Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is preparing to make his third career Super Bowl appearance next week.
During an interview with «First Things First,» Mahomes reflected on Tom Brady’s unprecedented career.
He also talked about what it was like playing the AFC title game with an ankle injury and how the Chiefs’ offense was able to adjust throughout this season without star receiver Tyreek Hill.
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Quarterback Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs to a 27-20 victory over Jacksonville in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
(Tammy Ljungblad/The Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
«I think it did in a way. It just helped me evolve as a quarterback in general,» Mahomes admitted when asked if Hill’s departure helped his development. «I’ve been a guy who wanted to shoot a deep shot every time. Coach Reid would always joke with me about it. He’d call routes to shoot under routes and then on the other side they’d put a deep shot for good measure.»
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He also spoke about Tom Brady’s decision to retire.
«He’s got a little bit of that Jordan in him. That will to win and that will to be the best. I think that’s what makes Tom so good. Even if he doesn’t have the best arm or the best mobility, he’s still really good. on both.»
Mahomes added that he aspires to be at Brady’s level one day.
«He’s the GOAT, and someone I want to try to chase, but I know he’s too far away for me, and I just have to keep winning football games.»
Tom Brady of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, left, and Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs speak after Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 7, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers defeated the Chiefs 31-9.
(Mike Ehrman/Getty Images)
During Kansas City’s 23-20 win over the Bengals in the AFC title game, Mahomes was hit late by a defender as he was running out of bounds.
Defensive tackle Joseph Ossai was called for unnecessary roughness. The 15-yard penalty set up kicker Harrison Butker’s 45-yard field goal in the final seconds of the game.
An anonymous NFL coach later accused Mahomes of failing in an effort to draw a flag.
«That’s what the owners want, $40 million skill players lying on the ground,» an NFC defensive coach told The Athletic, «getting fouls from chemistry teachers, medical device vendors and the like.»
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a pass to running back Jerick McKinnon (1) during the first half of the AFC Championship game against the Cincinnati Bengals on January 30, 2022 in Kansas City , Missouri.
(AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Mahomes shrugged off the accusation when asked about it Thursday.
«The thing that hurt the most was stopping. So once he pushed me, it would have been hard to put my foot down and try to stop. So I got over it,» Mahomes said, via The Kansas City Star’s Jesse Newell. . .
«You get there with the heaters and the benches and the people. That’s where, a lot of times, people get hurt. I think that’s why there’s a flag for being pushed out of bounds so late.»
The high ankle sprain suffered by the MVP favorite during the divisional round of the playoffs likely won’t heal next Sunday. But Mahomes was able to fight off the injury in the AFC championship game.
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He acknowledged that before last week’s game he thought he was going to be able to move around and get out of the pocket when necessary despite the injury.
«I thought I was going to be able to run straight and not make a lot of cuts, especially this last game, just because of how my ankle felt. And I think you saw that throughout the game. There were a couple of times I tried to run, and I didn’t I went nowhere,» Mahomes told FOX Sports.