Football fans can be forgiven for thinking Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is indestructible.
In the course of his seven-year career, after all, he's shrugged off a handful of minor injuries to lead the Chiefs to three AFC titles and two Super Bowl championships.
On Saturday, however, the NFL world learned that even Mahomes is not immune to the occasional freak equipment malfunction.
With 9:25 left in the third quarter of Kansas City's wild-card showdown with the Miami Dolphins, Mahomes escaped the pocket and broke around right end for the Dolphins' goal line. He was met by Miami safety DeShon Elliott at the Dolphins' 3-yard line, and Elliott struck Mahomes with such force it sent a piece of his helmet flying off.
A piece of Patrick Mahomes' helmet came flying off. 😮 pic.twitter.com/m2bFObIhnq
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) January 14, 2024
Mahomes headed to the sideline for a spare helmet, but not before displaying a black chip in his damaged helmet to Peacock's cameras.
Patrick Mahomes got his helmet cracked after a tackle 😲 pic.twitter.com/b2mZo7dY3L
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) January 14, 2024
To think people believed the only breakable object in Arrowhead Stadium Saturday would be the ice covering the field.
