On Monday, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs agreed to a 10-year extension worth up to $503 million that will keep him in Kansas City through the 2031 season.
With a payout of that large, Mahomes will have the largest contract in American professional sports. Mike Trout had previously held that distinction when he signed a 12-year, $426.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels in March 2019.
While Mahomes total money eclipse that of Trout, it isn’t entirely true. Trout’s money is fully guaranteed. Mahomes has $140 million guaranteed in case of a career ending injury.
Assuming Mahomes remains healthy throughout, the Chiefs will have zero regrets of locking up the best player in the NFL at the age of 24. They will have him in Kansas City throughout his prime.
Mahomes won’t turn 25 until September 17th, but his production at this age is impressive. His 17 career 300-yard passing games is tied with Matthew Stafford for the most in league history by a player before his 25th birthday. His eight games with at least four TD passes leads all QBs before turning 25.
Mahomes was named the NFL MVP after the 2018 season, when he led the NFL with 50 touchdown passes and threw for 5,097 yards in his first full season as a starter.
At 24 years old he was MVP of Kansas City’s 31-20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV, becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to win a league MVP and Super Bowl before turning 25. Mahomes single handily took a Chiefs team once led by Alex Smith that was a playoff team, to true title contenders year in and year out.
Overall, Mahomes has thrown for 9,412 yards with 76 touchdowns and 18 interceptions in 31 regular-season games. In five playoff games, he has thrown for 1,474 yards with 13 touchdowns and two interceptions.
If there has ever been a NFL player deserving of a record setting deal, Mahomes would be that guy. Nobody has been as successful this early in their careers.
