Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes believes he has learned from his defeat against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers two years ago as he prepares to face the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII on Sunday.
Not many players have experienced a surge to sporting relevancy like the Chiefs quarterback. After sitting for almost all of his rookie year, Mahomes was named MVP as a sophomore and hasn’t looked back, winning the Super Bowl a year later and reaching the game twice more.
His second trip to the Super Bowl was more frustrating than the first. Mahomes put in an admirable performance behind a porous offensive line as much of his teammates struggled, with the Chiefs failing to get going while the Tom Brady-led offence and the Buccaneers defence dominated large portions of the contest to run out 31-9 winners.
However, Mahomes is back under the bright lights of the Super Bowl for the third time in his young career. When asked by Mirror Sport how he has evolved his game and mentality since the defeat to Brady’s Buccaneers, Mahomes said: “I have a better perspective of how to manage the game - I think that’s the biggest thing.
“Whenever stuff’s not going my way, let’s not compound things and just find ways to get the little positive plays and get things going back in our direction. That’s just stuff you learn over time; how to prevent negative plays, so that’s where I think I’ve changed most.”
Mahomes is the ultimate leader. He is selfless, humble and willing to put everything on the line in order to lead his Chiefs to victory. It has helped him secure five successive home AFC Championship clashes, along with three trips to the Super Bowl.
He is looking to win his second ring on Sunday but when it comes to the legacy he intends to leave behind, Mahomes is not thinking about success and silverware. He simply yearns for the respect from his teammates and rivals.
“I just want to be known as someone who left it all on the field,” Mahomes added. “At the end of the day, I want my teammates to look back on the player I am and know that I gave everything I have and all the other stuff will handle itself.
“You can’t control Super Bowls, you can’t control MVPs, but you can control your effort every single day so that’s what I’m going to focus on and hopefully when guys look back, they’ll say I gave everything I had.”
It is clear Mahomes won’t have to wait for his teammates to match the hopes he holds for his own legacy. Jerrick McKinnon has enjoyed an incredible surge to the from of his life in 2022 playing alongside Mahomes - and he instantly validated his quarterback’s desire.
“Pat’s been playing hurt for the last two games, so when it’s all said and done, that’s definitely what his teammates will say about him - outside of being one of the greatest of all time,” McKinnon exclusively told Mirror Sport. “To be a part of this team and play with a guy like that, it’s amazing.”
By the end of the week, Mahomes could be a two-time NFL MVP as well as a two-time Super Bowl champion at 27 years of age. It’s safe to say his legacy could see him recognised as one of the all-time greats as McKinnon so firmly believes.
