewriting history. The 3-peat… Many giants have attempted that part of NFL history, but none have completed it. Now, only a few days stand between him and this ‘Unmatched feat’.