Radio host unleashes brutal takedown of Patrick Mahomes after unflattering “dad bod” beach photos surface: “You look like you’ve been living on Taco Bell! You’re an elite athlete—start acting like it!” The fiery rant didn’t hold back, calling the Chiefs QB an “embarrassment” and demanding he get back in shape before the season.
Kansas City is a city that lives and breathes football, and no one embodies its spirit more than Patrick Mahomes. With three Super Bowl rings, two MVP awards, and a career arc that seems destined for Canton, Mahomes has become the face of not just the Chiefs, but the entire NFL. Yet, as the city basked in the summer sun and celebrated the Fourth of July, a different kind of firestorm erupted—not on the field, but in the media.
The Viral Yacht Photos and the Radio Rant
It all began innocuously enough. Photos of Mahomes enjoying a yacht vacation with friends surfaced online, showing the superstar quarterback relaxing, laughing, and—by all appearances—living his best life. But among the sea of likes, retweets, and heart emojis, a different current was brewing.
On Monday morning, Kevin Kietzman, a longtime Kansas City radio and podcast host known for his unfiltered takes, went live on his show, “Kevin Kietzman Has Issues.” He didn’t hold back.
“Vacation photos are popping up of Patrick Mahomes, and he’s fat,” Kietzman declared, his voice tinged with incredulity. “I’m gonna say it, and I’m gonna tell you the truth, that’s why you hit the play button, he’s an embarrassment.”
For nearly ten minutes, Kietzman launched into a tirade, his words scorching the airwaves. He called Mahomes’ physique “a disgrace,” referencing the viral “dad bod” photos and questioning the quarterback’s commitment after a rough Super Bowl loss to the Eagles.
“You’re a $500 million quarterback, you’ve made all these comments in the offseason that ‘We’re gonna do our talking on the field, we got our butts kicked in the Super Bowl, we’re coming back with a vengeance,’” Kietzman said. “Dude, you’re fat. Your belly would be fat at my pool, hanging out with us, 60-year-olds. My skin is flabbier than yours, I get it. Stop. Stop the fast food. Do a sit-up. Do something.”
A City Divided
Kietzman’s comments instantly divided Kansas City and the wider NFL fandom. Some listeners, weary from the Chiefs’ 40-22 blowout loss to the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, nodded along, frustrated by Mahomes’ two interceptions and the team’s sluggish start. But most were appalled.
Social media lit up. Chiefs fans, sportswriters, and even former players rushed to Mahomes’ defense. “Three rings, two MVPs, and you’re worried about a vacation photo?” one fan tweeted. “Let the man live.”
Others pointed to Mahomes’ career stats: 32,352 passing yards, a highlight reel of impossible throws, and a reputation for showing up in the biggest moments. “If this is what a ‘dad bod’ can do, I’ll take it every Sunday,” another posted.
Mahomes’ Response: Humor and Humility
This wasn’t the first time Mahomes’ physique had sparked conversation. Back in January 2024, after a shirtless victory speech following the AFC Championship win over Baltimore, Mahomes had poked fun at himself on X (formerly Twitter): “Yoooo why they have to do me like that!?!?!? #DadBodSZN.”
This time, Mahomes chose not to escalate the situation. Friends say he laughed off the criticism in private, focusing instead on his offseason workouts and family time. Publicly, he kept his response light, sharing another playful post: “Guess it’s time to add some crunches to the routine. #DadBodGoals.”
The Trainer Claps Back
But not everyone in Mahomes’ camp was willing to let the criticism slide. Bobby Stroupe, Mahomes’ longtime trainer and performance coach, took to social media with a fiery defense—though his posts were later deleted.
“You obviously need attention,” Stroupe wrote, addressing Kietzman directly. “If you want to see what in shape is — go make it through a practice at Saint Jo or run hurry up offense scrambling back to back to back plays. You don’t have a clue what it takes. It’s not a look, it’s performance.”
Stroupe’s point was echoed by many in the league. In a sport where durability, agility, and mental toughness matter as much as muscle definition, Mahomes’ on-field results speak for themselves.
The Larger Conversation
Kietzman, for his part, insisted that his criticism came from a place of concern. “I only do this as a precaution because I love the guy. He’s an enormous talent. But I cannot stand it when I see somebody just sit back on their talent and not be the best that they are,” he said on his podcast.
He also took aim at modern NFL training culture, lamenting, “Going to camp and getting in shape is like 1970s baseball – nobody does that anymore. That’s not how it works at the highest level.”
But for many, the rant felt out of touch. Mahomes, now preparing for his ninth NFL season, has never missed a game due to conditioning. His offseason regimen—crafted with Stroupe’s help—focuses on explosiveness, flexibility, and injury prevention rather than aesthetics.
Teammates and Coaches Weigh In
Inside the Chiefs’ locker room, the controversy was little more than background noise. Travis Kelce, never shy with the media, quipped, “If Pat’s out of shape, I want to be out of shape too. The dude’s a machine.”
Head coach Andy Reid, asked about the criticism at a preseason press conference, was characteristically supportive. “Patrick’s a competitor. He prepares as hard as anyone I’ve ever coached. I’m not worried about a photo on a boat. I’m worried about September—and so is he.”
Moving Forward
As training camp approached, Mahomes did what he’s always done: put in the work, lead by example, and let his play do the talking. The viral photos faded from memory, replaced by clips of Mahomes firing no-look passes and orchestrating hurry-up drills under the punishing Missouri sun.
For Kansas City fans, the episode was a reminder of the pressures that come with greatness. Three Super Bowl rings, two MVPs, and a highlight reel for the ages are apparently not enough to silence every critic.
But for Mahomes, the only expectations that matter are his own—and those of the city he calls home. As one fan put it, “He’s our quarterback, dad bod and all. And we wouldn’t trade him for the world.”
