How A 3 Star Recruit Became An NFL Legend

Patrick Mahomes was overlooked and unwanted. Now, he’s the king of the NFL. Here’s how Mahomes went from a 3-star recruit to the league’s undisputed best player.

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From being overlooked as a high school recruit to becoming the highest-paid player in NFL history, Patrick Mahomes’ journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Despite his natural athletic ability and an impressive high school career, he was only rated as a three-star recruit. Yet, through perseverance, hard work, and an unrelenting belief in himself, Mahomes transformed into the face of the NFL and one of the greatest quarterbacks the league has ever seen.

Early Life and High School Career

Patrick Mahomes was born into a family of athletes. His father, Pat Mahomes Sr., was a Major League Baseball pitcher for over a decade, and young Patrick inherited his father’s incredible arm strength. Growing up in Texas, he excelled in multiple sports, playing football, basketball, and baseball at Whitehouse High School.

Even as a freshman, Mahomes stood out. He was a varsity starter on the basketball team and became a dominant presence on the baseball field. By the time he was a senior, he was averaging 19 points and eight rebounds per game in basketball. However, it was baseball where he truly shined. A childhood friend and teammate recalled that from the age of eight to eighteen, Mahomes only struck out twice. As a senior, he threw a no-hitter with 16 strikeouts, and his fastball reached the mid-90s. His talent was so undeniable that Perfect Game ranked him as the 35th-best baseball prospect in Texas.

Despite his potential as a baseball player, Mahomes’ love for football never faded. As a junior, he became the varsity starting quarterback and put up staggering numbers, throwing for 3,839 yards and 46 touchdowns. His senior year was even more remarkable—4,619 passing yards, 50 passing touchdowns, 948 rushing yards, and 15 rushing touchdowns. His all-around excellence earned him MaxPreps National Male Athlete of the Year honors.

Yet, despite these incredible achievements, Mahomes was only rated as a three-star football recruit by major scouting services like Rivals, ESPN, and 247 Sports. Shockingly, no Division I program outside of Texas even offered him a scholarship. His only offers came from Texas Tech, Houston, and Rice. Faced with limited options, Mahomes committed to Texas Tech, where he planned to play both football and baseball.

College Career: Proving the Doubters Wrong

Upon arriving at Texas Tech, Mahomes had to wait for his opportunity. As a freshman, he was the backup quarterback but got his chance late in the season when the starter suffered an injury. In his final game of the year against fifth-ranked Baylor, Mahomes made a statement, throwing for 598 yards and six touchdowns, setting a Big 12 freshman record.

The following season, Mahomes exploded onto the national stage. He led the country in total offense per game and became one of only five quarterbacks in FBS history to throw for at least 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns while also rushing for over 450 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Before his junior year, Mahomes made a difficult decision—he left the baseball program to focus solely on football. That choice paid off in spectacular fashion. Mahomes led the nation in passing yards per game (421), total passing yards (5,052), total offense (5,312 yards), and total touchdowns (53). After an electrifying college career, Mahomes declared for the 2017 NFL Draft.

Entering the NFL: The Kansas City Chiefs’ Gamble

Despite his gaudy college stats, Mahomes was not the consensus top quarterback prospect. He was the second quarterback taken in the draft, selected 10th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs. To get him, the Chiefs traded their 27th pick, a 2017 third-rounder, and a 2018 first-round pick to the Buffalo Bills.

At the time, Kansas City already had a solid veteran quarterback in Alex Smith, making the move to draft Mahomes a surprise to many. Mahomes spent most of his rookie season as a backup, making his debut in Week 17. But the Chiefs’ faith in him was clear when they traded Smith to Washington after the season, handing the reins to Mahomes.

The Rise to Superstardom

In his first full season as a starter in 2018, Mahomes took the league by storm. He threw for 5,097 yards and 50 touchdowns, winning the NFL MVP award in just his second year. The Chiefs made the AFC Championship Game for the first time since 1993 but lost a heartbreaking overtime battle to the New England Patriots.

In 2019, Mahomes’ dominance continued. Though he missed two games due to injury, he still threw for over 4,000 yards and 26 touchdowns. In the playoffs, he engineered one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history. Down 24-0 against the Houston Texans in the divisional round, Mahomes led the Chiefs to a stunning 51-31 victory. He then guided Kansas City past the Titans in the AFC Championship, setting up a Super Bowl showdown with the San Francisco 49ers.

Trailing 20-10 in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LIV, Mahomes once again delivered, leading the Chiefs to 21 unanswered points and securing their first championship in 50 years. He was named Super Bowl MVP, cementing his status as the league’s next superstar.

The Record-Breaking Contract

In July 2020, the Chiefs rewarded Mahomes with a historic 10-year, $477 million contract extension, with incentives pushing the total to $503 million—the richest contract in sports history.

The following season, Mahomes led the Chiefs back to the Super Bowl, but this time, injuries on the offensive line proved costly as they fell to Tom Brady’s Buccaneers. Despite the loss, Mahomes remained determined. In 2021, he threw for nearly 5,000 yards and 37 touchdowns, but the Chiefs fell short in the AFC Championship against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Overcoming Doubts and Cementing His Legacy

Before the 2022 season, the Chiefs traded Mahomes’ top target, Tyreek Hill, sparking speculation that he would struggle. Instead, Mahomes silenced critics by leading the league in passing yards (5,250) and touchdowns (41) while winning his second MVP award.

In the playoffs, Mahomes battled through a high ankle sprain but still led the Chiefs to another AFC Championship victory over the Bengals. He then capped off the season by winning Super Bowl LVII against the Philadelphia Eagles, securing his second Super Bowl MVP award.

With Tom Brady’s retirement, Mahomes has firmly established himself as the new face of the NFL. His incredible combination of arm talent, creativity, leadership, and resilience has already placed him among the greatest quarterbacks of all time. At just 28 years old, his journey is far from over, and the football world eagerly watches to see how high he can climb.

Patrick Mahomes’ story is a testament to perseverance, proving that even a three-star recruit can rise to become an all-time great. The league belongs to him now, and his reign is only beginning.

See More: Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes leaves out teammate while shaking hands during Super Bowl LIX loss

Samaje Perine stood up to greet Mahomes, but his QB seemingly left him hanging

Vibes weren’t high on the Kansas City Chiefs’ sideline during Super Bowl LIX as they were uncharacteristically blown out by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, though, was spotted walking down the bench dapping up his teammates, trying to keep spirits high at a time when they were at their lowest all season.

However, Mahomes is being scrutinized for seemingly forgetting to shake hands with one of his running backs, Samaje Perine, as he went down the line.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Samaje Perine during a press conference in advance of Super Bowl LIX (Stephen Lew-Imagn Images)

Perine had stood up, acting like he was going to shake hands with his quarterback, but Mahomes skipped him to talk to tight end Travis Kelce instead.

The video of Mahomes went viral after the 40-22 loss, with many wondering why he would pass up on Perine after going through the rest of his teammates.

Perine is a veteran in the NFL, playing his first year with the Chiefs in 2024 after spending time with the Washington Commanders, Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos in prior seasons.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes walks off the field after losing to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. (Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)

Perine was used mainly in the pass game out of the backfield, hauling in 28 receptions for 322 yards and one touchdown for the Chiefs during the regular season. He had 92 rushing yards on 20 carries with a score as well.

Perine caught a pass from Mahomes in the AFC Championship against the Buffalo Bills, which sealed their victory and put them into their third straight Super Bowl.

While Mahomes never commented on what happened with forgetting Perine on the sideline after the game, he did post about the loss after the worst start of his career.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes after Super Bowl LIX (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)

“Appreciate all the love and support from #ChiefsKingdom. I let y’all down today. I’ll always continue to work and try and learn and be better for it. Want to give thanks to God for every opportunity he has given me. We will be back,” he wrote on X.