Patrick Mahomes Knows He Left Money on the Table to Reward His Teammates

As Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes went into contract negotiations with the team’s front office, he had years of experience on his side.

As Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes went into contract negotiations with the team’s front office, he had years of experience on his side.

Mahomes sought guidance from his father, Pat Mahomes, who played in the MLB from 1992-2003, and his godfather, former MLB pitcher LaTroy Hawkins, who had both gone through numerous financial discussions throughout their pro careers.

The 24-year-old quarterback said in a video conference with reporters July 7 that his two mentors helped him navigate through the talks.

“I think the biggest thing that they preached to me is kind of the same thing that I had already thought, and it was good just hear [it from] them, and it was that you want to have great players around you,” Mahomes said. “You don’t want to be a guy that takes up all of the money and then all of a sudden you’re having to find different guys that will take cheaper deals because those guys need to be rewarded as well. It’s not about one person and I truly believe that.”

Mahomes also recognized former Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith and the role that he played in his development. He also said the situation he was brought into in Kansas City helped him grow as a player and gain confidence.

“I understand that I have a bigger perspective to go out there and get the security that I want, but at the same time, reward the guys that have helped me be the person that I am, and be the player that I am,” Mahomes said. “I feel like with the contract and how it was done, I feel like I got both of those things. We’re going to be able to reward players and keep a lot of these guys around that have built the culture even before I was here, and at the same time, have the security that I know that my future generations will be able to have.”

Now, as the Chiefs have locked up DT Chris Jones, Mahomes' unique contract structure has already paid dividends for Kansas City.