Remember the Chiefs’ November 10, 2024 matchup with the Denver Broncos? Kansas City entered the game with an undefeated 8-0 run, determined to further it. They eventually did that, but not before a thrilling play that had almost handed the Chiefs their first loss of the season. The Chiefs had taken the lead on Harrison Butker’s field goal with 5:57 remaining, but Bo Nix and the Broncos converted a trio of third downs while marching right back down the field. With 1 second left, they then set up Will Lutz for the 35-yard field goal that would have sealed the game for the Broncos- one of the most helpless moments in football. But the Chiefs were just not ready to give up their streak,

So this linebacker came up the middle amid a big push by the Kansas City defensive line to get his hand on the kick. The ball squibbed away toward the Denver sideline as the Chiefs burst into celebration. “It’s a complete shock, you know? Not much I can say about it,” the LB had said. “I was really praying for something to happen. That moment is so heavy. There’s a second on the clock, they’re going to kick a field goal and you feel the weight of the moment.” His strength and athleticism on the play were remarkable.

The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder planted Broncos offensive lineman Alex Forsyth on his backside before jumping toward Lutz’s kick, batting it down and sending Arrowhead to be taken over by the red wave. “He’s extremely strong,” Mahomes had said hyping up his LB. “He’s like the strength of a D-lineman but he plays the linebacker position. You don’t want to be that guy on the end when he’s working out. We call him John Cena. He’s a guy who gets after it and we’ve used him on offense because of the way he’s able to use his speed and athleticism with that power.” The LB, however, also credited his team for the success.

“It was a good push by everybody, and I got through. We’ve been talking about it for a while — winning one of those — and we did it in a big moment,” he had said. Yes, Kansas’ run is an outcome of such big moments, only to be fallen flat on the biggest occasion against the Eagles. And though Vince Lombardi had once said, “Winning is not everything. But making the effort to win is,” that loss hurts. Especially after their star QB had to take six sacks. But like a fighter he is, Mahomes had said, “Want to give thanks to God for every opportunity he has given me. We will be back.” Now, Mahomes’ ‘John Cena’ has spelled out the same optimism in his latest social media post.

The linebacker Leo Chenal took to Instagram, not just to thank his teammates and fans, but to remind everyone that adversity isn’t something you run from—it’s something you face head-on. “Been a while… but thank you to my family, my teammates and coaches, the fans, and everyone who supported me this season. Adversity is just a part of it, and I love the process that it takes to avoid it at all cost! Gonna just keep rollin! Excited for next season with the Red Kingdom. Go Chiefs!” Notably, the Broncos game was not the first time when Chenal showed his heroics.

The 24-year-old’s hand denied 49ers kicker Jake Moody point-after attempt in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LVIII, which kept the Niners’ lead at three in what eventually became a back-to-back triumph in overtime. But like a true teammate he gave due credit to his teammates for that play.

“I want to credit Mike Danna on (the one in the Super Bowl) — I’ll get the stat for it, it went through my hand, but he was the one who really stopped the ball,” Chenal had said. “He’s not going to get credit with the stat, but a big credit to him.” This teammanship is what makes Chenal a popular face in the Chiefs squad. Even head coach Andy Reid can vouch for that.

“He’s a great athlete, big strong kid, plays a hundred miles an hour, he does it in practice, he does it during games, plays anywhere and everywhere and never says anything,” Reid said. “(He) comes from a family — he’s got like 40 brothers and sisters, so he’s used to sharing so he doesn’t really care about who gets the credit, and doesn’t get the credit, he just goes.” With all that, the Chiefs are rolling into the 2025 NFL season with a mix of optimism and a laundry list of challenges.

Travis Kelce has confirmed he’s sticking around, driven by his love for the game (and let’s be honest, the paycheck isn’t bad either). But even he knows the team needs reinforcements, especially with key names heading into free agency. No time to rest when the AFC is only getting tougher. Then there’s Andy Reid, never one to dwell on the past.

The head coach made it crystal clear that last season is dead and buried. It’s all about the now, and the Chiefs are full speed ahead. “We’ll learn from this… You learn from it as a coach, you learn from it as a player, and you move on.” That’s the spirit, eh? But that’s bare minimum if the Chiefs wanna go all-in with the idea of ‘Patrick Mahomes’ Revenge Tour’. As for Pat? He’s turning the page to the new season with lessons for the next generation.

Patrick Mahomes takes up the role of an educator for the young generation

Being an elite quarterback is one thing. Being an inspiration beyond the gridiron? That’s next level. Patrick Mahomes has taken his influence to… bookshelves. YES! His journey, from a determined young athlete to one of the most phenomenon QB in NFL history, is now the subject of a children’s book aimed at teaching kids’ valuable life lessons.

So, the Mahomians can gloat that their #15 isn’t just throwing TDs anymore, he’s throwing wisdom, one page at a time. This book is about perseverance, discipline, and chasing greatness. It gives young readers a front-row seat to the highs and lows of Mahomes’ career, from his early struggles to hoisting Lombardi trophies. And let’s be real, if there’s one quarterback kids should be taking notes from, it’s PM 15.

The book also highlights how Mahomes handled the weight of early success. It’s easy to look at his meteoric rise and think it was all smooth sailing, but Mahomes details the grind, the setbacks, and the relentless work it took to get there. For young athletes dreaming big, this is the blueprint. And for parents hoping to instill values of hard work and resilience? Well, Mahomes just made their job a little easier.

This move puts Mahomes in a unique category—one of the rare generational athletes who use their platform to inspire beyond the sport. The NFL once dominated youth culture, especially in the ’80s and ’90s when quarterbacks were marketed like superheroes. With the current QB debates hotter than ever, maybe Mahomes’ book is a wake-up call for other NFL stars to follow suit.

Imagine a league-wide effort to engage young fans through storytelling—now that’s a play worth running. At the end of the day, in a world where screens dominate attention spans, getting kids to read about sports could be the first step in getting them to play. Talk about a winning start to the season after an SB heartache? Yup, this sounds like a win to me.