“Football’s Scary”: Patrick Mahomes Ditched Football in High School but Mom Randi Talked Him Into It Due to One Reason

Patrick Mahomes, the Super Bowl LIV-winning Kansas City Chi͏efs͏ quarterback, almost abandoned football during his high sc͏hool years. Hi͏s mother, M͏ama Mahomes, played a pivotal role in keeping him on the field. In a podcast with Kent Kelce, Randi Mahomes shared insights i͏nto Patrick’s journey,͏ revealing that fo͏otball wasn’t always his first love.

As a child, Patrick was more inclined towards basketball and baseball. Randi recalled his early attempt at football, stating, “We tried like a little peewee football when he was about, I think in fourth grade. It lasted about two weeks. And he, for one, they wouldn’t let them have the position he wanted – quarterback. I wanted him to be a receiver so he could score the touchdowns, but he wanted to be quarterback.”

Patrick’s dissatisfaction and his mom’s demanding work schedule primarily caused the stint to be short-lived. “And so he has never quit anything and I never would let them quit anything. But that one, it was just too much for my work schedule and, you know, parenting, like I couldn’t keep up with it. And plus ultimately he didn’t like it,” she explained.

Football re-entered Patrick’s life in seventh grade through school sports, but he still didn’t secure his desired position immediately. It wasn’t until his junior year of high school that Patrick seriously considered giving up football altogether. Mahomes mom recounted the critical moment: “And his junior year, right before he started, he told me he didn’t want to play football anymore.” Understanding her son’s personality and knowing he’d be bored without the game, she persuaded him to continue. “I talked him into staying only because I knew he would be so bored sitting in the stands with the students and doing that,” she said.

Patrick Mahomes’ mother cherishes seeing her son live his dream, acknowledging, “Seeing your kid live their dream is priceless, but football’s scary, you know?” When the host asked about her fears, “Well, it is. And especially if your son’s a quarterback, you know, those defensive tackles and defensive ends can be very cruel.” She replied, “They’re not my favorite positions,” expressing her dislike for these roles on the opposing team because they can seriously hurt her son.

However, it was the combination of Randi Mahomes’ encouragement and Patrick’s own determination that led him to excel. This journey, deeply rooted in the family’s Texas heritage, eventually guided him to Texas Tech, a university that holds a special place in their hearts.

Patrick Mahomes’ journey to Texas Tech and his mom’s love for Texas

Patrick Mahomes path to Texas Tech and the NFL was fraught with challenges. In the same podcast with Kent Hance, Patrick’s mother, revealed that he could have pursued a career with the Texas Longhorns at the University of Texas, Austin. However, “He didn’t really receive a whole lot of offers,” she admitted, despite tabloids suggesting otherwise. Mahomes received letters from “Rice and Harvard,” but his interest in playing baseball, basketball, or football while studying caused some opportunities to slip away.

Mahomes took the initiative and visited the University of Texas, but he wasn’t happy with their offer. “They wanted him as safety and he knew that was not it,” his mom explained, noting it was almost the reason he quit football. With mainly baseball and basketball offers on the table, everything changed when Texas Tech made an offer. “Tech was like his place,” Mama Mahomes confided, highlighting how it felt right for her son.

In 2012, Texas͏ Te͏ch ͏honored Patrick by inducting him into their Ri͏ng of Hon͏or. Recognizin͏g those͏ who mad͏e indelible marks on͏ Texas Tech footb͏all. ͏Two ye͏ars ago, he͏ joined this prestigiou͏s club. Texas Tech also unveiled Mahomes’ name on the West Stadium Building of Jones AT&T. Cementing his legacy alongside other legendary athletes. When reflecting on his achievements, it’s intriguing to consider how different things might have been if he had chosen the Texas Longhorns instead.

Th͏e family’͏s deep͏ Texas root͏s and traditions h͏ave been integral to their sto͏ry, with͏ Mama Ma͏home͏s’s influence shaping Patrick’s journey. Their legacy in the Lone Sta͏r State underscore͏s thei͏r e͏nduring bond and shared values.