The Kansas City Chiefs are riding high after securing their second consecutive Super Bowl championship in 2023. This remarkable feat has solidified their status as a dominant force in the NFL. However, as the team gears up for another season, quarterback Patrick Mahomes acknowledges that it wasn't all smooth sailing last season. "The end result [last season] was awesome, but I think a lot of us still have a weird feeling in our mouth. It wasn't fun every single week having to try to just continue to get better and better and the results not paying off the way you wanted to," Mahomes remarked.
Offseason Moves and Training Camp
With an eye towards improving their offensive performance, the Chiefs have been busy during the offseason. They added two lightning-fast wide receivers to their lineup: free agent Marquise Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy. Worthy, who made headlines at the scouting combine by running a record-setting 4.21-second 40-yard dash, brings a new level of speed to the team. Unfortunately, a nagging hamstring injury sidelined the rookie for much of the offseason practice sessions.
The Chiefs have reported to training camp at Missouri Western State University. While quarterbacks and rookies began their preparations on Wednesday, the full team is set to join on Sunday. Mahomes emphasized the importance of this period, saying, "We're back at St. Joe. It's time to get better. Every season starts differently. You've got to come in with that same mentality you had the year before, even with a higher intensity."
Preparing for the Upcoming Season
Mahomes also spoke about the competitive nature of the training camp and the high expectations placed on every player, especially rookies like Worthy. "There's no easing [him in]. He's going to have to be ready to go. We got a lot of competition on this offense. He got a lot of mental work in these last few weeks that he had during OTAs and minicamp, but it's time to go now," Mahomes stated. Reflecting on the rigorous nature of the camp, he added, "Y'all saw it with Rashee [Rice] last year and some of the throwing-up days he had. We're going to push you to the limit and prepare yourself to be ready to go for the season."
The addition of speed to the offensive lineup is not just for show; it’s a strategic move to sharpen the team’s edge. "We added a lot of speed. What's better than going against our defense? It's the best defense in the NFL and we get to go against them every single day and really show where we're at and how we can get better," Mahomes pointed out.
Balancing Family and Football
Off the field, Mahomes and his wife Brittany are expanding their family, expecting their third child. Balancing personal and professional life is a task Mahomes seems to handle with grace. "It's awesome. I always wanted to have kids young. I got to grow up in the locker room. I think I've talked about it before and it made such an impact in my life and so I wanted to have kids young and we're having our third kid now to join our family," he shared. Mahomes expressed immense pride in how his wife manages their growing family, while also ensuring they enjoy life. "Brittany does a great job of doing that and we still go out and enjoy our life and let our kids see these great things they might not be able to remember but we have videos of. It is really cool. I spend so much time in the building at football for these seven, eight months and whenever I'm with my family, I want to enjoy those moments," he said, adding with a chuckle, "I'm done. I'll say that. I said three and I'm done."
As the Chiefs prepare for another season, the blend of new talent, rigorous training, and the leadership of Mahomes aims to propel them to yet another successful campaign. Despite the challenges and the grind, the Kansas City Chiefs are set on delivering top-notch performances, both on and off the field. The journey starts now at St. Joe's, with eyes firmly set on another championship run.