There was a time when Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes appeared to be an unstoppable, indestructible force. You entirely expected gaudy, video game numbers and inhuman throws every game. Over the past couple of years, however, things have changed.
Mahomes has looked a heck of a lot more mortal since 2023, particularly last season when he looked completely discombobulated in the Chiefs’ blowout Super Bowl loss at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles.
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From a statistical perspective, Mahomes has been decidedly pedestrian the last two seasons. He totaled 53 passing touchdowns and 25 interceptions between 2023 and 2024, posting passer ratings of 92.6 and 93.5, respectively.
So, what exactly has happened to the man who had previously been a human highlight reel? Well, an NFL coach has exposed one major problem for Mahomes: his footwork.
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“If you’re trying to teach footwork to a quarterback, you don’t turn on his tape because it’s such a backyard style,” the coach said, via Jeff Howe of The Athletic. “He’s so talented that he gets away with it, but last year his feet were the worst they’d been in years, and it was hurting him. Before that, it didn’t matter; he could throw from anywhere.”
The coach went on to say that he felt Mahomes would “have a better year” in 2025, but there is no question that Mahomes’ sudden decline over the last couple of campaigns has been alarming.
It won’t get any easier for Mahomes over the first month-and-a-half of the upcoming season, either, as he will be without top wide receiver Rashee Rice, who will be serving a six-game suspension.
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Now, on the bright side, Mahomes will have Marquise Brown right out of the gate this year, and Xavier Worthy appears to be a potential breakout candidate.
We’ll see if Mahomes can bounce back and re-establish himself as the unquestioned quarterback king, because right now, his peers are gaining on him.
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