Patrick Mahomes Cheated on His Chiefs Pre-Draft Test – And His Unexpected Accomplice Finally Breaks Silence

Dynasties in the NFL are rarely built by accident. They require a perfect storm of talent, timing, and tenacity. The Kansas City Chiefs, now widely recognized as one of the league’s modern juggernauts, owe much of their sustained success to one man: Patrick Mahomes. But as the legend of Mahomes continues to grow, a shocking revelation has come to light—one that suggests Kansas City’s fateful decision to draft him may have been influenced by a little inside help.

The Draft Day Gamble

When the Chiefs traded up 17 spots in the 2017 NFL Draft to select Patrick Mahomes with the 10th overall pick, it raised more than a few eyebrows around the league. Mahomes was widely regarded as a raw, high-ceiling prospect—a quarterback blessed with a bazooka arm and a gunslinger mentality, but also a player who needed refinement. Many analysts saw him as a project, not an instant franchise savior.

Yet, behind closed doors, the Chiefs were convinced. General Manager Brett Veach and Head Coach Andy Reid believed Mahomes was special. His physical gifts were obvious, but what truly set him apart, they said, was his football IQ and ability to process complex information. The team’s pre-draft interview with Mahomes—one of the Top 30 visits allowed by the NFL—was reportedly the clincher. Mahomes aced the whiteboard session, demonstrating a mastery of the Chiefs’ play concepts and wowing the coaching staff with his preparation.

For years, that story was part of the Mahomes mythology. Now, we know there was more to it.

The Inside Scoop: Matt Nagy’s Role Revealed

The truth came out in 2022, when Mahomes appeared on the “New Heights” podcast hosted by NFL stars Travis and Jason Kelce. With a sheepish grin, Mahomes recounted how he had been given a leg up before his crucial meeting with the Chiefs. The source? None other than Matt Nagy, Kansas City’s offensive coordinator at the time.

“I’m going to give you all the inside scoop,” Mahomes confessed. “Matt Nagy, who was the offensive coordinator then, he really liked me so he gave me the plays they were gonna go over the night before… So of course I crushed the meeting. I stayed up all night studying those plays.”

It was a revelation that sent shockwaves through Chiefs Kingdom and the wider NFL community. Had the Chiefs’ brass been duped by a little gamesmanship? Or was this simply a case of a coach going the extra mile for a prospect he believed in?

Matt Nagy Breaks His Silence

This week, Matt Nagy finally addressed the story himself—fittingly, on the same “New Heights” podcast. With characteristic candor and a touch of humor, Nagy admitted to giving Mahomes the pre-draft answers, but he made no apologies.

“Fortunately, it ended up working out pretty good,” Nagy said with a laugh. “When you’re convicted with somebody and you feel the way that we all did, I guess it was better to ask for forgiveness than permission.”

Nagy even joked that he advised Mahomes to intentionally miss a question or two, just to avoid arousing suspicion from the rest of the staff. “I told him, ‘Don’t get every single one right. Miss a couple so it doesn’t look too obvious.’”

A Moment That Changed NFL History

In hindsight, Nagy’s decision may have altered the course of NFL history. The Chiefs’ confidence in Mahomes led them to make a bold move up the draft board, leapfrogging teams like the New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals—both rumored to have interest in the Texas Tech star. The rest is well-documented: Mahomes sat for a year behind Alex Smith, then exploded onto the scene in 2018, winning MVP honors and leading Kansas City to a Super Bowl title the following season. By age 29, Mahomes had already captured three Super Bowl rings, two league MVPs, and a reputation as the NFL’s most electrifying quarterback.

But what if Mahomes had stumbled during that pre-draft meeting? What if the Chiefs had seen him as just another talented but unprepared gunslinger? Would they have risked their future on a player who didn’t “wow” them in the interview room?

The Ethics of the NFL Pre-Draft Process

The revelation raises intriguing questions about the ethics of the pre-draft process. Every year, teams and prospects engage in a high-stakes dance of information, misdirection, and persuasion. Coaches and executives want to see how players think on their feet, how quickly they can digest new concepts, and how they respond to pressure. For players, every visit is a job interview that could change their lives.

Some might argue that Nagy’s actions amounted to cheating—a violation of the spirit, if not the letter, of the process. Others see it as a harmless example of a coach advocating for a player he genuinely believed in. After all, it’s not uncommon for teams to tip off favored prospects about what to expect in interviews or workouts. In the end, Mahomes still had to put in the work, studying the plays and demonstrating his football acumen.

Mahomes’ Preparation and Work Ethic

If anything, the story underscores Mahomes’ legendary work ethic. Given the opportunity, he didn’t rest on his laurels. He stayed up all night, poring over the Chiefs’ playbook, determined to ace the interview. That blend of talent and preparation is what has defined his career.

As Mahomes himself put it, “You still gotta do the work. You can have all the answers, but you gotta be ready to execute.”

Legacy and Laughter

For Chiefs fans, the story is just another chapter in the Mahomes saga—a reminder that even legends have a little luck (and a little help) along the way. For Mahomes and Nagy, it’s a shared secret that now belongs to football history, a moment of gamesmanship that changed the fortunes of a franchise.

Nagy’s gamble paid off in ways he could never have imagined. The Chiefs are now a dynasty, Mahomes is the face of the league, and Kansas City has become the NFL’s gold standard. All because, on one fateful night, a coach decided to give his guy a head start—and a quarterback stayed up all night to make sure he didn’t waste it.

Conclusion: The Making of a Dynasty

In a league where every edge counts, the Mahomes-Nagy story is a testament to the power of conviction and preparation. It’s a reminder that behind every great player, there’s often a mentor willing to bend the rules, and behind every dynasty, a thousand tiny moments that could have gone another way.

For Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, it was the right play at the right time—and the rest, as they say, is history.