The lasting memory Patrick Mahomes to the left of the NFL season 2024 is that he eventually lost.
He failed.
Mahomes lacked that, instead of his pursuit of Tom Brady’s record Zeven-Ring Seven-Ring Super Bowl dominance and creating an unprecedented mark. And not only falls short because his team betrayed him, but because he played badly and was not what someone, including himself, expected.
Mahomes shows grace and class
Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) and broad recipient Juju Smith-Schuster (9) run off the field after loss for the Philadelphia Eagles during the NFL Super Bowl 59 football match, Sunday 9 February 2025, in New Orleans in New Orleans in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
So yes, bitter disappointment.
And do you know how, in the midst of all that defeat and failure and disillusion, Mahomes at the moment?
Like a champion.
He took his suit, like all the chiefs of Kansas City in that 40-22 final that was not really as close as the score, and then treated it as an adult man. Like a professional.
Like a winner.
Mahomes sought opposite Quarterback Jalen Hurts, shook his hand and offered congratulations. He also shook his hand with a few other triumphant Philadelphia players, including attacking Tackle Lane Johnson, and then he ran off the field.
Even Tom Brady did not use this well
February 4, 2018; Minneapolis, MN, US; Confetti falls like New England Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady (12) from the field after Super Bowl Lii runs against the Philadelphia Eagles in the US Bank Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas-usa Today Sports)
No problem?
Tom Brady did not shook Nick Foles’ hand after the Eagles beat the Patriots in Super Bowl Lii. Kyle Shanahan did not shook Andy Reid’s hand a year ago after the Super Bowl. It is stylish to do, but sometimes the pain and frustration of the moment wipes out the veneer of good sportiness.
Because losing these games hurts. A lot of. And Mahomes has now lost two, including one to Brady in Super Bowl LV.
“Uh, I mean, both were bad,” Mahomes said. “There is no way around it. Every time you lose a super bowl, it is the worst feeling in the world. They stay with you the rest of your career.
“I mean, these will be the two losses that will motivate me to be even better for the rest of my career, because you get so little, and you have to take advantage of this, and they probably hurt more than the victories you feel Good. “
Let that marinate.
The losses cause a greater feeling than victories. And yet, in the midst of that kind of personal emotional disaster, Mahomes came to the stage to face reporters and answered about 14 questions or with patience and class.
Mahomes responds to emotional disaster
Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) shakes hands with Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) After Super Bowl Lix at Caesars Superdome. (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagnen Images)
He spoke about Jalen Hirds to win it all.
He spoke about Travis Kelce who might retire.
And he spoke to his rough outing by actually taking responsibility for the loss.
“I threw two interceptions,” said Mahomes. “I threw a pick-six and I threw a choice that they returned to the 5-year line, and they scored immediately afterwards, so when you give a team 14 points, especially a really good football team, a super bowl football team, then Not many good things happen.
“And so, that’s why I am more owner of this loss than probably some loss in my entire career, because I have put ourselves in a bad place, and although we have placed a number of statistics at the end of the game, they did Statistics not ‘it is really important, because I have already lost the momentum for this entire team.
At the start of the Super Bowl week, Mahomes was asked several times about his faith. And he encouraged his faith in Jesus Christ. He spoke openly about God.
He said he Want to use Jesus as an example of how he can live his life.
And predictable, the haters said that it is easy to do when your team then wins 15 of 17 games of the regular season and two play-off matches. It is easy to be close to God when the wind of successive Super Bowl wins on the back.
Mahomes thanks God even in the defeat
Kansas City Chiefs Quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) reacts from the sidelines in the second half against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl Lix at Ceasars Superdome. (Stephen LEW-IMAGNERGENDITION Images)
But what about the difficult times?
Where was the god of the Quarterback Sunday evening while he was fired six times? And where did this mess of a game Mahomes and his confessing faith left?
The answer to both questions is exactly where it was all before the game.
God apparently allowed the leaders to take one on the chin. They say that setbacks are a setup for a great comeback. I believe that that is somewhere in the Gospels, because Jesus suffered unspeakable punishment on the cross on Friday and died, but did not stay that long.
Sunday’s big victory certainly came.
Meanwhile, Mahomes thanked God after the loss of Kansas City. He thanked God “for every occasion he gave me.”
That does not change the fact that the Eagles were better. It does not change the fact that Mahomes with a L.
But that loss did not change the fact that Mahomes took the setback as a champion.
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