In case you missed it, a photo of a Patrick Mahomes look-alike has made the rounds on social media on July 31.
Nebraska Football’s X account originally posted the picture of quarterback Dylan Raiola arriving at training camp on July 30. But it didn’t truly take off until ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter shared it the following afternoon.
“Five-star QB Dylan Raiola pulled up to Nebraska camp looking like Patrick Mahomes,” Schefter captioned. And the resemblance is truly uncanny.
Many reacted to Schefter’s post — which currently has over one million views — as well as the original among others that shared it. Before long, former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill even got in on the fun.
“Boy ain’t no way 😂,” Hill said, tagging Mahomes’ account. That prompted a response from the MVP QB himself, who voiced: “That’s my lil cuzzo.”
As Mahomes gains more and more popularity as the unquestioned face of the entire NFL, it’s safe to assume that younger athletes will mirror his look. Whether it’s the haircut, the wide Oakley sunglasses or the facial hair.
Raiola may have done that jokingly in his arrival, but there’s a connection between the two signal-callers too — as Mahomes alluded. Husker Extra reporter Sam McKewon revealed that the Nebraska freshman has been training with Bobby Stroupe during an April interview.
“Bobby [Stroupe] has a lot of things that he does,” Raiola said of Mahomes’ personal trainer. “I think the best thing he focuses on is flexibility in uncomfortable positions. Being strong…trying to stay loose, stay flexible, avoiding hits. And when you’re taking hits, you become durable.”
The college QB also noted that he’d try to get some “on field work” in with Mahomes this summer if the two are training with Stroupe at the same time.
Patrick Mahomes & Dylan Raiola Have in Fact Met Each Other in Person
After the look-alike photo went viral, Ben Stevens of SportsGrid cleared one thing up for fans.
“Before you ask ‘has anyone ever seen Patrick Mahomes & Dylan Raiola in the same room before…?’ Yes, yes they have,” Stevens chimed in. Sharing a picture of Mahomes and Raiola training together with Stroupe.
“I just want to be around greatness,” Raiola told McKewon when asked about working out with Mahomes. “Obviously, he’s going down as one of the greats already. But just trying to take it all in and elevate my game as much as I can.”
Raiola will attempt to help turn around the Nebraska football program during his first collegiate campaign in 2024.