The sustainable memory of Patrick Mahomes who left the 2024 NFL season is that he finally lost.
He failed.
This, rather than continuing its continuation of the record domination of Tom Brady’s Super Bowl and set an unprecedented brand by winning three consecutive championships, Mahomes failed. And not only failed because his team betrayed him, but because he played badly and was not what someone, including himself, expected.
Mahomes shows grace and class
The quarter of the Kansas City chiefs, Patrick Mahomes (15) and the Large Human Smith-Schuster (9) receiver, leave the field after a defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles during the NFL Super Bowl 59 football match , Sunday February 9, 2025, in New Orleans. (Photo / abbie parr)
So, yes, bitter disappointment.
And do you know how, in the midst of all this defeat, failure and disillusionment, Mahomes managed the moment?
Like a champion.
He took his blows, just like all the chiefs of Kansas City in this 40-22 final which was not really as close as the score, and managed it as an adult afterwards. Like a professional.
Like a winner.
Mahomes looked for the opposing quarter Jalen Hurts, shook his hand and made congratulations. He also shook his hand with a few other victorious players from Philadelphia, including the offensive tackle Lane Johnson, then he fled from the field.
Even Tom Brady did not manage that
February 4, 2018; Minneapolis, MN, United States; Confetti falls as the quarter of the Patriots of New England Tom Brady (12) leaves the field after the Super Bowl LII against the Eagles of Philadelphia at US Bank Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY SPORTS)
Nevermind?
Tom Brady did not shake hands with Nick Foles after the Eagles beat the patriots in the Super Bowl LII. Kyle Shanahan did not shake Andy Reid’s hand after the Super Bowl a year ago. This is the chic thing to do, but sometimes the pain and frustration of the moment wipe out the veneer of a good sporty spirit.
Because losing these games hurts. A lot. And Mahomes has now lost two, including one against Brady in the Super Bowl LV.
“Hmm, I mean, both draws,” said Mahomes. “There is no way to get around this. Whenever you lose a super bowl, this is the worst feeling of the world. They will remain with you the rest of your career.
“I mean, it will be the two losses that will motivate me to be even better for the rest of my career, because you get it so little, and you have to take advantage of it, and they probably hurt more than the victories are feel good. “
Let it marinate for a moment.
The losses arouse a more lasting feeling than victories. And yet, in the midst of this kind of personal emotional cataclysm, Mahomes came to the podium to face the journalists and answered about 14 questions with patience and class.
Mahomes responds to emotional cataclysm
The quarter of the Eagles of Philadelphia, Jalen, hurts (1) shakes his hand with the quarter of the chiefs of Kansas City, Patrick Mahomes (15) after the Super Bowl Lix in Caesars Superdome. (Images of Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn)
He spoke of Jalen Hurts winning everything.
He spoke of Travis Kelce who may have retired.
And he addressed his difficult exit by taking responsibility for the loss.
“I launched two interceptions,” said Mahomes. “I launched a pick-six, and I launched a choice that they returned to the 5 yards line, and they scored immediately afterwards, so when you give a 14-point team, especially a very good team Football, a Super Bowl football team, so few good things happen.
“And so, that is why I approach this loss more than probably all loss of my career, because I put us in a bad place, and even if we put statistics at the end of the game, these statistics Were not really matter, because I had already lost the momentum for this whole team. “
At the start of the Super Bowl week, Mahomes was asked several times about his faith. And he boldly proclaims his faith in Jesus Christ. He spoke openly about God.
He said he wanted to use Jesus as an example of the way of living his life.
And, predictable, the enemies said it was easy to do when your team won 15 of the 17 regular season games and two qualifying games after that. It is easy to be close to God when the breeze of the consecutive victories of the Super Bowl is on his back.
Mahomes thanks God even in defeat
The quarter of the Kansas City chiefs, Patrick Mahomes (15) reacts from the touch in the second half against the Eagles of Philadelphia in the Super Bowl Lix with Superdome Ceasars. (Images Stephen Lew-Imagn)
But what about difficult times?
Where was the god of the quarter of a quarter on Sunday evening when he was dismissed six times? And where did this game waste leave Mahomas and his professed faith?
The answer to the two questions is exactly where everything was before the match.
God apparently allowed the leaders to take one on the chin. They say that the setbacks are a configuration for a comeback. I believe it is in the Gospels somewhere because Jesus underwent an unspeakable punishment on the cross on Friday and died, but did not stay very long.
Sunday’s big victory has surely come.
Mahomes, meanwhile, thanked God after the loss of Kansas City. He thanked God “for every opportunity he gave me”.
This does not change the fact that the Eagles were better. This does not change the fact that Mahomes returned home with an L.
But this loss has not changed the fact that Mahomes took the back as a champion.
