et’s face it: Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid are Kansas City’s dynamic duo. They’ve steered the Chiefs to four Super Bowl showdowns and brought home the Lombardi trophy thrice.
Yet, even in this perfect storm of football genius, there was a time when Randi Mahomes, Patrick’s own mother, had a bone to pick with Reid’s play-calling.
In a candid chat on The Mom Game Podcast with Julie Dobbs and Emily Jones on June 21, 2024, Randi Mahomes peeled back the curtain on her son’s sports journey.
She revealed a tale of a young athlete who dabbled in various sports – football just one of the rotating flavors of his athletic calendar. Basketball, baseball, and even moments of considering quitting football altogether painted the early tapestry of Mahomes’ career.
Randi recalled her early skepticism about Reid’s strategy: “Even the first couple years with the Chiefs, I would say I don’t think you’re supposed to do that, like scramble around, running around….and he was like coach Reid [said] it works, do it. I’m like okay, but I don’t think you’re supposed to do it but okay.“This motherly concern wasn’t without foundation. Patrick’s high school years were a whirlwind of sports, and his commitment to football was uncertain. During a pivotal sophomore summer, he even mulled over quitting because the quarterback position didn’t come naturally to him. But Randi, the rebel from her own high school days, pushed him to stick it out. “I said if you quit, you’re going to be bored in the stands,” she recalled, pushing him toward the path of perseverance.
Mahomes’ commitment was often questioned. Even as he wowed baseball teammates and joined pickup games with his dad’s friends, football was never his first love. Randi’s fears were not unfounded; the future was murky. But, under the guidance of Reid and with his own burgeoning talent, Patrick turned uncertainty into glory.
Looking back, it’s almost absurd that Mahomes, now an NFL titan, was so overlooked as a high school recruit in 2014. Growing up in Whitehouse, Texas, he was a sports phenom, dominating not just football but baseball, basketball, golf, high jump, and even ping pong. Yet, the college recruiters barely gave him a nod. Big programs like Oklahoma State didn’t even offer him a scholarship.
Why the snub? Some point to his promising baseball future, others to his unorthodox throwing style, and some to his lack of specialized quarterback training. “Football was a little bit more of a foreign language to him,” they said. But the Mahomes magic couldn’t be denied for long. He found a home at Texas Tech, drawn by coach Kliff Kingsbury and the dual-sport opportunity.
Fast forward to today: three Super Bowl wins, NFL records shattered, and a legacy in the making. Randi Mahomes‘ early doubts and Patrick’s multifaceted athletic journey have converged into a story of undeniable triumph. For every coach and recruiter who missed the boat, there’s a wistful glance back, wishing they’d seen the superstar in the making.
So, as Mahomes continues to scramble and dazzle, remember the wisdom of a mother who once thought, “I don’t think you’re supposed to do that.” Because sometimes, the best moves are the ones nobody sees coming.
