73question—I think the reporter just stumbled over
his words—but the greater point is this: I felt like
everybody saw me as Black quarterback instead
of just a quarterback. W hen I left Grambling, that
story line followed me wherever I went.
Well, times change. The decision-makers now
are more open-minded. The environment is there
for players like Mahomes to show how good they
are—but really, there aren’t other players like Ma-
homes. I have heard people say
he is the best player in league
history. I think the assessment
is fair, to a point: He is the best
ever at this stage of his career.
My college coach, the legend-
ary Eddie Robinson, used to
say, “They always talk about
how great a coach I am. Hell, I
have coach-makers.” He meant
that great players made him
look good. Patrick Mahomes
is the ultimate coach-maker.
As great as he is on the
field, I am just as impressed
with him off it. You can name
anybody a captain, but players
know who the real leaders are.Patrick can go to the ’hood, he can go to the city,
and he can go to the government. I think he can
handle himself in any environment.
We are entering a new era of quarterback
play. Peyton Manning is retired. Tom Brady and
Drew Brees are in their 40s. Aaron Rodgers is 37.
On the opening weekend of this season, 10 of the
32 starting quarterbacks were Black. Of the star
Black quarterbacks in the league, the oldest one
is Russell Wilson, who is only 32. No Black quar-
terback will ever feel the way I did when I played.
The opening game of this season—the one the
league selected to showcase—was Chiefs-Texans.
Mahomes faced Deshaun Watson. They are both
Black quarterbacks. They are also the two highest-
paid QBs in the league. I got chills watching it.
Patrick Mahomes benefits from the progress of
previous generations. What I love is that he knows
it and doesn’t take it for granted. He wants to use
his platform in ways we were not allowed to. He
wants to comfort those who need it, to lend a voice
to the voiceless, to make the country better. He is
the highest-paid player in the league because he
is the best. He speaks his mind because he can,
and because he knows the value of his words and
actions. He is lucky he has the opportunities he
has. We are all lucky he takes advantage of them.SPORTSILLUSTRATEDDECEMBER2020P A T R I C K M A H O M E SCH
AR
LIE
RI
ED
EL/
AP
/SH
UT
TE
RS
TO
CK
(F
IEL
D)
FRONT AND
CENTER
Mahomes was
prominent in
players’ Black
Lives Matter
activism ahead
of this season.