MAHOMES

Patrick Mahomes' accolades on the field are well known. The 27-year-old Kansas City Chiefs quarterback has two Super Bowl rings (LIV and LVII), two Super Bowl MVP trophies, and two regular season NFL MVP trophies (2018 and 2022). Mahomes is also a five-time Pro Bowler, has led the NFL in passing touchdowns twice, and he is on pace - even ahead of Tom Brady - to setting career accomplishments in the shortest amount of career time.

Oh, it is also worth pointing out that Mahomes isn't even in his prime yet based on the age of previous Hall of Fame quarterbacks and when they peaked.

Another place where Mahomes is becoming an all-time great is in his charity work. Countless NFL players have their own charities, and most do outstanding work in their communities.

Mahomes is one such player, with his 15 and The Mahomies charity going from strength to strength to help those in need in Kansas City and beyond.

It is easy to assume that an NFL player - especially a star of Mahomes' magnitude - would be far too busy during the season to think of anything other than football (and recovery.) This is clearly not the case with Mahomes hosting his Third Annual 15 and the Mahomies Foundation Gala in December 2022. That gala saw over 25 charities given grants that totaled over $400,000, with Mahomes and his team as the face of the fundraising efforts.

It seems important to Mahomes that his foundation covers the work of many charities instead of funneling all the money collected into one pot. It is also essential to the quarterback that the charities have a specific focus, with his fundraising prioritizing charities that support health, wellness, and resourceneedy communities where the money will have the most significant impact.

The lesson from this is that you are never too busy to make a difference in the lives of those who need it most. For every State Farm commercial you see Mahomes on - and there are plenty of them - the quarterback is working in the shadows to up his fundraising potential.

Sure, Mahomes has the star power to help secure major donors, but that is nothing without the want he has to make a difference. It isn't about ego with Mahomes or being seen to do the right (expected) thing. He is a man who genuinely cares and understands that he is in a position to give back thanks to the gifts he has been blessed with on the football field.

The Walter Payton Man of the Year award is the NFL's way of supporting the charitable work of its players. Mahomes has yet to win the Payton MOTY - the 2022 trophy he was in the running for went to Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboysbut you can bet that this is an award Mahomes will feel he needs to complete his NFL collection.

With his combination of drive, passion, and desire to succeed, few would doubt that a Walter Payton trophy will one day be sitting in the trophy cabinet alongside Mahomes' evergrowing collection of NFL hardware.

Article by Steve Wright