NFL Put on Notice After Patrick Mahomes’ Latest Viral Golf Clip

The bond between future Hall of Fame quarterback Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid is among the tightest in professional sports, with the two able to get in lockstep on important issues and even featuring together in their television advertising campaigns.

So when Mahomes posted video, just a few months removed from major knee surgery that ended his only Chiefs season not to produce a division title, of him driving a golf ball wearing just what appeared to be sleeve on his left leg and smashing it down the fairway, the NFL noticed. If it looked like a statement of intent about Mahomes’s ability to prosper and thrive despite having knee ligaments repaired late in the season, that’s because it was.

We had already heard from sources in Kansas City and several close to Reid that Mahomes had attacked his rehab with his usual zest and was well ahead of schedule. 

And while the team was going to be careful with him during spring practice there was as strong sense he would be able to have a normal enough training camp to be ready to start Week 1, HYPER. The release of this video basically served as confirmation of it, with former Chiefs QB Chase Daniel among those taking note.

Did The Rest Of The League Notice?

“That's Big Red (Andy Reid) letting everybody know his guy is back,” said one longtime NFL personnel executive who has a long history with Reid. 

“That was for (Broncos coach) Sean Payton and (Chargers coach) Jim Harbaugh. Looked like a pretty good drive to me.”

One NFL general manager said: “Yeah I saw it (the video). He’s going to play in the opener, isn’t he?”

Yeah, he is.

Mahomes could transfer weight and attack the ball, and while some of his movements may have been slightly stiff, there are still over three full months before the Chiefs begin their season. 

There is always the possibility for a setback, but Kansas City devoted significant resources into rebuilding its defense to take pressure off Mahomes from having to score as many points to win, and Reid could also lean more into the run game early in the season to bring Mahomes along.

Mahomes had to activate his legs more than usual a year ago with the run game struggling and with a suspect redzone and goal-to-go offense and his legs vital to extending drives. That could be curtailed some in the first half of the season as well. 

Undoubtedly, Mahomes will be more back to a truly elite level physically in 2027 than he will be next year, but it continued to look like the Chiefs will have him when the season opens.

The Chiefs are still a strong plus-money option to win the AFC West, though that might not be the case by the summer.