After the play, Mahomes came to the sideline and made a bold statement to Reid. According to various…
It’s hard to imagine anyone doubting Patrick Mahomes today. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback has already cemented his legacy as one of the NFL’s most electrifying talents, with two Super Bowl rings, multiple MVP awards, and countless jaw-dropping plays. But there was a time, early in his career, when even Chiefs head coach Andy Reid couldn’t fully comprehend the magnitude of what he had in his young quarterback. There’s a famous story that illustrates this doubt, and it revolves around something Mahomes said during a game — something Reid couldn’t quite believe at the time.
The moment in question came early in Mahomes’ career, during his first season as a starter in 2018. The Chiefs were taking on the Denver Broncos, and the game was a fierce back-and-forth battle. Mahomes was already beginning to show flashes of brilliance, but even so, Reid hadn’t yet seen the full extent of his young quarterback’s abilities.
During a crucial moment in the game, Mahomes made one of the most improbable plays of his career. Scrambling to his left and being chased down by Broncos defenders, he suddenly switched the ball to his left hand and threw a completion to Tyreek Hill. It was the kind of move that defied football logic — and something most coaches would tell their quarterbacks never to do.
After the play, Mahomes came to the sideline and made a bold statement to Reid. According to various reports, Mahomes told his coach, “I’ve got this.” The young quarterback’s confidence was striking, but for Reid, it was hard to process in the heat of the moment. Could this kid, in just his first full season as a starter, really have “got this”?
Andy Reid, who had been coaching in the NFL for decades and had worked with some of the game’s best quarterbacks — from Brett Favre to Donovan McNabb — was understandably skeptical. While Reid is known for his offensive creativity and his ability to develop quarterbacks, even he couldn’t fully grasp the limits of Mahomes’ abilities at that point.
Mahomes wasn’t just a typical young quarterback trying to find his way in the NFL. His blend of athleticism, arm strength, and football IQ was something entirely different. Reid had coached talented quarterbacks before, but none of them had the same unique mix of skills that Mahomes brought to the field. As the season progressed, Mahomes continued to back up his confident statement with spectacular performances week after week, and Reid began to realize just how special his young signal-caller was.
By the end of the 2018 season, Mahomes had thrown for over 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns, a feat that had only been accomplished by two other quarterbacks in NFL history — Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. The Chiefs’ offense was virtually unstoppable, and Mahomes was the primary reason why.
Reid’s skepticism, however brief, had transformed into complete trust in his quarterback. That trust was rewarded the following season when Mahomes led the Chiefs to their first Super Bowl victory in 50 years. In the years since, the bond between Reid and Mahomes has only grown stronger. Mahomes has often credited Reid for his development, praising his coach’s offensive schemes and the trust Reid has placed in him to make plays.
Reid, for his part, has spoken about how coaching Mahomes has allowed him to push the boundaries of his offensive creativity. With Mahomes at the helm, Reid has been able to design plays that simply wouldn’t be possible with other quarterbacks. Mahomes’ ability to make throws from unconventional angles, his mobility, and his quick decision-making have opened up a world of possibilities for the Chiefs’ offense.
The left-handed throw against Denver was just one of many moments that have defined Mahomes’ career so far. Since then, he’s made no-look passes, 60-yard bombs on the run, and improbable comebacks in playoff games that seemed all but lost. And through it all, Mahomes has maintained the same confidence that he displayed when he told Reid, “I’ve got this.”
Looking back, it’s easy to see why Reid might have doubted Mahomes’ words in that moment. NFL coaches are trained to be cautious, to avoid risk at all costs. The play Mahomes made — throwing with his non-dominant hand while being chased by defenders — goes against everything coaches typically teach. But Mahomes isn’t like other quarterbacks, and Reid, to his credit, was quick to recognize that.
Today, the relationship between Mahomes and Reid is one of the most successful quarterback-coach partnerships in NFL history. They’ve won multiple Super Bowls together, and Mahomes has consistently been among the top quarterbacks in the league under Reid’s guidance. Their success is a testament to both Mahomes’ talent and Reid’s willingness to adapt his coaching style to suit his quarterback’s unique abilities.
The story of Andy Reid’s initial skepticism about Mahomes’
