Patrick Mahomes Credits Ian Book’s Ability to Eat Pizza For Building Chiefs Culture

Book got Kevin McCallister'd.
Jul 26, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Ian Book (2) and quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) walk down the hill from the locker room to the fields prior to training camp at Missouri Western State University. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 26, 2024; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Ian Book (2) and quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) walk down the hill from the locker room to the fields prior to training camp at Missouri Western State University. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports / Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

The Kansas City Chiefs are coming off back-to-back Super Bowl championships. They've played in the AFC Championship Game in six straight seasons. Patrick Mahomes is just trying to keep things fresh in training camp. Sometimes that means everyone goes out for pizza.

Enter Ian Book. The former Notre Dame quarterback was drafted in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL draft by the New Orleans Saints. He's spent some time with the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles before signing a deal with the Chiefs in January. During his first camp with Kansas City, he's making an impression.

Book completed 8-of-9 passes in the team's first preseason game. At at some point, according to Mahomes, he also ate nine pieces of pizza. The team goes out for pizza together multiple times during camp. During their first outing, Book got boxed out. When they went back, he tasted glory.

"I think Ian Book had like, nine pieces of pizza yesterday," Mahomes said. "I had to calm him down, because the first time we went, the O-Line, he only got one piece because the O-Line ate all his pizza. He went in this last day. So, stuff like that is where you build that bond, and then you got those jokes and stuff for the rest of the year. That's what builds the great culture that we have."

Basically, Ian Book got Kevin McCallister'd. And the story of his revenge pie will create a bond that will carry the Chiefs right back to another Super Bowl. And if they win? Forget the parade and have a pizza party. Is it too soon to Book It?

feed


Published |Modified
Stephen Douglas

STEPHEN DOUGLAS

Stephen Douglas is a Senior Writer on the Breaking & Trending News Team at Sports Illustrated. He has been in journalism and media since 2008, and now casts a wide net with coverage across all sports. Stephen spent more than a decade with The Big Lead and has previously written for Uproxx and The Sporting News. He has three children, two degrees and one now unverified Twitter account.