At 28, Why Is Patrick Mahomes Being Called A Veteran By Chiefs HC Andy Reid?

Patrick Mahomes has arguably been the NFL’s most well-known name since 2017, only after Tom Brady. The Chiefs quarterback has taken the league by storm since his first season. Despite missing out on starting roles in his rookie season, Mahomes showed exactly what he was made of in 2018. He topped the NFL’s year-end rankings over the likes of Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, and Russell Wilson, and has never looked back since.

There is no shortage of tales of the quarterback’s heroics, but there’s one aspect about Mahomes that remains under the radar: his role as the team’s captain and as a mentor outside the games. Chiefs coach Andy Reid recently talked about this in an NFL talk show.

Patrick Mahomes, the not-so-veteran mentor

Talking to OutKick’s “The Five Spot” with Donovan McNabb, coach Reid went uncut about the Chiefs. The 65-year-old gave insights about his team, especially on Travis Kelce-Taylor Swift’s relationship and his view on captain Patrick Mahomes. When McNabb asked Reid about Mahomes, he explained how the quarterback racks up great numbers despite the team’s lack of experienced wide receivers.

It’s his training ground relations with the younger players, Reid explained. “Mahomes is a veteran. It’s his sixth year starting here, and you can tell he’s got a bunch of young receivers working with those guys. He’s really taking them under his wing, and that’s new for him. That’s a new experience for him. And I like the way he’s handling it,” Reid said. He sounded happy with Mahomes’ effort. Interestingly, he chose to call Mahomes a veteran despite him being only 28. According to him, Mahomes has the experience under his belt to make him a veteran. And also acts like a mentor to the young guys, and that’s what veterans do.

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“He spends time during practice, during special teams, with the guys who aren’t on that particular special team. He’ll go over with them and work on things. And he talks to them constantly. So, that’s probably the biggest thing I’d tell you.” Reid appreciated the fact that Mahomes takes his time to adjust to the guys who are not regular on the starting squad.

It’s no surprise, given Reid’s view on Mahomes that he considers him nothing less than a seasoned veteran. From a statistical standpoint, however, most veterans would wish they had Mahomes’ numbers by the end of their careers.

The rise of Patrick Mahomes

He has thrown over 5,000 yards in 16 games averaging 318.6/game, 50 touchdowns, and a whopping 113.8 passer rating. In his six-year stint with the franchise, the QB has already won two Super Bowls, three AFC championships, and six straight AFC West titles. One could already argue he is the greatest post-Brady quarterback in the NFL.

Some may even suggest he is one of the greatest ever as stats don’t lie. Furthermore, it’s even more surprising that he is able to register these numbers week in and week out despite an experienced ball carrier on the team. Such is the quality.

With practice sessions with the man himself, the youngsters are on a great trajectory, and will never have a problem adjusting to the game once they start for the team. With the veteran still pretty young at 28, the Chiefs will enjoy Mahomes’ service for many more years to come. And if the records refuse to be broken, together they will shatter them.

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