From Teammates to Trust—Mahomes Opens Up About the Day Smith Earned His Deepest Respect

In the high-pressure world of the NFL, respect isn’t handed out—it’s earned. And for Patrick Mahomes, the moment he truly saw Alex Smith not just as a teammate, but as a trusted leader and mentor, came during a quiet, unforgettable day behind the scenes of the Kansas City Chiefs’ locker room. Mahomes, then a rookie with everything to prove, recalls a moment when Smith showed him exactly what leadership looks like—not with words, but with actions.

That day, Mahomes had made a critical mistake during practice. Frustrated and visibly shaken, he expected criticism or indifference from the veteran quarterback. Instead, Smith pulled him aside and said something that stuck: “Everyone messes up. What matters is what you do next.” Smith then took the time to walk Mahomes through the play, step by step, showing him not only the correction but the confidence to trust himself again. It was a turning point.

“I’ll never forget it,” Mahomes shared in a recent interview. “That’s when I realized Alex wasn’t just a guy I was learning from on paper—he actually cared. He wanted me to succeed, even if it meant I was going to take his job someday.”

Their relationship deepened from that day on. Weekly dinners, film breakdowns, and even light-hearted games like “C-H-I-E-F-S” (their version of H-O-R-S-E) became rituals that built a bridge of trust between them. Mahomes has often said that without that season behind Smith, he wouldn’t be the quarterback—or the man—he is today.

When Alex Smith suffered a near-career-ending leg injury, Mahomes was among the first to publicly offer his support, calling Smith’s comeback “the most inspiring thing I’ve ever witnessed.” Today, with Mahomes now a two-time Super Bowl champion, he still credits Smith as one of the most influential people in his journey.

It was never just about football—it was about how one man’s humility, patience, and quiet strength shaped the next face of the NFL.