Mahomes hasn’t played a single snap since Week 17 of the 2024 regular season, resting in Week 18 along with the majority of Kansas City’s starters. Following this past weekend’s first-round bye, the superstar quarterback and the rest of the Chiefs’ No. 1 unit are hoping to start their postseason run strong.

Mahomes will be joined on this run by his longtime teammate and friend, Travis Kelce.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Mahomes made his opinion of Kelce extremely clear.

“He has the heart of a champion, and I think that inspires everybody,” Mahomes said of the superstar tight end. “”When your leaders and your Hall of Fame guys are doing that, I think everybody knows that they gotta put it all out on the line.”

“@tkelce inspires everyone in our locker room,” the Chiefs wrote in a post on X.

Kelce earned his 10th consecutive Pro-Bowl selection in 2024, reeling in 97 catches for 832 yards and three touchdowns through 16 regular-season games. Just as he did last year, the 12th year NFL veteran will look to improve upon this production in the postseason.

Mahomes, Kelce and the Chiefs are going after the first Super Bowl three-peat in league history.

Saturday’s divisional-round matchup against the Texans will kickoff at 4:30 p.m. EST from Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

See More: Patrick Mahomes Dealing With Devastating Personal News Amid Super Bowl

Super Bowl LIX between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles kicks off in fewer than 12 hours.

Star quarterback Patrick Mahomes is hoping to lead the Chiefs to NFL history as the only franchise to win three straight Super Bowl titles. Mahomes passed Joe Montana for the second most playoff wins in NFL history with an AFC title game win over the Buffalo Bills with his 17th victory — well behind the record of Tom Brady at 35.

While Mahomes chases history, he’s dealing with a devastating personal matter as his grandfather’s health continues to take a turn for the worst.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes looks on at Arrowhead Stadium.

Denny Medley-Imagn Images

During an appearance at NFL Honors on Thursday night, Mahomes’ mother, Randi, revealed her father, Patrick’s grandfather, Randy, is “hanging on” to see him play in the Super Bowl. Late last month Randi revealed her father was moved into hospice care and has dealt with “bad days” in recent weeks, according to People.

Mahomes’ mother told People she doesn’t want to “bug” the star quarterback with updates about his grandfather, but let him know that his grandfather is “watching and he’s excited.”

Despite his bad days, Randi said her father still remembers the Super Bowl is drawing near. “The one thing that he remembers” is when the Super Bowl is. “I know that it has meant a lot to him,” she said. “And I think he’s hanging on because he wants to see his grandson do an amazing thing or just let him play.”

“I mean, he must be such a proud grandpa, so proud. And my mom was very proud and his other grandparents [were too].”

Super Bowl LIX between the Chiefs and Eagles kicks off at 6:30 p.m. EST.