“As a teenager, Patrick Mahomes was bullied. His voice sounded as if he had a frog in his neck, blaspheming his classmates. Mahomes quickly got away with the little-charming nickname “Kermit.” Even today, the 24-year-old quarterback is compared to the poison-green frog from the “Muppet Show”.
But because Mahomes developed into one of the greatest football talents in the United States during his time at Texas Tech University and has dominated the NFL with his strong throwing arm since 2017, the insults turned into admiration. Kermit with the cannon arm is considered by many to be the flagship of the league.
The Kansas City Chiefs have now awarded the NFL’s most important player with the heaviest contract in the world. Mahomes and the reigning Super Bowl champion agreed to a 10-year contract that would cost him half a billion dollars at best. It is the contract with the largest maximum possible total volume in U.S. sports history.
Contract runs until 2031
“We stay together. For a long time,” read a video clip of scenes from Mahomes, which he shared on Twitter after the deal was announced. “We are hunting a dynasty.” Mahomes will remain with the Chiefs in Missouri until at least the 2031 season.
According to concurring information from several US media outlets, Mahomes will receive 477 million dollars (approximately 421.3 million euros) over the years, which can grow to up to 503 million dollars (about 444 million euros) through bonuses – 140 million dollars (about 123.6 million euros) are guaranteed to him under all circumstances and even in the event of a long-term injury.
The throwing and running quarterback, who also has a photographic memory, surpasses previous record holder Mike Trout for the highest contract of any athlete. The baseball player signed with the Los Angeles Angels for 12 years last year and is earning a total of 426.5 million dollars (about 376.5 million euros).
Mahomes is committed to fighting racism
Mahomes is the youngest quarterback in NFL history to win the Superbowl (2019 season) and the best player of a season (2018) before his 25th birthday. In February, he led the Chiefs to a 31-20 win over the San Francisco 49ers in the final in Miami, even though his team had 10 points in the final quarter. The upcoming season is his fourth in the best football league in the world.
Like Deshaun Watson of the Houston Texans and Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens, Mahomes is a representative of the new young generation of black quarterbacks who interpret their position differently from, say, six-time champion Tom Brady. Not only can you throw well, but you are also dangerous as a running player.
The hitherto scandal-free and widely respected professional had also recently taken a clear position against racism and was part of the video of black football players accusing the NFL of mistakes in dealing with the issue and forcing the league to act. It was only after Mahomes’s forceful words that league boss Roger Goodell is said to have taken a stand.
