Black Girl Slips A Note Into Patrick Mahomes’s Pocket. He Reads It… And Can’t Hold Back The Tears
In a quiet hotel room after a long day, Patrick Mahomes emptied his pockets, feeling the weight of exhaustion from a packed schedule—practice, interviews, a youth football clinic, and a charity gala. As he tossed his keys and phone onto the nightstand, his fingers brushed against a folded piece of paper. He paused, remembering the shy Black girl who’d slipped it into his jacket pocket that afternoon, barely able to look him in the eye. He unfolded the note, and before he finished the second line, the first tear slid down his cheek.
The sun had barely risen when Zoe Johnson awoke that Thursday morning. At only 11, she’d become used to waking before her alarm—not for school, but to check on her grandmother. “Grandma?” she called softly, peeking into the next room.
Margaret Johnson, 67, sat on the edge of her bed, a bottle of pills in one hand and a half-empty glass of water in the other. Her fingers trembled as she fumbled with the childproof cap. “Good morning, my angel,” she said, her smile tired but loving. “You’re up early.”
Zoe rushed to help, taking the bottle with practiced care. “Is it the blood pressure medicine or the diabetes one?”
“Both, dear. Today’s a double.”
Their small Kansas City apartment had been home to three generations—until three years ago, when Zoe’s parents died in a car accident. Now it was just Zoe and her grandmother, their bond deepened by hardship.
Margaret had been a nurse for four decades, always caring for others. Now, she needed care herself. Zoe made breakfast, prepared toast, and poured tea, watching her grandmother closely. On the fridge, a photo showed all four of them together, Zoe’s parents smiling, her grandmother’s arms around her. Next to it, a calendar was marked with red circles for doctor’s appointments and a big X for rent day.
Zoe glanced at the clock—she’d need to hurry to catch the bus, but she wouldn’t leave until she’d seen her grandmother take her medicine and eat. She noticed Margaret wince and rub her chest. “Are you okay, Grandma?”
“Just tired, my love,” Margaret answered, the smile not quite reaching her eyes.
Zoe knew it was more than tiredness. The night before, she’d seen her grandmother at the kitchen table, bills scattered, some stamped FINAL NOTICE in red. Margaret was cutting pills in half, trying to make the medicine last until her next check. When Zoe asked why, Margaret hugged her and said, “Sometimes we have to stretch things a little.” Zoe understood more than her grandmother realized.
In her room, Warriors and Chiefs posters covered the walls, but her favorite was Patrick Mahomes in mid-throw, eyes focused, determination etched in every line. Mahomes, Zoe thought, was more than a football star—he was proof that even the underestimated could become champions. If he could do it, maybe she could, too.
The next morning, after making sure her grandmother was okay, Zoe saw a flyer at school: **Chiefs Charity Football Clinic—Patrick Mahomes Confirmed!** Her heart raced. The clinic was just days away at the local community center. There was a lottery for free spots. “Grandma, look!” she exclaimed.
Margaret smiled at her granddaughter’s excitement.
“Can I enter?” Zoe asked.
“Of course, honey. If you win, I’ll be fine for a few hours. I want you to meet your hero.”
That afternoon, Zoe filled out the form at the library. Even if she didn’t win, she decided she’d try to deliver a message to Mahomes. At home, while her grandmother napped, Zoe took her best notebook and wrote a letter, erasing and rewriting until it was perfect. She braided a bracelet—red and gold for the Chiefs, with a single blue thread for hope. “Red is for courage,” her grandmother always said, “and blue is for hope.”
On the day of the clinic, Zoe checked her email—she hadn’t been selected. Her heart fell, but she was determined. She would try to see Mahomes from outside. Mrs. Jackson, their neighbor, drove her to the community center. Security was tight—only kids with invitations could go in. Zoe and Mrs. Jackson waited by the windows, watching as Mahomes led drills and tossed passes to laughing kids.
“Hey, you’re Zoe Johnson, right?”
Zoe turned to see a woman with an event badge.
“I’m Tracy, the social worker. How’s your grandmother?”
Mrs. Jackson explained Margaret’s health struggles while Zoe watched Mahomes inside.
“What’s in your backpack?” Tracy asked gently.
“I wrote a note for Mr. Mahomes,” Zoe replied, blushing. “And I made a bracelet. It’s about my grandma. She needs help, but she’s too proud to ask.”
Tracy’s heart ached. “I can’t promise, but after the event, I’ll try to help you give him the note.”
When the clinic ended, Tracy led Zoe to a side door. “He’ll pass by here. Be brave.”
Zoe’s hands shook as she held the note and bracelet. Suddenly, Mahomes appeared, chatting with his team. Tracy stepped forward.
“Mr. Mahomes, sorry to interrupt. This is Zoe. She watched from outside and has something for you.”
Mahomes smiled, crouched to Zoe’s height. “Hey, you enjoy the clinic?”
Zoe could only nod, then held out the bracelet and note. “I made this. Please read it when you have time.”
He took them gently. “You made this? It’s awesome. Thank you, Zoe. I promise I’ll read your note.”
That night, in his hotel room, Mahomes sat on the bed, twirling the bracelet. He unfolded the note, noticing the careful handwriting and faint stains—were they tears?
Dear Mr. Mahomes,
My name is Zoe Johnson. I am 11. My grandma Margaret is all I have since my parents went to heaven three years ago. She used to be a nurse. Now she needs help. Sometimes she cuts her pills in half so they last longer. I saw her crying last week, but she tried to hide it. I’m scared of losing her, too.
When we watch you play, it’s the only time she smiles like she used to. I’m not asking for money. I just want you to know some people are champions every day, even without trophies. The bracelet is red and gold for the Chiefs, and blue for hope. My grandma says red is courage, blue is hope. She has both.
If you ever feel like giving up, remember there’s a grandma in Kansas City who fights every day just to stay with me. That’s more impressive than any touchdown.
Sincerely, Zoe Johnson
P.S. Sorry for the stains. I cried a little.
Mahomes wiped his eyes. He’d received countless letters, but this one was different. She wasn’t asking for anything—just sharing her love for her grandmother, and her hope.
He called his fiancée, Brittany. “Britt, I need to read you something.” His voice broke as he read Zoe’s letter.
“We have to help them, Pat,” Brittany said.
“I know. I want to meet them before we leave town.”
The next morning, Mahomes met with his foundation director. “I want to find Zoe and her grandmother. I want to set up a medical fund for Margaret, and an educational fund for Zoe. And I’m wearing this bracelet in the next game.”
That afternoon, Zoe returned from school to find a black SUV outside her building. Her heart pounded—was something wrong? She rushed inside to find her grandmother, Tracy, and a woman in a suit. But what made her freeze was Patrick Mahomes, sitting in their living room, the bracelet on his wrist.
“Hey, Zoe,” Mahomes said, rising with a warm smile. “Hope you don’t mind a surprise visit.”
Zoe stared, speechless.
“Your note touched me,” Mahomes said softly. “I wanted to thank you in person and meet the champion you wrote about—your grandma.”
Margaret squeezed Zoe’s hand, tears in her eyes.
“Our foundation wants to help,” Mahomes continued. “We’ll make sure your grandma has all the medicine and care she needs. And for you, we want to help you achieve your dreams—whatever they are.”
Zoe found her voice. “Why are you doing this for us?”
Mahomes smiled. “Because you reminded me what really matters. It’s not just about football. It’s about how we lift each other up.”
He raised his wrist. “You wrote that red means courage and blue means hope. You and your grandma have both. You inspired me.”
Zoe hugged him, whispering, “Thank you. Grandma is all I have.”
Mahomes hugged her back. “You have us now, too.”
Before leaving, Mahomes handed Zoe two tickets. “Tonight’s game—special seats for you and your grandma. And I’ll be wearing your bracelet. It’s my new reminder of what matters most.”
That night, as Mahomes took the field, he glanced at Zoe and Margaret in the front row. He touched the bracelet and pointed to his heart. Zoe smiled, tears of joy streaming down her face, her own wrist now adorned with a matching bracelet Mahomes had made for her.
Sometimes, the most important victories don’t happen on the field, but in the small, brave acts of love that connect us—and change lives forever.
Patrick Mahomes Casually Let It Slip That Taylor Swift’s Been Filming a Music Video in Her Downtime
Patrick Mahomes Says Tay Filmed a Music Video 👀Getty Images
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People, and naturally, he was asked about Taylor Swift during his interview…which led to him complimenting Tay *and* casually letting it slip that she’s been working on a new music video in her downtime. 👀
Ahem:
“I’ve met a lot of famous people now in my life…Taylor’s probably the most down-to-earth person that’s been on that stage for that long,” Patrick said. “She’s never not working…Even when she’s taking her downtime, she’s working on something. Shooting a music video or singing a song or writing a song. You can see it by how she talks. Even when she’s talking about football, when she’s learning it, you can see her business mind putting it together. It’s almost like she’s trying to become a coach. ‘Why can’t you try this, this, and this?’ She’s asking the right questions.”
Innnnnteresting! I mean, the musician is moments away from dropping The Tortured Poets Department, so we’re thrilled to know she might be blessing us with a video!
Anyway, Patrick also noted during his convo that the Chiefs have become a “full global worldwide team” and gushed that it’s all thanks to “Taylor’s fanbase.”
The footballer then shut down claims that the Chiefs were distracted by the attention (I mean…they literally won the Super Bowl lol) and said, “We just embraced it…We like having that visibility. At the end of the day, football has always been this bruising sport. We want to make it fun, where kids grow up and play football and show their personality and be who they are. This year really magnified that.”
Taylor Swift Announces New Album, ‘The Tortured Poets Department’
Photo credit: Twitter
The Tortured Poets Department drops April 19!
Taylor Swift Reveals Bonus Track Title and New Album Cover for ‘The Tortured Poets Department’
Photo credit: Twitter
“I’ve never had an album where I needed songwriting more than I needed it on Tortured Poets.”
Taylor Swift Reveals Exact Timeline of When She Wrote ‘The Tortured Poets Department’
Photo credit: Getty Images
Okay, this kiiiiinda disputes breakup album theories.
Joe Alwyn Posts on Instagram for the First Time in Months Amid ‘Tortured Poets’ Speculation
Photo credit: Getty Images
All the Clues and Easter Eggs About Taylor Swift’s New Album, ‘The Tortured Poets Department’
Photo credit: Getty Images
Joe Alwyn found shaking.
Fans Think ‘Tortured Poets’ Is a Sister Album to ‘Midnights’ Thanks to Taylor Swift’s Visual Easter Eggs
Photo credit: Twitter
Once you see these side-by-sides, you will not be the same.
Swifties Spiral Over Potential Joe Alwyn Refs in the Tracklist for ‘The Tortured Poets Department!’
Photo credit: Getty Images
“From ‘london boy’ to ‘so long london’…”
Taylor Swift’s April 19 Album Release Date Makes So Much Sense Based on What Happened With Joe Alwyn That Day
Photo credit: Getty Images
