The Kansas City Chiefs have been unfair to Patrick Mahomes – A rift could be brewing between the future hall of famer and the organization
The Kansas City Chiefs Have Been Unfair to Patrick Mahomes: A Rift Could Be Brewing Between the Future Hall of Famer and the Organization
In the pantheon of modern NFL greatness, few names shine as brightly as Patrick Mahomes. The Kansas City Chiefs’ franchise quarterback has delivered consistent brilliance on the field, led the team to three Super Bowl victories, and revolutionized how the position is played. He is a generational talent who has already cemented his place in the Hall of Fame conversation before turning 30. But beneath the surface of championship parades and MVP awards lies a more complex and potentially troubling story—one where the Chiefs’ handling of their superstar quarterback is beginning to raise eyebrows. Many around the league are starting to believe that Kansas City has been unfair to Mahomes, and if the current trajectory continues, a rift may be inevitable.
The Weight of Greatness
Since taking over as the Chiefs’ starter in 2018, Mahomes has transformed the franchise into the NFL’s preeminent dynasty. He’s won three Super Bowls (2019, 2022, 2023), two league MVPs, and two Super Bowl MVPs. He’s thrown for over 28,000 yards, rushed for over 1,500 more, and dazzled fans with no-look passes, off-schedule throws, and jaw-dropping comebacks. Yet, for all his excellence, Mahomes has rarely had the benefit of a stable and elite supporting cast—particularly in the wide receiver room.
Once Tyreek Hill was traded to the Miami Dolphins in 2022, it appeared the Chiefs expected Mahomes to do even more with less. And to a large degree, he has. But it’s not without cost—mentally, physically, and potentially in his relationship with the franchise.
The Offensive Weapons Void
Since Hill’s departure, Mahomes has worked with a revolving door of pass-catchers, few of whom have performed consistently. While tight end Travis Kelce remains an elite target, age and wear are catching up with him. The 2023 season marked a noticeable decline in Kelce’s production, and it exposed an alarming truth: the Chiefs’ receiving corps is woefully inadequate.
Players like Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney, and Skyy Moore were expected to develop into reliable weapons. Instead, they delivered inconsistent performances, dropped passes, and lacked chemistry with Mahomes. In key moments—playoff games, critical third downs, red zone opportunities—the receiving group too often faltered.
It’s a testament to Mahomes’ greatness that the Chiefs were still able to win Super Bowl LVIII. But that win came in spite of, not because of, the offensive weaponry around him.
Mahomes Covering Cracks
Mahomes’ presence masks many flaws in Kansas City’s offensive strategy and personnel decisions. Head coach Andy Reid is a brilliant play-caller, and the duo of Mahomes and Reid is arguably the greatest QB-coach pairing since Brady and Belichick. However, even Belichick made sure Brady had playmakers like Rob Gronkowski, Randy Moss, or Julian Edelman in his prime years.
Mahomes, by contrast, has had to elevate average players into productive ones. While that speaks to his talent, it is not a sustainable model. The Chiefs have spent years reloading on defense, bolstering their pass rush and secondary. While these moves have paid off, they have come at the expense of providing Mahomes with an elite receiving corps.
If Kansas City continues to assume Mahomes will make it all work regardless of his weapons, they risk squandering the peak years of his career—and possibly straining their relationship with the quarterback.
The Contract Paradox
In 2020, Mahomes signed a groundbreaking 10-year, $450 million contract—the largest in professional sports history at the time. He structured it to be team-friendly, allowing the Chiefs flexibility in cap management. This unselfishness should have led to a loaded roster around him.
Instead, the team has often pinched pennies on offense. The Hill trade, which was supposed to free up cap space and build a deeper, more versatile offense, hasn’t materialized in the way fans expected. Instead, they’ve filled the void with low-risk, low-reward receivers. Draft picks haven’t panned out as hoped. And free-agent acquisitions have been underwhelming.
Mahomes has done his part—financially, professionally, and competitively. It’s reasonable to ask whether the organization has truly upheld its end of the bargain.
Brewing Frustration?
Publicly, Mahomes remains the consummate professional. He rarely criticizes teammates or coaches, and his loyalty to the organization appears genuine. But even the most loyal athletes have their limits. In 2023, Mahomes showed uncharacteristic signs of visible frustration—sideline outbursts, headshakes, and animated discussions with receivers who ran the wrong routes or dropped critical passes.
Though subtle, these signs hint at deeper dissatisfaction. Sources around the league suggest that Mahomes is growing tired of carrying a lopsided burden. Winning cures most ailments in sports, but in the long-term, no superstar wants to feel taken for granted. With Kelce’s decline and no clear WR1 in sight, Mahomes may be starting to feel isolated.
And isolation leads to frustration.
Comparing Contenders
Look around the NFL, and you’ll see other elite quarterbacks with far better offensive ecosystems. Joe Burrow has Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Josh Allen has Stefon Diggs (despite tension) and Dalton Kincaid. Jalen Hurts has A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Even Tua Tagovailoa has Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Mahomes, meanwhile, has spent recent seasons throwing to names like Justin Watson, Rashee Rice, and Mecole Hardman—talented players, sure, but hardly elite.
It’s almost as if the Chiefs expect Mahomes to make magic regardless of who’s on the field. That kind of thinking is not just unfair—it’s unsustainable.
The Rashee Rice Saga
Compounding the offensive issues is the off-field controversy surrounding promising wide receiver Rashee Rice. Following a rookie season where he flashed serious upside, Rice became embroiled in legal trouble stemming from a high-speed crash in Dallas during the offseason. The incident put his availability for the 2024 season in question and once again left Mahomes’ receiving corps in flux.
While the Chiefs may ultimately retain Rice, the episode further underscores how unstable Mahomes’ support system is. Not only is he asked to lead the offense with unproven players, but those players sometimes come with off-field baggage.
That’s not how you treat a future Hall of Famer who’s sacrificed everything for the franchise.
Long-Term Implications
The NFL is a business, and business relationships require mutual respect and vision. Mahomes has shown the Chiefs he’s willing to be a team player. He’s restructured his deal multiple times, kept quiet amid roster deficiencies, and continued to win.
But how long can this continue?
If the Chiefs continue to under-invest in the offense or fail to prioritize Mahomes’ input, the relationship could sour. It’s unlikely Mahomes would ever request a trade—his loyalty runs deep—but passive frustration can manifest in other ways: reduced trust, diminished morale, and a widening communication gap.
This is how dynasties collapse from within—not with fireworks, but with silence.
The Road Ahead: 2024 and Beyond
There is still time for Kansas City to course-correct. With Mahomes still in his prime, the Chiefs must act decisively to restore balance to the roster. This starts with investing in top-tier receivers, whether through free agency, trade, or the draft. It means giving Mahomes a real WR1—not just potential, but proven excellence.
Additionally, the organization must continue to keep the offensive line elite. Mahomes has already dealt with significant injuries, including a high-ankle sprain during the 2022 playoffs. Protecting their franchise cornerstone is paramount.
It also wouldn’t hurt for the front office to involve Mahomes more directly in key decisions. He has earned that voice. He’s not just the quarterback—he’s the identity of the franchise.
A Cautionary Tale in the Making?
Patrick Mahomes has done everything right. He’s won, led, and sacrificed in ways few superstars would. The Chiefs have ridden his brilliance to a modern dynasty. But in their pursuit of sustained success, they risk alienating the very player who made it all possible.
If Kansas City continues to expect Mahomes to carry an offense without elite weapons—and if they fail to show that his voice matters in organizational decisions—they may find themselves on the brink of a deeper issue.
A rift may not be visible yet. But the signs are there. And if history teaches us anything, it’s that even the most successful partnerships can unravel when one side feels undera
ppreciated.
The Chiefs would be wise to remember that before it’s too late.
