Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs spent much of this offseason hearing about how they’re on the decline in the NFL. So, in true Patrick Mahomes fashion, he treated Week 1’s game against the Arizona Cardinals as his own personal rebuttal.
But for all that Mahomes does on the field, his quality as a teammate may be one of his more overlooked skills. He put that on display on Sunday.
With the Chiefs already up big on the Cardinals, rookie running back Isiah Pacheco effectively put the game away with a three-yard touchdown run. And in Pacheco’s excitement from scoring his first-career NFL touchdown, he chucked the ball against the wall at State Farm Stadium. Not to worry, though, because Mahomes was all over it.
WELCOME TO THE LEAGUE, POP 👏
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/xbc9o8yxqw
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) September 11, 2022
With zero hesitation, Mahomes ran to the spot and retrieved the football for Pacheco to take back to Kansas City with him. Once Mahomes had the ball, he went over to Pacheco to celebrate.
It was an easy moment to overlook, but Chiefs fans certainly took notice to Mahomes’ leadership there.
This was how Twitter reacted
mahomes grabbing the ball for him gave me the chills!!! pop deserves everything coming to him, kid is so passionate! https://t.co/QJmxiwdebk
— John Guaimano (@john_guaimano5) September 12, 2022
If you ever needed further confirmation of why Patrick Mahomes is the best teammate on the planet, check out this video. He runs to retrieve the ball that Isiah Pacheco spiked so that Pacheco could keep the ball he scored his first NFL Touchdown with.
Just awesome 👏👏 https://t.co/JvIrauBu5p
— Let’s Chat Chiefs (@LetsChatChiefs) September 12, 2022
How 'bout Mahomes' presence of mind here to run down the ball for Pacheco? https://t.co/L89StGya9I
— Vahe Gregorian (@vgregorian) September 11, 2022
Pat just went & got Pop a souvenir. https://t.co/j3DVEPpBrK
— KINGDOM JEFF ❤️🏈🏹💛 (@Magic_Mahomes) September 12, 2022
Clyde with the celly, Mahomes gets the ball. This team rocks. https://t.co/3N0v5fVNrf
— EN (@McHughIan) September 12, 2022
QB1 running over to get his ball 😭😭 https://t.co/jRgP2RQQAG
— Eric Biddlecombe (@EJBiddlecombe) September 12, 2022
I hope I don’t ever see someone say Mahomes doesn’t exemplify “team.” He ran to grab the TD ball so teammate would have a special piece of his journey in the league.
All. Class. #ChiefsKingdom https://t.co/MuYJd6tXPJ
— Pelón (@Mount_Baldy) September 12, 2022
This is why @PatrickMahomes is a good teammate. He goes and grabs Pacheco’s first TD & gives it to him.
Just a cool thing to see. #ChiefsKingdom https://t.co/feoVi9juxj
— Justin Love (@Jlove__) September 12, 2022
The best part of this highlight is not Pacheco, a rookie 7th round running back celebrating his first NFL touchdown, but Patrick Mahomes going out of his way to grab the football to make sure he has it as a souvenir later. I love this team. https://t.co/5aewOmJk1j
— greggwinsor (@greggwinsor) September 12, 2022
Leadership: in the 4Q of a blowout, sprinting to grab the ball for a first TD keepsake for your rookie backup running back. https://t.co/XugGN68zH7
— Joshua Collins (@joshjcollins) September 12, 2022
Mahomes is an amazing player and arguably even better teammate. You can’t not like him. https://t.co/aHWJNxSmqS
— Aidan🎗Win It For Zeke🎗 (@MixonMania) September 12, 2022
That’s my quarterback. https://t.co/vSgruQ4Hi0
— Robert G. Alberino Jr (@Robertalberino) September 12, 2022
That’s exactly what you love to see from a teammate.
