A Chance Encounter: Patrick Mahomes and the Heart of a Community
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the Whole Foods parking lot in downtown Los Angeles. Patrick Mahomes, the legendary NFL star known for his brilliance both on and off the field, pulled his custom electric SUV into a parking spot. At 6’3″, he had to duck slightly as he stepped out of his car, drawing the usual mix of awed stares and excited whispers from nearby shoppers.
As he adjusted his athletic-inspired blazer—a necessity after attending a charity board meeting earlier—he checked his phone one last time. Three missed calls from his financial adviser and a text about a new philanthropic opportunity stared back at him. At 28, Patrick’s empire had expanded far beyond football, encompassing everything from media production to educational initiatives. Yet, a nagging thought lingered in his mind: Was he doing enough to leave a deeper legacy?
Just as he was about to head into the store, movement near the entrance caught his eye. An elderly woman in a wheelchair was struggling with several grocery bags, trying to maneuver herself while preventing the bags from spilling onto the pavement. Despite his celebrity status and the many onlookers, Patrick didn’t hesitate. It reminded him of his late father, who had always emphasized the importance of helping others, no matter how small the act.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” Patrick said, his warm smile lighting up the chilly afternoon. “Let me help you with those bags.”
The woman looked up, her eyes widening in recognition. “Oh my goodness, you’re Patrick Mahomes! My late husband, Derek, and I never missed one of your games. He was the biggest Chiefs fan!” Her voice trembled with emotion, but she quickly added, “But please, I don’t want to trouble you.”
“Trouble? Not at all,” Patrick assured her, already gathering the bags in his powerful hands. “Where’s your car?”
“I live in the senior apartments just down the block,” she replied, gesturing down the street. “My daughter, Velma, usually helps me, but she’s busy today, and we needed groceries. I thought I could manage on my own.”
There was a note of frustration in her voice that Patrick immediately recognized—the determination to maintain independence even when physical limitations made it challenging. “Well, today you’ve got the Patrick Express,” he said with a grin, carefully arranging the bags so he could push her wheelchair while holding everything securely.
As they strolled toward the senior apartments, the woman introduced herself as Helen Johnson. She explained that she had been wheelchair-bound for six years following a car accident but was determined to remain as independent as possible. “My doctor said I might never leave my bed,” she said with quiet pride, “but I refused to let that happen. My late husband always reminded me that Johnson women don’t back down from a challenge.”
Helen spoke with a resilience that resonated with Patrick, who admired her resolve. She shared more about her life, recounting her 30 years as a physical education teacher, inspiring children to love sports and stay active. “I used to tell my students about you,” she said with a warm laugh, “not just about your football career but how you stayed dedicated to education and leadership. You inspired a lot of them.”
As they talked, Patrick kept Helen laughing with his well-known sense of humor, sharing stories about his family, philanthropic projects, and media ventures. Unbeknownst to him, a small group of bystanders had begun to follow them at a respectful distance, their phones out capturing the heartwarming moment. A young boy on a bike stopped to watch, his wide eyes reflecting admiration as he saw the NFL star helping someone in such a simple yet profound way.
The short walk gave Patrick time to reflect on his day and his life. At 28, he had achieved more than most could dream of—NFL championships, business ventures, and philanthropic milestones. But moments like these reminded him of his true purpose. He thought about his father, who had taught him that greatness wasn’t just about winning on the field or succeeding in business but about the positive impact you could have on the lives of others. “Be a giant in your heart, not just in your height,” his father would say.
Earlier that morning, Patrick had been in a high-rise conference room meeting with his team of advisers to discuss potential business ventures. The discussions revolved around investment opportunities and community impact initiatives. Among the proposals was a pitch to invest in a chain of medical supply stores, a venture promising significant profits with projected returns of 20% in the first year alone.
Despite the compelling numbers, something about the deal didn’t sit right with Patrick. Over the years, he had developed a knack for identifying meaningful investments—ones that aligned with his core values. While his team focused on profit margins and glossy reports, Patrick’s thoughts drifted to his
Patrick and Brittany Mahomes’ dogs sport Chiefs friendship bracelets as collars
Brittany Mahomes showed off her pups’ Chiefs-themed friendship necklaced on Instagram.katies.kennel/Instagram
They’re in their Eras era.
Brittany Mahomes gave fans a cute peek at dogs Silver and Steel — and their tributes to BFF Taylor Swift — on social media Sunday.
The pregnant personal trainer shared a post of the adorable pups on her Instagram Story that was first shared by Katie’s Kennel, who was presumably watching the dogs while Patrick and the Kansas City Chiefs took on the Los Angeles Chargers in California.
“Bark LOUD for the @chiefs 🐶🐶🏈❤️,” the company captioned the sweet snaps, showing off Silver and Steel wearing custom red-and-gold friendship bracelet-inspired collars.
The pups modeled their red-and-gold personalized necklaces while at doggy day care.katies.kennel/Instagram
The dogs often wear custom Chiefs bandanas to support Patrick.Instagram/steel_silver_mahomes
They got matching Las Vegas-themed bandanas for the 2024 Super Bowl earlier this year.steel_silver_mahomes/Instagram
Mahomes, 29, commented, “The best pupsss😍😍.”
The collars are from Kansas City company Boujee Beads n’ Bows; Silver’s custom collar sells for $25, while Steel’s $22 style includes football charms and was actually named after him.
The company also sells the necklaces in KC Current colors, representing the women’s soccer team Brittany co-owns.
Patrick surprised Brittany with Steel while the pair were still in college, and the pair added Silver to their family in 2019.Instagram/ Brittany Mahomes
The Mahomeses share a son and a daughter, with a second daughter on the way.brittanylynne/Instagram
The pair love to match each other, with the quarterback and the personal trainer both wearing the same Abercrombie shirt to a pre-season game earlier this year.patrickmahomes/Instagram
The friendship bracelets are, of course, in the style of those popularized by Taylor Swift fans during the pop star’s Eras Tour, where Swifties capitalized on the lyrics, “So make the friendship bracelets / take the moment and taste it” with their own charming baubles.
And the style has become so synonymous with the “Lavender Haze” singer — who is dating Chiefs star Travis Kelce and is close friends with the Mahomeses — that fans are constantly gifting custom versions to anyone in the Swiftian orbit, including the quarterback, tight end and even coach Andy Reid.
While Swift is a cat person rather than a dog lover, Kelce has put his own stamp on the friendship bracelet lore, gifting his girlfriend a gold-and-diamond bracelet in the same style with their “TNT” couple initials for Christmas.
