Patrick Mahomes will take the field for the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday for the first time as a father of three.
Mahomes and his wife Brittany welcomed their newest daughter, Golden Raye, on January 12th. The quarterback was fortunate enough to earn a bye week the weekend Golden Raye arrived, but returned to practice just days later.
Now he will face the Houston Texans in the playoff game in the divisional round. He carries the historic pressure of trying to lead his team to a third straight Super Bowl – something no team has ever done – along with the personal pressure of fathering another newborn girl.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
Patrick Mahomes and wife Brittany leave the field after his Super Bowl win in February. (Matt Slocum)
As the only active quarterback with a realistic shot to contend with Tom Brady in the all-time legacy discussion, Mahomes faces a much higher stake than Brady did when he took the field as a father of three for the first time.
Brady welcomed his third child, daughter Vivian Lake, on Dec. 5, 2012 — weeks before a potential do-or-die playoff action.
But the stakes were still pretty high. And like Mahomes, Brady’s first game after having his third child also came against the Houston Texans.
Brady and the New England Patriots welcomed a Texans team that led the AFC at the time with an 11-1 record to Gilette Stadium for a Monday Night Football showdown. Brady had the Patriots at a 9-3 record as they looked to chase down Houston for the top spot.
And Brady didn’t miss a beat.
TRAVIS KELCE SHARES TAYLOR SWIFT’S THOUGHTS ON CHIEFS STAR’S POSSIBLE RETIREMENT
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady warms up. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, FIle)
The former Patriots quarterback had a signature game, throwing for 296 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions as New England dominated 42-14. Brady even had a whopping six rushing yards on one carry, which was a good night on the ground for him by his standards in those days.
After the game, Brady enjoyed the win as the perfect end to the week as he informed reporters that his then-wife, Giselle Bundchen, was doing well after giving birth.
Patrick Mahomes’ wife, Brittany Mahomes, celebrates after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime during Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Harry How/Getty Images)
“She’s doing very well,” Brady told reporters of Bundchen after the game. “It’s been a great week, a great way to end it.”
Mahomes has a high bar to live up to. But if he pulls off a similar performance to what Brady did in 2012, his performance could be even more amplified in how it’s recognized.
With a win in the divisional round, Mahomes and the Chiefs will be just two wins away from capturing their unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl title. The spotlight will be even brighter on Mahomes and his wife on Saturday than it was on Brady in 2012, as Taylor Swift will attend, possibly with Brittany.
And like Brady’s 2012 game, Saturday could be the last time Mahomes ever plays football right after having a baby.
“I’m fine with three right now,” he told reporters Tuesday when asked if he wanted another child. “We might look down the line, but my goal was always three, so we’ve had three and we’ll stay there for a while and see if we have to come back and get another one later.”
