‘Who Is This Guy?’ The Untold Story Behind the NFL Powerhouse Who Cashed In a $690M Jackpot
When Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach first laid eyes on Patrick Mahomes, he wasn’t even supposed to be watching him. In fact, Veach — then the co-director of player personnel — was studying game tape of a Texas Tech left tackle ahead of the 2017 NFL Draft. But as the film rolled, his attention kept drifting toward Texas Tech’s unconventional quarterback, a player wearing No. 5 who was doing things Veach had never seen before.
A Chance Discovery
Mahomes, a former shortstop and the son of a Major League Baseball pitcher, stood out for more than just his arm strength. He delivered passes with the precision and velocity of an infielder, launching throws from every conceivable angle, even as the pocket collapsed around him. Veach couldn’t help but be drawn in.
“All of a sudden you’re down this rabbit hole trying to watch every throw from a quarterback that really wasn’t on your plan for the day,” Veach recalled in ESPN Originals’ docuseries *The Kingdom*, which chronicles Kansas City’s pursuit of a historic three-peat.
As Veach continued to watch, he found himself asking, “Who is this guy?” After a quick search of the Texas Tech roster, he discovered the name: Patrick Mahomes.
Not Everyone Saw the Vision
While Veach was instantly captivated, not everyone in the NFL shared his enthusiasm. Mahomes’ improvisational, non-traditional style of play was a double-edged sword in the eyes of many scouts and executives. Some saw brilliance, others saw recklessness and a lack of discipline.
“People didn’t know how to scout Patrick Mahomes because he played this crazy, inventive, non-traditional style of football,” said veteran NFL journalist Peter King in the documentary.
Even Mahomes’ agent, Chris Cabott, recounted how one rival coach expressed interest in drafting Mahomes but couldn’t convince his front office to take the risk. “Because they were scared,” Cabott said.
Veach’s Conviction
But Veach was undeterred. He saw something special — the highest upside in the draft. When Chiefs head coach Andy Reid noticed Veach’s focus on Mahomes, Veach didn’t hold back.
“I’m watching our next quarterback,” Veach declared. “You’ve got to watch this guy. He’s the best guy I’ve ever seen.”
Veach’s conviction soon won over Reid and the rest of the Chiefs’ front office. By draft night, the team was all-in, trading up 17 spots to select Mahomes with the 10th overall pick, even though they still had veteran Alex Smith on the roster.
A Family Touch
As if he needed any more encouragement, Veach received a heartfelt gesture from his young daughter just before the draft. Inspired by the football movie *Draft Day*, she handed him a card that read: “Pat no matter what.”
“There’s nothing more special than your daughter writing that,” Veach said.
The Payoff
The bold move paid off beyond anyone’s wildest dreams. Since becoming the Chiefs’ starting quarterback, Mahomes has led the team to three Super Bowl victories and earned two league MVP awards. In 2020, he signed a 10-year contract extension worth over $450 million (approximately $691 million AUD), one of the largest deals in sports history.
Reflecting on the journey, Veach marvels at how close the Chiefs came to missing out on their franchise quarterback.
“Looking back on it, we had the smallest of windows to execute something that would completely change the landscape of, not just the NFL, but — more importantly — this city and the community,” Veach said.
“It’s hard to believe that it wasn’t supposed to happen this way.”
From a chance viewing on college tape to a record-breaking contract and Super Bowl glory, the story of how the Chiefs landed Patrick Mahomes is one of vision, conviction, and a little bit of serendipity — a true jackpot for Kansas City.
