When you hear the name Mahomes, your brain probably goes straight to a red jersey, three Super Bowl rings, and those impossible sidearm throws in Kansas City. But honestly? The "magic" started way before the NFL was even a thought. It started on a baseball mound in the 90s. Patrick Lavon Mahomes Sr. wasn't just some guy who happened to have a talented kid. He was a professional athlete who grinded for over two decades.
He pitched for 11 seasons in Major League Baseball. That is no small feat. He wore jerseys for the Twins, Red Sox, Mets, Rangers, Cubs, and Pirates. Basically, he was the definition of a journeyman. You’ve got to be incredibly tough to survive that kind of travel and the constant pressure of being a relief pitcher. People see the father-son photos now, but they forget that Pat Mahomes Sr. was once a sixth-round draft pick in 1988 out of Lindale High School in Texas who had to prove himself every single spring.
What Most People Get Wrong About Pat Mahomes Sr.
A lot of folks think he was just a background character in his son's rise to fame. That's not it at all. If you look at the mechanics of the Chiefs' quarterback—the way he manipulates arm angles and stays calm when the pocket collapses—that’s all baseball. Pat Mahomes Sr. put a ball in his son's hand as soon as he could walk. Patrick Jr. grew up in MLB clubhouses, shagging fly balls at Shea Stadium and getting hitting tips from Alex Rodriguez. That kind of environment breeds a different type of athlete.
He was a "godsend" for the 1999 New York Mets, according to his manager Bobby Valentine. That year, he went a perfect 8-0. He was the long reliever who could come in when the starter got rocked and just stabilize everything. It’s a thankless job, but he was good at it. In total, he finished his MLB career with 42 wins and 452 strikeouts.
🔗 Read more: Who Won the Golf Tournament This Weekend: Richard T. Lee and the 2026 Season Kickoff
He didn't just stop when the big league calls dried up, either. This is where the grit shows. After his last MLB appearance in 2003 with Pittsburgh, he kept playing. He went to the minor leagues. He went to Japan to pitch for the Yokohama BayStars. He even played independent ball for teams like the Sioux Falls Canaries until he was nearly 40. He just loved the game. You can't fake that kind of passion.
The Real Impact on the Kansas City Chiefs Dynasty
Success leaves clues. When Patrick Jr. faces a third-and-long in the fourth quarter, he doesn't panic. Why? Because he watched his dad face 3-2 counts with the bases loaded against the best hitters in the world. He saw the "business" side of sports—the trades, the releases, the rehab.
- Resilience: Pat Sr. was traded or released multiple times. He never quit.
- Adaptability: He transitioned from a starter to a reliever to stay in the league.
- Routine: He taught his son that being a pro is a 24/7 job, not just what happens on game day.
Honestly, the sidearm flick that everyone loves in the NFL is just a shortstop’s throw. Patrick Jr. was a high-level baseball prospect himself—the Detroit Tigers even drafted him in 2014. If Pat Sr. hadn't been such a fixture in the baseball world, we might be watching Patrick Jr. close out games in the MLB right now instead of winning Super Bowls.
💡 You might also like: The Truth About the Memphis Grizzlies Record 2025: Why the Standings Don't Tell the Whole Story
The Human Side and Recent Challenges
Life isn't always a highlight reel. Recently, Pat Mahomes Sr. has been in the news for things outside of sports, specifically a 2024 DWI arrest in Tyler, Texas. It happened just a week before the Chiefs played in Super Bowl LVIII. He ended up pleading guilty and served a 10-day jail sentence in October 2024.
It was a rough moment for the family. Patrick Jr. actually spoke about it later, saying it "hurt" to see his dad go through that, but that it served as a massive wake-up call. Pat Sr. has since been open about his sobriety journey, marking six months "on the sunny side of the road" in late 2024. It’s a reminder that even the parents of "superheroes" are human and face real-world battles.
Why His Legacy Still Matters Today
We talk about "athletic DNA" like it’s magic, but it’s actually about exposure. Pat Mahomes Sr. provided a blueprint. He showed that a kid from a small town in Texas could make it to the big stage and stay there for a long time.
📖 Related: The Division 2 National Championship Game: How Ferris State Just Redrew the Record Books
Actionable Insights for Fans and Parents
- Watch the Mechanics: Next time the Chiefs play, look at Patrick's footwork. It’s almost identical to a middle infielder turning a double play.
- Value the Journey: Appreciate that Pat Sr.'s 22-year professional career (including minors) is what built the mental toughness seen in the Mahomes family today.
- Support Beyond the Game: Recognize that the family's openness about their recent struggles with addiction and legal issues provides a more relatable, human perspective on fame.
He’s more than just "the dad." He's a veteran of the diamond who paved the way for a new kind of football player.
If you want to understand the modern NFL, you have to understand the 90s MLB pitcher who started it all. You can track his full career stats on sites like Baseball-Reference to see the sheer volume of innings he logged. It’s a record of a man who simply refused to put the glove down until he had given everything he had to the sport.