Patrick Mahomes offered a quiet show of support to Tucker Franklin after the Kansas City podcaster shared heartbreaking news about his father’s death.
Franklin, who hosts the That Football Show podcast on the KC Sports Network, had been expecting to spend this month focused on the Chiefs. Instead, he posted on X last week that his father, Doug Franklin, had died.
“My dad, Doug Franklin, suddenly and unexpectedly passed away,” Franklin wrote.
“He was a great father, phenomenal husband, and an amazing man. The only thing he loved more than the Kansas City Royals was his family. He will be greatly missed.
“It’s easy in times like these to be upset by all the things you didn’t get to experience. I’m crushed and devastated.
“Life is not fair but in these unfair moments, I’m choosing to be thankful for the 28 years I had with a man I was honored to call my father. Though, it should’ve been more.
“Thank you, Dad.”
Franklin later pointed readers to Doug Franklin’s online obituary.
Mahomes, who saw Franklin’s post, reached out privately through an X direct message. In the message, the Chiefs quarterback wrote, “Praying for your family man,” Mahomes wrote last Monday.
“Chiefs and chiefskingdom is with you. 🙏”
Franklin then shared a screenshot of the DM and added, “I think it’s easy to wonder if the quarterback of your favorite team is actually a good guy.
“We don’t have to wonder about that in KC ❤️”
The gesture didn’t take much, but for Franklin it clearly meant a lot.
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Leahy and Tanner Franklin are two examples of how quickly those workloads can climb when a team is trying to protect a pitcher while still building him up. The Cardinals have been careful with both, reflecting an industry-wide effort to reduce injury risk rather than anything uniquely conservative in St. Louis. For fans used to judging a starter by volume alone, the more important question may be how the club balances durability, effectiveness and the long view as the season wears on. [Read more 🡒]
