Updated: Mar 22
2014 was the year Patrick Mahomes had the privilege to hear his name called in the MLB draft, on his way to being a Detroit Tiger. 11 years later he would play in his fifth Super Bowl, destined to complete the Three-peat, and continue his quest to become the games greatest ever player.
Without baseball, who knows where Patrick Mahomes may have ended up, and who knows how different the game of football may have been.
On Sunday the 9th of February, Patrick Mahomes will play in his fifth Super Bowl, and take on the challenge of winning three in a row, but who knew a once top 10 baseball recruit could be one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks of all time. There are many NFL QBs who have had their name called in the MLB draft, but only two have stood out in NFL history. Tom Brady, and Patrick Mahomes. It's strange to think how different the game could have been if both of these quarterbacks hadn't played baseball prior to their football career, and how the landscape of the NFL could have been if both decided to commit to the MLB.
Differently from Brady, Mahomes came from a family of baseball players. His father Pat Mahomes, played for six Major League Baseball teams during his 11 year career, and had a mission to raise his son Patrick Mahomes the second, to be the next great Mahomes baseball player. In 2014, Pat’s dream came true when his son was drafted in the 37th round of the MLB draft by the Detroit Tigers, and Patrick Mahomes II would start his baseball journey. Patrick was named the Maxpreps male athlete of the year for 2013-14, and was tipped to be a great baseball player, with an extremely strong arm and high knowledge of the game he was destined for a long baseball career.
Although whilst being a draft eligible prospect in baseball, Patrick also played football in high school, and was named a three star recruit, earning himself a scholarship offer from Texas Tech, where his football career started. When Patrick did not sign his MLB contract with the Tigers, it wasn't a shock, as his desire for football went way back to his freshman high school days, but pursued baseball as it helped him improve as a QB.
After a three year college career, Mahomes declared for the 2017 NFL draft, being ranked the fourth best quarterback in his class, arguably one of the biggest underestimations in NFL history. The Chiefs traded up with the Bills in the first round to get the 10th overall selecting Mahomes, but little did Buffalo know, they were the architects of their own downfall, and lighted a much bigger fire than expected.
Five years on from the draft, Patrick Mahomes, once a 37th round MLB draft prospect, is set to play in his fifth Super Bowl, and will aim to win the coveted Three-peat, and cement his legacy in NFL history. Little did Patrick, Patrick the first, and the Kansas City Chiefs know he would become arguably the greatest quarterback of all time.
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