The Chiefs quarterback was asked whether coaching appeals to him
The countdown continues toward kickoff of Super Bowl LVIII. The Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers are looking no farther ahead than Sunday night, when they will square off at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas for the right to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
But win or lose, life will go on for each coach and player involved in the year’s biggest game. And some day, coaches decide to step away from football and players may step in to take their place. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes on Wednesday indicated that he might be willing to make the transition from making plays happen to calling them from the sideline.
Mahomes expresses interest in coaching
During Wednesday’s media availability, Mahomes was asked whether he saw a future for himself in coaching when his NFL career comes to an end — likely to be capped with induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback quipped that he already feels like “the old guy” on the Chiefs — even though he’s just 28 years old — as he’s helped many of Kansas City‘s young players adapt to the team’s culture.
“I would hope I make a good coach,” Mahomes said. “The hours would be tough.”
Mahomes ultimately suggested that veteran running back Jerick McKinnon would make a great head coach in the future, and he also name-checked experienced tight end Blake Bell as a potential coach someday — players who see the game from a different vantage point than a quarterback.
.@PatrickMahomes hopes he can make a great coach one day 👀 pic.twitter.com/6q596CR8uR
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) February 7, 2024
Mahomes has learned from one of the best
If and when Mahomes decides he wants to enter the coaching ranks, he will undoubtedly be able to draw upon the knowledge base of his current head coach — one of the best ever to do the job in the NFL.
Andy Reid has been the only man to coach Mahomes in the NFL, and the pairing has been among the most successful in league history. Reid and Mahomes have guided the Chiefs to four Super Bowl appearances in six seasons together — while Mahomes can become only the sixth quarterback ever to win the Super Bowl three times if Kansas City defeats San Francisco on Sunday night.
Holy Toledo, Andy Reid mic'd up never gets old 😄
Will he be celebrating again on Sunday with a cheeseburger? pic.twitter.com/3cGTFYySNd
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) February 7, 2024
Including the playoffs, Reid has won 283 games across 25 years as an NFL head coach. Among active coaches, only Bill Belichick has more victories — or Super Bowl rings — than Reid, who has repeatedly stated that he is not planning to retire anytime soon. This means Mahomes has a chance to learn even more from one of the greatest coaching minds that football has ever seen.
“I don’t understand why the Niners are favored… In the playoffs with Patrick Mahomes as his quarterback, off of a bye, Andy Reid is 6-1.” @MatthewBerryTMR shares his Super Bowl predictions with @Stugotz790 and @billygil.
Presented by @DiGiorno. pic.twitter.com/MYLwRHvc6q
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) February 7, 2024