The Kansas City Chiefs are not very well liked, and Patrick Mahomes knows it.

It’s not surprising, considering that the Chiefs are aiming to win their third straight Super Bowl title and are about to play in their fifth Super Bowl in six years.

Throw in the fact that fans—and players—think that the refs favor Kansas City, and you don’t exactly have a recipe to be loved.

But Mahomes doesn’t seem to care.

When asked about being the “villain” heading into Super Bowl 59 against the Philadelphia Eagles, Mahomes brushed it off.

“I don’t even think it’s embracing being the villains,” Mahomes told reporters. “We embrace who we are, and we believe we play the game the right way. We believe that we play with a lot of heart and a lot of passion for the game and then we win football games. If winning football games makes you a villain, we’re gonna keep going out there and doing it.”

Mahomes has already won three championships and is looking to become just the fourth quarterback in NFL history to win four. Tom Brady, Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw are the other three.

Of course, Brady has seven to his name, and Montana and Bradshaw have four on the dot.

Mahomes isn’t chasing Montana and Bradshaw; he is chasing the GOAT, and while he still has a long way to go to catch Brady, he is certainly trending in that direction.

Brady and the New England Patriots were hated during their run, as well. So were the New York Yankees while winning four World Series titles in five years between 1996 and 2000. The Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls were widely despised, too.

Throw the Golden State Warriors in the mix there, as well.

Success definitely breeds hatred, but that doesn’t seem to faze Mahomes, who has remained cool, calm and collected throughout every circumstance during his NFL career.

Mahomes and the Chiefs are looking to make history. No NFL team has ever won three consecutive Super Bowls. That is obviously at the forefront of Mahomes’ mind. Not the opinions of others.

See More: Patrick Mahomes Says He’s Not Sure If Travis Kelce Will Return to Chiefs Next Season After 2025 Super Bowl Loss

“He’s given so much to this team and to the NFL,” Mahomes said of Kelce after a disappointing Super Bowl loss

Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs, Super Bowl LIX; Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs, Super Bowl LIX . Photo: Michael Owens/Getty; Graythen/Getty

Patrick Mahomes isn’t sure if Travis Kelce will return to the Chiefs next season.

Following a disappointing defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2025 Super Bowl, Mahomes, 29, was asked if he has spoken to Kelce, 35, about whether he will retire from football or return to play another season in the NFL.

Speaking to reporters after the 40-22 loss, Mahomes said he’s going to “let Travis make that decision on his own” after he deserves some well-deserved rest following a long season.

“He’s given so much to this team and to the NFL,” Mahomes said of the superstar tight end. “And he’s been such a joy, not only for me to work with, but for people to watch.”

The quarterback continued, “And he knows he still has a lot of football left in him,” citing that fans “can see it” because Kelce “always makes plays in the biggest moments.”

But whether or not Kelce returns to the NFL will depend on “if he wants to put in that grind” again to dedicate the time and energy it takes to play pro football, Mahomes explained.

If Kelce were to hang up his cleats, Mahomes said his friend and teammate is already a lock to be a “gold jacket guy” and a “first ballot Hall of Famer” with his three Super Bowl wins. “But I know he still has a love for the game,” Mahomes continued, “and he’ll get to spend some time with his family and make that decision on his own.”

Kelce and Mahomes looked defeated at several moments during the game as the Eagles continued to score, pushing their lead to double digits.

Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs walks off the field at half time against the Philadelphia Eagles during Super Bowl LIX.Jamie Squire/Getty

Leading up to the Super Bowl, Kelce said he’s the “happiest” he’s ever been.

”I think I found it all. I just gotta, you know, keep it all. I absolutely love where I am in life. I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. I’m enjoying coming in to work and what I do for a profession in my career. And I have an unbelievable support of family and friends who are chasing me down here for yet another Super Bowl,” he said in an interview with Westwood One Sports on Saturday, Feb. 8.