Winning isn’t everything, but man, it sure stings when you don’t. Vince Lombardi had a point when he said, “Winning is not everything. But making the effort to win is.” Let’s try telling that to Kansas City after the ‘so close, yet so far’ season they just had. The scars of battle don’t fade easily, and even Patrick Mahomes isn’t immune to the weight of a loss.
After a championship showdown where he took six sacks from the Eagles’ defense, Mahomes didn’t sugarcoat it. “Want to give thanks to God for every opportunity he has given me. We will be back.” Classic Mahomes. A fighter, always ready for another round.
Fast forward a month, and Chiefs linebacker Leo Chenal is echoing the sentiment. He took to Instagram, not just to thank his teammates and fans, but to remind everyone that adversity isn’t something you run from—it’s something you face head-on. “Been a while… but thank you to my family, my teammates and coaches, the fans, and everyone who supported me this season. Adversity is just a part of it, and I love the process that it takes to avoid it at all cost! Gonna just keep rollin! Excited for next season with the Red Kingdom. Go Chiefs!”
This is your John Cena, Kingdom. So, obviously, his words would scream determination… Didn’t get the reference? Okay, no worries. Let’s rewind to November, and Mahomes himself was hyping up Chenal after the linebacker came up huge in a gritty 16-14 win over the Broncos.
That game saw him muscle his way to a blocked field goal, and Mahomes wasn’t shy about giving him his flowers. “He’s extremely strong. He’s like the strength of a D-lineman but he plays the linebacker position. You don’t want to be that guy on the end when he’s working out. We call him John Cena.” Now, KC’s very own Cena has spoken. And he’s not done.
The Chiefs are rolling into the 2025 NFL season with a mix of optimism and a laundry list of challenges. Travis Kelce has confirmed he’s sticking around, driven by his love for the game (and let’s be honest, the paycheck isn’t bad either). But even he knows the team needs reinforcements, especially with key names heading into free agency. No time to rest when the AFC is only getting tougher.
Then there’s Andy Reid, never one to dwell on the past. The head coach made it crystal clear that last season is dead and buried. It’s all about the now, and the Chiefs are full speed ahead. “We’ll learn from this… You learn from it as a coach, you learn from it as a player, and you move on.” That’s the spirit, eh? But that’s bare minimum if the Chiefs wanna go all-in with the idea of ‘Patrick Mahomes’ Revenge Tour’. As for Pat? He’s turning the page to the new season with lessons for next generation.
Patrick Mahomes takes up the role of an educator for the young generation
Being an elite quarterback is one thing. Being an inspiration beyond the gridiron? That’s next level. Patrick Mahomes has taken his influence to a whole new… bookshelves. YES! His journey, from a determined young athlete to one of the most phenomenon QB in NFL history, is now the subject of a children’s book aimed at teaching kids valuable life lessons.
So, the Mahomians can gloat that their #15 isn’t just throwing TDs anymore, he’s throwing wisdom, one page at a time. This book is about perseverance, discipline, and chasing greatness. It gives young readers a front-row seat to the highs and lows of Mahomes’ career, from his early struggles to hoisting Lombardi trophies. And let’s be real, if there’s one quarterback kids should be taking notes from, it’s PM 15.
The book also highlights how Mahomes handled the weight of early success. It’s easy to look at his meteoric rise and think it was all smooth sailing, but Mahomes details the grind, the setbacks, and the relentless work it took to get there. For young athletes dreaming big, this is the blueprint. And for parents hoping to instill values of hard work and resilience? Well, Mahomes just made their job a little easier.
This move puts Mahomes in a unique category—one of the rare generational athletes who use their platform to inspire beyond the sport. The NFL once dominated youth culture, especially in the ’80s and ’90s when quarterbacks were marketed like superheroes. With the current QB debates hotter than ever, maybe Mahomes’ book is a wake-up call for other NFL stars to follow suit.
Imagine a league-wide effort to engage young fans through storytelling—now that’s a play worth running. At the end of the day, in a world where screens dominate attention spans, getting kids to read about sports could be the first step in getting them to play. Talk about a winning start to the season after an SB heartache? Yup, this sounds like a win to me.
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