When the Kansas City Chiefs announced their new offensive coordinator hire this offseason, there was one person who was definitely smiling: Patrick Mahomes. The move signaled a commitment to keeping their generational quarterback comfortable and supported - something that matters even more as Mahomes rehabs from an injury that could shape how the Chiefs approach the coming months.
But if there's one thing we've learned about Mahomes over the years, it’s this - doubt him at your own risk.
Just ask Kirk Herbstreit. The longtime college football analyst recently admitted on This is Football that he didn’t see this version of Mahomes coming when the quarterback was slinging it around at Texas Tech.
“I guess I could go back to Mahomes,” Herbstreit said when asked which college QB surprised him most in the NFL. “I mean, he’s the most obvious one.
I’ve done college football for 30 years. If you would've told me that Mahomes is gonna be that when he was at Texas Tech...
I thought he’d be a good player, but I never really imagined him becoming what he is.”
What he is, of course, is nothing short of historic. Mahomes has racked up a 17-4 postseason record, three Super Bowl rings, and three Super Bowl MVPs.
His playoff touchdown-to-interception ratio? A jaw-dropping 46 to 10.
These aren’t just great numbers - they’re legacy-defining.
So how did so many people miss what was right in front of them?
Back in his draft profile, Mahomes was seen as a high-upside prospect with a lot of raw tools but plenty of red flags. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein described him as “a big, confident quarterback” with impressive physical gifts but a lack of polish.
“Mahomes’ ability to improvise and extend plays can lead to big plays,” Zierlein wrote. “Mahomes will be a work in progress.”
And then came the list of concerns - the kind that might make a scout hesitate:
- Inconsistent in his approach
- Needed more discipline within the structure of an offense
- Too eager to chase the deep ball
- Tendency to play “playground football”
- Struggled to find rhythm within a system
Now, in hindsight, that sounds like a scouting report for a quarterback who would go on to break the system. Everything that was once labeled a weakness - his improvisation, his aggressiveness, his refusal to color inside the lines - has become the hallmark of his greatness.
Mahomes didn’t just overcome the doubts. He weaponized them.
And now, as he enters another pivotal offseason, the Chiefs are doing their part to make sure he’s set up for more success. The new offensive coordinator hire gives Mahomes continuity and control - two things that matter deeply to a quarterback who thrives on feel and chemistry.
Yes, he’s dealing with an injury. And yes, the offseason brings questions - about the roster, the cap, and the next chapter of this dynasty.
But if history tells us anything, it’s that Patrick Mahomes isn’t just built to meet expectations. He’s built to shatter them.
So go ahead and doubt him again. Just don’t be surprised when he makes you eat your words.