Patrick Mahomes Breaks Down How Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” Might’ve Cost NFL Owners Millions in Tax Breaks

The Chiefs star offered a surprisingly sharp take on former President Donald Trump’s tax reform, suggesting the so-called “big, beautiful bill” may have unintentionally slashed key deductions NFL owners once relied on—potentially leading to massive financial setbacks across the league.

The Fourth of July is typically a time for fireworks, family gatherings, and celebration across America. But this year, as the United States marked its 249th Independence Day, a different kind of fireworks were set off—this time in the world of professional football. At the center of the storm was not a politician or a league executive, but Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs’ superstar quarterback and the NFL’s most influential player.

Mahomes, known for his football IQ and leadership on the field, surprised many by stepping into the national spotlight to voice his concerns about President Donald Trump’s newly signed legislation, the so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill.” While most Americans were firing up grills and lounging by the pool, Mahomes was poring over the bill’s fine print, worried about its impact on the very foundation of the NFL.

The Tax Loophole That Built the NFL

To understand Mahomes’ concern, it’s important to recognize a little-known but vital rule that has helped shape the modern NFL: the ability for team owners to write off the value of intangible assets—primarily player contracts and media rights—over a 15-year period. This accounting practice, buried deep in the tax code, has allowed new owners to purchase teams, claim massive deductions, and shield hundreds of millions of dollars from the IRS.

In a candid interview on “NFL on NBC,” Mahomes explained, “The rule that’s on the books allows someone who buys a team to take 100% of the value of the intangible assets—player contracts, media contracts—and write them off over 15 years. It’s one of the main reasons team values have skyrocketed, and why new owners are so eager to get in the game.”

Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” and Its Hidden Threat

But with the stroke of a pen, President Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” threatened to upend that system. As Mahomes recounted, the original version of the bill included a provision that would have slashed the allowable write-off for intangible assets from 100% to zero—a move that would have cost NFL owners hundreds of millions of dollars in lost tax breaks.

“Initially, as it was conceived, the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ was going to push that 100% down to zero,” Mahomes said. “That would be catastrophic for team owners, especially those who just bought in. A middle ground was reached for the House version—50%. But even that would mean a massive loss for the league.”

Mahomes, who has become more than just a player—now a minority owner in the Kansas City Royals and Kansas City Current—knows that the business side of sports is just as important as what happens on the field. “People think football is just about touchdowns and trophies, but there’s a whole financial ecosystem that keeps the league running,” he noted. “When legislation like this comes along, it can change everything overnight.”

A Suspicious Motivation

As Mahomes dug deeper, he noticed something odd. After the initial uproar, coverage of the bill’s impact on the NFL seemed to vanish. The provision quietly disappeared from the Senate’s version, and it was never mentioned in subsequent discussions. For Mahomes, this sudden silence raised more questions than answers.

“I started wondering—why was this even in the bill in the first place?” he mused. “And why did it disappear without a trace?”

Mahomes wasn’t alone in his suspicions. Rumors swirled among league insiders that the provision was no accident. Some speculated that Trump, who had a famously contentious relationship with the NFL, was seeking retribution against the league’s owners.

A Decade-Old Grudge

To understand the possible motivation, Mahomes pointed to a story that has become legend among NFL circles. More than a decade ago, Donald Trump tried—and failed—to purchase the Buffalo Bills. According to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, Trump was so incensed by the snub that he vowed, “If they keep me from doing this, I will run for President and I will get them back.”

Mahomes recounted, “There were unnamed owners who believed this was punitive. They thought the President was trying to get back at them for blocking his bid. And honestly, looking at how this bill was structured, it’s hard not to see their point.”

The Power Struggle Between League and White House

For Mahomes, the episode was a stark reminder that the NFL is more than just a sporting league—it’s a powerful institution, one that can draw the ire of even the President of the United States.

“People forget that the NFL is bigger than just a game. It’s a business, a cultural force, and sometimes even a political target,” Mahomes explained. “When you see something like this, you realize just how much influence the league has—and how much it can be threatened by people in power.”

As the league’s most prominent player, Mahomes felt a responsibility to speak out—not just for the owners, but for everyone whose livelihood depends on the NFL’s continued success. “If you take away these tax breaks, you’re not just hurting billionaires. You’re affecting stadium workers, front office staff, and the communities that rely on the league’s economic impact.”

A Call for Transparency

Mahomes called for greater transparency and dialogue between the league and lawmakers. “We need to have these conversations out in the open,” he insisted. “If the government is going to make changes that affect the league, we need to know why—and we need a seat at the table.”

He also urged his fellow players to educate themselves about the business side of football. “It’s easy to focus on the next game or the next contract, but we have to look at the bigger picture. The decisions being made in Washington today could shape the league for decades to come.”

Looking Ahead

As the dust settled on Independence Day, Mahomes returned to his offseason routine, preparing for yet another run at the Super Bowl. But his foray into the world of tax policy left a lasting impression.

“I love this game, and I want to see it thrive for generations,” he said. “That means protecting not just the players, but the business that supports us all. Whether it’s on the field or in the halls of Congress, I’ll always fight for what’s right for the NFL.”

In a league where every yard counts, Patrick Mahomes just proved that sometimes, the most important battles are fought far from the gridiron.