Patrick Mahomes grew up in a world of resin bags, dugout chatter and late bus rides. Before the Chiefs star learned to turn broken plays into magic, his dad was logging innings across the majors and beyond.
Pat Mahomes Sr. started his career with the Minnesota Twins in 1992, bounced through the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates, and carved out an 11-year MLB stay that stretched into a 22-year professional journey when you count the minors, Japan and independent stops.
That life gave young Patrick a front-row seat to daily work, the kind of routine that builds poise. As fans get ready for “Monday Night Football” against the Washington Commanders, it is a good time to remember the first sport that shaped the arm and the calm that define Kansas City’s quarterback.
The Long Road That Shaped A Son
Pat Sr. was a starter early, then became the dependable long reliever managers reach for when games get away. He was the man who could take the ball on a moment’s notice, soak up innings and keep a clubhouse steady.
The numbers tell one story with 42 wins and 452 strikeouts; the job tells another. That role is about being resilient, solving problems and showing up every day ready to go. A kid who watches that for years learns how to slow the moment, how to treat pressure like part of the job, not a spotlight to fear. That’s Patrick.
Patrick’s Shortstop Roots Still Show
Patrick was a three-sport athlete in Texas, a shortstop with a live arm who could throw on the move and change slots without losing accuracy. He pitched too, touching 90 mph, which is where those sidearm flicks and shovel passes started. The Detroit Tigers took a late flier on him in the 2014 MLB Draft, and he even got a taste of baseball with the Texas Tech Red Raiders before turning full-time to football.
The mechanics never left him. The footwork at shortstop turned into pocket movement. The quick release on double plays turned into quick game throws. The creativity you need to make an off-balance throw across the diamond now shows up on third and long.
The Game Behind the Game
Quarterbacks talk about processing, feel and tempo. Baseball taught those things first. A reliever learns to compete without perfect feel, to win counts, to move on from a mistake. Patrick does that on Sundays. He changes arm angles like a middle infielder working around a runner. He reads leverage the way a pitcher reads a hitter’s swing. When the game speeds up, he slows down. That mindset traces back to watching his dad grind through a career built on persistence more than fame.
For Pat Mahomes Sr., the reward was never about the spotlight. It was about staying ready, putting in the work, and finding pride in each chance to compete. Those same lessons echo every time Patrick jogs onto the field, cool under pressure, confident in his instincts and still showing a little bit of that baseball kid who grew up around the game.
Quick Career Snapshot
• MLB debut in 1992 with the Twins
• 11 MLB seasons, six franchises
• 42 career wins, 452 strikeouts, 709 innings
• Professional career across MLB, minors, Japan and independent leagues
• Patrick was drafted by the Tigers out of high school, brief two-sport stint at Texas Tech before choosing football
Pat Mahomes Sr. never needed headlines to define his success, and that steady outlook rubbed off on his son. When you watch Patrick Mahomes under the prime-ptime lights, you’re seeing more than a quarterback at the top of his game.
You’re seeing a legacy built through years of work, family influence and a shared love for competition that started on the baseball diamond and continues every time he takes the field.