Hometown Friend of Patrick Mahomes Loses Everything in Fire, Patrick Response Shows His True Character

In the small town of Wilmington, North Carolina, Jimmy Washington lived a quiet, unassuming life. At 35, his hair had turned gray, but his eyes still sparkled with the same energy that made him a beloved teacher and coach at Williston Middle School. Though the years had passed, one thing remained constant: the memories he held close—memories of his time mentoring a young Patrick Mahomes.

Jimmy’s modest two-bedroom house on Gordon Road is filled with memories of the past. Old photos hang on the walls, some of Jimmy with former students, but the ones he treasures most are of a young Patrick Mahomes—photos of Patrick, a lanky freshman, coming to Jimmy’s backyard to practice football on the hoop Jimmy installed in 2000. Patrick spent countless hours practicing his jump shot and perfecting his fadeaway on that hoop, something Jimmy remembers fondly.

However, life had a way of moving on. Jimmy’s wife, Sarah, had passed away five years ago, and his health was beginning to decline. He didn’t mind the simplicity of his home or the quiet of his days. Every evening, he would sit on his front porch, watching the sunset, reminiscing about the old days when kids would play basketball in the street. It was during these evenings that Jimmy would remember Patrick, who had once been a skinny teenager with a dream.

But on one fateful night, everything would change.

At 2 a.m., the old wiring in Jimmy’s home sparked, catching fire. The flames spread quickly, and before Jimmy knew it, his house was engulfed in flames. His loyal dog, Max, woke first and managed to alert Jimmy just in time, but by then, the fire had already consumed most of the house. Jimmy and Max barely escaped with their lives, but everything else—the memories, the photos, the signed basketballs—was gone.

Neighbors rushed to his aid, but there was nothing that could be done. The fire destroyed everything. For Jimmy, the loss was more than just physical. It was the destruction of his life’s work, of the years he spent teaching, coaching, and mentoring a young Patrick Mahomes.

In the aftermath, Jimmy was left with nothing but a single, charred basketball—his only remaining connection to his lifelong friend. The fire had taken everything else. Yet, amid the heartbreak, a glimmer of hope emerged.

Through a chain of unlikely events, the story of Jimmy’s devastating loss reached Patrick Mahomes. A man who had long since become a global icon, Patrick heard about Jimmy’s situation through a Facebook post, and what he learned stirred something deep within him. Patrick had never forgotten Jimmy—the man who had believed in him when no one else did, the man who had given him a place to practice basketball when the courts were crowded, and the man who had shown him the value of character.

Without hesitation, Patrick began to act. He assembled a team—financial advisors, real estate specialists, and contractors—to help Jimmy, all while ensuring that his efforts remained private. Patrick’s goal was clear: he wanted to help Jimmy rebuild his life without making him feel like he was receiving charity.

The following day, Patrick called Jimmy. His voice thick with emotion, Patrick explained that he had heard about the fire and wanted to help. Despite Jimmy’s protests that he didn’t want to bother Patrick, the basketball legend insisted. “You’re family,” Patrick told him, reminding him that family doesn’t just share blood—it shares support, care, and belief.

Jimmy was overwhelmed, unsure of how to accept such help. But Patrick wouldn’t take no for an answer. Over the next few days, Jimmy received a series of visits from professionals who outlined options for him—some of which seemed too good to be true. At first, Jimmy was suspicious, but as the details began to fall into place, he realized that Patrick had thought of everything.

It wasn’t just about the house; it was about the memories. The new home that Patrick arranged for Jimmy was not only practical but filled with thoughtful touches. The backyard had a basketball hoop, just like the one Patrick had used for years. Inside, framed photos of Jimmy’s career and Patrick’s early days together lined the walls, some of which had been lost in the fire. There was even a display case to house the charred basketball that had survived the flames.

As Jimmy walked through the new house, he was struck by how perfectly it fit him. From the kitchen counters to the recliner in the living room, everything was designed with him in mind. The house wasn’t just a building—it was a home, a place where he could rebuild his life, surrounded by the memories of the past.

One afternoon, Patrick himself arrived in Wilmington, unannounced, to visit the new home. Dressed casually in jeans and a polo shirt, Patrick looked more like a regular man than the basketball legend he had become. He greeted Jimmy warmly and spent the afternoon chatting with him, reminiscing about the old days.

As they sat in the living room, sipping coffee, Patrick revealed a story that Jimmy had never heard before—a story about a summer day when Patrick had made a mistake and accidentally set fire to Jimmy’s tool shed. He had panicked and tried to hide it, but Jimmy had never once raised his voice in anger. Instead, he had helped Patrick fix the shed and taught him an important lesson about character—that it’s not about avoiding mistakes, but about taking responsibility for them.

That moment, Patrick confessed, had shaped him more than anything else in his life. It had taught him about integrity, about doing what’s right even when it’s hard. And now, years later, Patrick was returning the favor, offering Jimmy a chance to start over, not out of pity, but out of gratitude for the man who had believed in him when no one else did.

Jimmy, deeply moved, realized that Patrick’s gesture wasn’t about charity. It was about a lifelong friendship—a bond forged in the fires of adversity, one that transcended time and success.

In the months that followed, Jimmy settled into his new home. Max recovered from the fire, and Jimmy found comfort in his daily routine, tending to his garden and volunteering at the local school. Life wasn’t perfect, but it was good. It was the kind of life Jimmy had always wanted—simple, fulfilling, and surrounded by the memories that mattered most.

And through it all, Patrick remained a steady presence in his life, always checking in, always asking about the house, and always reminding Jimmy of the debt of gratitude he felt. But for Jimmy, the greatest gift wasn’t the house or the memorabilia—it was the knowledge that he had shaped a man’s character, and that same man had returned the favor in the most meaningful way.

Some debts, Jimmy realized, could never be fully repaid—but true friendship, like the one he had with Patrick, was priceless. And in the quiet town of Wilmington, two friends, connected by kindness and shared memories, proved that sometimes the greatest acts of character happen far from the spotlight.

Patrick Mahomes shows true colors with seven-word message to Josh Allen after Bills-Chiefs

There was no doubting the level of respect between quarterback counterparts Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen after the Kansas City Chiefs prevailed in a thrilling AFC Championship Game

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes praised quarterback counterback Josh Allen (
Image: Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)

Kansas City Chiefs hero Patrick Mahomes outlined his admiration for “amazing” fellow quarterback Josh Allen – as he issued a sympathetic seven-word message to the Buffalo Bills ace following the AFC Championship Game.

The Chiefs earned passage to the Super Bowl for a staggering fifth time in six attempts following a 32-29 victory in the AFC Championship game. A date with destiny now awaits the Missouri outfit as they look to write their name into history with a third successive triumph in the NFL’s showpiece in New Orleans on Feb. 9.

Three-time Super Bowl champion Mahomes put in a strong performance in the victory over the Bills, as he completed 18-of-26 passes for 245 yards and one touchdown. However, the 29-year-old showed his humility following the clash, as he commended opponent Allen for his performance on the night.

Despite being on the losing side in the battle at Arrowhead, the Bills quarterback and NFL MVP contender Allen completed 22-of-34 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns. Praising his counterpart, Mahomes told the Athletic: “I always feel for him — he’s a great player, an amazing competitor and an awesome dude who I respect so much. I’m sorry it had to be us. But, you know, we compete, and someone has to win.”

Following on from this, the Chiefs fan favorite reinforced his stance as he waxed lyrical about the Buffalo player’s talents, telling The MMQB’s Albert Breer: “I have so much respect for Josh. I feel like he’s a friend.

“You have to beat the best in order to get to the Super Bowl. He’s one of the best quarterbacks in the league. He’s up there in the top four, five in quarterbacks. I know I was going to have to play one of these guys. The AFC’s loaded. And it’s not just me. He played his tail off today.”

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has earned the respect of Kansas City Chiefs rival Patrick Mahomes ( 
Image:
Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, teammate Travis Kelce also waxed lyrical about Allen’s contributions on the night as he extended his own commiserations, telling the Athletic: “I f—– love that guy. He’s one of the most awesome competitors I’ve gone against, and I have so much respect for him. I’d rather play him in the Super Bowl, but we can’t, so the AFC championship it is.”

Having been lauded for his own performance in the AFC title decider, Mahomes later reflected: “They always give me options to kind of pull the ball and run it. And they were playing man coverage a lot of the day, and they were putting a lot of attention on Travis Kelce.

“So with them kind of pushing that safety, pushing that linebacker to Travis, it opened up different lanes for me to run. I pulled some of those, those reads that I’ve had all season long, just because it’s playoffs, and you have to make sure that the defense is true to what their rules are.”

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said of the quarterback: “Pat Mahomes was phenomenal,” while praising his players for their overall efforts, adding: “When you think of all the ups and downs and arounds that you’ve been through in a season, the injuries. All those things that have to just happen the right way. With the margin to win and or to lose in this league is so small. The parity is unbelievable.”