Patrick Mahomes Rescued a Starving German Shepherd—Then It Led Her to a Life-Changing Surprise
The cold wind howled through the empty streets as Patrick Mahomes pulled his coat tighter around his body. His breath formed small clouds in the freezing air. The day had been long—too many hours spent juggling his commitments, too many press meetings, and yet it never felt like enough. But there was no time to dwell on exhaustion. He had to get home, where his son, Ben, was waiting. Tomorrow, Ben had school, and Patrick wanted to make sure he had time to spend with him before the day began.
As Patrick hurried down the cracked sidewalk, his worn-out sneakers crunching softly against patches of ice, a faint sound stopped him in his tracks—a whimper. He froze, listening. The wind rattled an old chain-link fence nearby, but then he heard it again—a weak, pitiful whimper, barely louder than the wind. He hesitated. It was late, and this wasn’t exactly the safest neighborhood, but something in that sound tugged at his heart. He couldn’t just walk away.
Swallowing hard, Patrick turned toward the alley. The dim glow of a flickering streetlamp barely reached past the entrance, casting long, eerie shadows. He stepped forward cautiously, then another, and then he saw it—a dog, if he could even call it that. It was curled up against the cold brick wall, its body shivering violently. Its ribs jutted out beneath a patchy, matted coat, and its legs were tucked in tight as if trying to disappear into itself. The dog’s eyes met his for a second before lowering in quiet surrender.
Patrick’s heart clenched. “Hey there, buddy,” he whispered, crouching slowly. The dog didn’t move—it didn’t growl or try to run. It just lay there.
Exhaling shakily, Patrick glanced around. No collar, no sign that anyone was looking for him. This dog had been abandoned, left to freeze.
“Don’t do it,” a voice called from behind him. Patrick turned to see an older man bundled in layers eyeing him warily as he passed. “Strays like that could be sick, could be dangerous.”
Patrick barely heard him. He turned back to the dog, his heart heavy. “Dangerous?” he muttered. “No, the only thing this dog looks like is tired.”
Without another thought, Patrick shrugged off his thin coat—already frayed at the sleeves—and gently draped it over the trembling dog. He shielded the animal from the biting wind, still unsure of how to help. The dog didn’t move.
“Okay, buddy,” Patrick murmured to himself. “Okay.” He knew he didn’t have the money for a vet—he barely had enough to pay his bills as it was. But he also knew he couldn’t just leave the dog there to die.
With a careful lift, Patrick slid his arms under the dog’s frail body. It was lighter than he expected—too light. The dog let out a weak whimper but didn’t fight. Patrick adjusted his grip, holding him close against his chest.
“I don’t know how I’m going to do this,” Patrick whispered. “But we’ll figure it out.”
He walked slowly, determined steps carrying him back to his apartment. The warmth from inside hit him like a welcome embrace as he pushed open the door. He stepped carefully across the worn carpet, cradling the dog in his arms. He didn’t have a plan. There was barely enough food for himself and Ben, let alone an extra mouth to feed. A vet visit was out of the question, but one thing was for sure: he couldn’t let this dog die.
He lowered the dog gently onto an old blanket in the corner of the room. The dog whimpered but didn’t resist. Patrick grabbed the only towel he could find and began patting him dry, trying to rub warmth back into his freezing limbs. The dog’s fur was coarse and matted with dirt. His ribs protruded sharply beneath his thin coat, and his breaths were shallow and strained.
“Just hang in there, buddy,” Patrick whispered.
A small voice startled him. “Dad?”
Patrick turned to see Ben standing in the doorway of his bedroom, rubbing his sleepy eyes. His curly hair was tousled from sleep, and his favorite stuffed dinosaur dangled from one hand. His gaze drifted down to the dog, and his eyes widened.
“A dog?” Ben rushed forward, but Patrick held up a hand.
“Careful, buddy. He’s not feeling well.”
Ben stopped short, concern clouding his features. He crouched beside Patrick, studying the dog with wide, thoughtful eyes.
“What happened to him?” Ben asked.
Patrick sighed, brushing damp hair from his forehead. “I found him in an alley. He was alone, freezing.”
Ben’s brow furrowed. “Are we keeping him?”
Patrick hesitated. The question hung in the air, and Patrick swallowed hard. “I… I don’t know, Ben.”
Ben reached out but hesitated, his small fingers hovering just above the dog’s ear. “He looks sad,” Ben murmured. “Like he doesn’t know where he belongs.”
Patrick felt a lump rise in his throat. He knew that feeling all too well. Shaking the thought away, he stood. “He needs food and water first.”
He grabbed an old cereal bowl from the cabinet, filling it with water before setting it down in front of the dog. Ben knelt beside it, nudging the bowl closer.
“Come on, buddy,” Ben said softly. “You have to try.”
The dog barely lifted his head. His nose twitched slightly, but he didn’t move. Patrick’s stomach clenched. He had seen it before—animals too far gone to fight anymore. If the dog didn’t eat soon…
“Give him some time, okay?” Patrick said, trying to push away the fear creeping into his chest.
Ben nodded but didn’t leave his spot beside the dog. That night, long after Ben had gone back to bed, Patrick lay awake on the couch, staring at the motionless figure in the corner. The dim glow of the streetlamp outside barely reached into the room, casting long shadows across the walls. He closed his eyes, exhaustion weighing heavily on him.
Then, a soft sound made him blink. He turned his head, barely believing what he saw. The dog, so weak just hours ago, had shifted. He had moved closer, his frail body now curled up just beside Ben’s bed.
Patrick exhaled a shaky breath. He wasn’t giving up. Maybe, just maybe, they could save him after all.
Days passed, and the dog, whom Patrick named Rex, got stronger. It took time before Rex could finish a full meal, but when he did, his eyes became brighter, and his steps steadied. His ribs were still visible beneath his fur, but he no longer trembled when he stood.
Then, one morning, Patrick woke to the sound of soft tapping against the window. Groggy, he rubbed his eyes and saw Rex sitting by the front window, his ears perked and his nose pressed against the glass. He followed Rex’s gaze outside. The early morning light cast long shadows over the quiet street.
It was the same view Rex had seen every day, yet Rex watched it like he was waiting for something.
Patrick’s chest tightened. He was waiting for him.
From that day forward, when Patrick left for work, Rex would take his place by the window. And every night, when Patrick returned, Rex was there, ears perking up the moment he saw him, tail thumping softly against the floor.
The bond between them grew stronger each day. Rex had become not just a rescued dog, but a protector, a companion. Patrick knew it wasn’t just him who had been saved—it was their whole family.
One day, as Patrick returned home, he found the door slightly ajar, the lock scratched and bent. His stomach twisted as he fumbled for his keys. When he entered, the apartment was dark except for the faint glow of a nightlight in the hallway. He froze when he saw Rex standing rigid by the door, his muscles tense, ears pinned forward. A low rumbling growl vibrated through the room.
Patrick followed Rex’s gaze, his blood running cold. A shadow moved outside the window, a dark figure lingering just beyond the glass. Rex’s growl deepened, and his body bristled. Then, a faint click echoed through the air—the intruder was picking the lock.
Before Patrick could react, the door rattled, and Rex lunged. The explosion of movement was instant. Rex flew toward the door just as it cracked open. His bark split the silence like a gunshot. The intruder screamed as Rex’s powerful jaws snapped onto his arm.
Patrick’s paralysis shattered. He grabbed his phone and dialed 911. By the time he turned back, the man had wrenched himself free, stumbling down the street. Rex didn’t chase. He stood in the doorway, his chest heaving, his eyes burning with fierce determination.
Patrick looked down at Rex, realization flooding him. He wasn’t just a dog. He was their protector. Their guardian.
Tears blurred his vision as he dropped to his knees, wrapping his arms around him. “Thank you,” he whispered, his voice trembling. Rex exhaled deeply, pressing his head into Patrick’s shoulder. For the first time since he had found him in that alley, Rex wagged his tail.
Later, when Rex was checked out at the vet, Patrick learned that Rex had an owner, a wealthy businessman named Parker Livingston. But Parker, after hearing the full story, smiled and said, “Rex has chosen you. He’s already home.”
With that, Rex became a permanent part of their family, and their lives changed forever.
Patrick, Ben, and Rex had found their forever home—not just with four walls, but with love, protection, and second chances.
Himself a Dog Parent, Patrick Mahomes’ Chiefs Teammate Rescues 500+ Dogs in a Heartwarming Fashion
The man’s best friend has great pals from the football world where the clash of helmets and the roar of the crowd reign supreme. One such friend has stepped up to tackle a different kind of challenge – saving the lives of countless shelter dogs. Meet Derrick Nnadi, the defensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs, whose heart extends far beyond the gridiron.
For the past four years, Nnadi has been on a mission to give at-risk dogs a second chance at life. In a heartwarming partnership with the KC Pet Project, he has sponsored the adoption fees for over 500 shelter pups, many of whom were candidates for euthanasia. “It elevated him to a really unique platform, and they still just love him for this reason,” says Tori Fugate, the shelter’s chief communications officer. This life-saving initiative was sparked by his own experience with his dog Rocky, who helped him navigate the ups and downs of his final collegiate season at Florida State.
“The whole reason I started the foundation is really because of Rocky,” Nnadi shared with ESPN. “It made me feel empathetic for a lot of the animals that are in shelters.” Witnessing Rocky’s timid nature due to isolation as a puppy opened Nnadi’s eyes to the traumas many shelter dogs endure, prompting him to take action.
Nnadi’s impact transcends the numbers; his actions have brought national attention to the importance of pet adoption and animal welfare. In 2020, after the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV victory, he pledged to cover the adoption fees for all 109 dogs available at the KC Pet Project, clearing the shelter in one fell swoop. This gesture not only found loving homes for these furry friends but also inspired a beer company to donate a whopping $100,000 towards dog adoptions nationwide.
As the shelter crisis continues to escalate, with overcrowding and euthanasia rates on the rise, Nnadi’s unwavering commitment shines as a beacon of hope. “I just want to have my peace and try to help out like a big brother would,” he says, exemplifying the true spirit of a champion both on and off the field.
How NFL Stars Like Nnadi, Patrick Mahomes, and more inspire pet adoption
While Nnadi’s efforts have garnered well-deserved attention, he’s not the only Chief making a difference in the lives of four-legged friends. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife, Brittany, are proud dog parents to their pit bulls, Steel and Silver – the latter named after the couple’s initial plan to name their future daughter “Sterling.” Other NFL stars like Russell Wilson, Tom Brady, and Tony Gonzalez have also used their platforms to advocate for pet adoption and animal welfare causes.
These athletes are setting powerful examples, showing that fame and influence can be harnessed to drive social change and support causes that make a tangible difference in their communities. Mahomes and Brittany teamed up with the KC Pet Project back in 2019, facilitating the adoption of over 70 dogs in a single weekend through their “15 and the Mahomies Foundation.”
But their impact extends beyond adoption events. By sharing their love for their furry companions on social media, they inspire their fans to consider adopting shelter animals, promoting a culture of care and responsibility towards pets. As Tori Fugate, the KC Pet Project’s chief communications officer, puts it, “I had a couple come in from out of town, and I asked them, ‘What drove you to come in?’ They said, ‘Well, we saw that the Chiefs player supports it.’”
These athletes’ stories transcend the world of sports, reminding us that true greatness lies not only in athletic prowess but also in the ability to touch lives beyond the field of play. Their love for their pets and commitment to animal welfare serves as a rallying cry for all of us to open our hearts and homes to those in need, one paw print at a time. As Mahomes himself said, “Honestly my chosen spirit animal is my dog Steel, because me and my dog Steel are exactly the same person, except he’s a dog.”
