Commander IN CHIEF

Patrick Mahomes, star quarterback for the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs, talks about his life lessons, friendships, inspirations and much more...

- NICOLAS STECHER, JORDAN RIEFE

In 2019, quarterback Patrick Mahomes of Tyler, Texas USA, led the Kansas City Chiefs to their first Super Bowl appearance in 50 years. They defeated the San Francisco 49ers, and Mahomes was named Super Bowl MVP, only the second Black quarterback and the youngest ever to take home the honor.

A 10-year contract extension with a potential worth of US$503 million (the third-largest in sporting history), was his reward. It was money well spent as he took his team to the Super Bowl again the following year, this time against the Tom Brady-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers. When Mahomes emerged from the locker room after a gruelling 31-9 loss, he was stunned to find Brady waiting outside the door. “The biggest thing he said was, ‘Stay with the process and be who you are,” as Mahomes told Heavy.com.

“He didn’t want me to change at all. He wanted me to go out there and take advantage of every single day. When you hear it from a guy like that, who’s had the success at the level that he’s had for his entire career, you know you’ve got to take advantage of every single day if you want to be great.”