Patrick Mahomes nearly picked baseball over football – and Alex Rodriguez can’t believe how wrong his advice turned out to be.
As the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback gets ready for his fourth Super Bowl appearance this Sunday, A-Rod is looking back at the career-changing guidance he once gave a young Mahomes.
“I remember saying, ‘Patrick, there is no future in football. You are a baseball player,'” Rodriguez recalled in an Instagram post this week. “Man, am I glad he didn’t listen to me.”
The connection between the two athletes goes way back. When Mahomes was just a kid, his dad Pat pitched for the Texas Rangers in 2001. Young Patrick spent countless hours around the team, soaking up wisdom from stars like Rodriguez.
Baseball wasn’t just a passing interest for Mahomes. He was a legitimate two-sport star in high school, catching the eye of MLB scouts and college baseball programs. The Detroit Tigers even drafted him in the 37th round back in 2014.
But Mahomes had other plans. He chose football and headed to Texas Tech instead.
It’s turned out to be a pretty good decision.
At just 28 years old, Mahomes has already racked up two NFL MVP awards and three Super Bowl victories. This Sunday, he could add a fourth championship ring to his collection.
His incredible athleticism – the no-look passes, the scrambling throws, the playground-style plays – probably would have made him a star on the baseball diamond too. But Kansas City fans are thrilled he picked the gridiron instead.
Looking back now, A-Rod’s well-meaning career advice to stick with baseball might be one of the best things Mahomes never listened to.
