Patrick Mahomes’ success in the NFL doesn’t come from out of nowhere. He grew up in an athlete’s household, and sports has been a constant presence in his family’s life.
However, not every adult who watched Patrick Mahomes Jr. grow up believed that he would be a great athlete who would set the trend on how modern NFL offenses are run.. Surprisingly, one of the people who put question marks all over him was one of his father’s coaches.
MLB great didn’t think Patrick Mahomes would stand out as an athlete
As the 28-year-old Texas Tech standout preapres to lead the Kansas City Chiefs to their fourth Super Bowl, various stories about Mahomes and his childhood surfaced. One such story was how legendary manager Bobby Valentine thought Mahomes would not have the physical tools to be a top-tier athlete.
According to The Spun’s Kameron Duncan, the younger Mahomes was playing with other sons of baseball players during his father’s time with the Chiefs. He then revealed that he was concerned for his and the other children’s safety:
“I didn’t want anyone getting hurt out there,” Valentine told Mets publicist Jay Horowitz.
“I wanted to be certain that no one would ever get injured. I understand that players were away from their families a great deal and this was one way for the kids and dads to bond.”
“I thought there was no way he would be able to hold his own but he proved me wrong. He was quite the athlete,” Valentine said about the younger Mahomes.
Valentine, who first managed the New York Mets from 1996 until 2002, is one of the more beloved figures within the Mets organization. While he was coming from a sincere place, to think that a toddler won’t have the physical tools to thrive as an athlete when his father was a solid pitcher during his two years with him was a bit out there.
However, Patrick Mahomes eventually showed that he can ball with the best of them. He finished the 2023 season throwing for 4183 passing yards and 28 touchdowns. He also led a lackluster Chiefs offense to their fourth Super Bowl, creating an undeniable dynasty.
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