It wasn’t long ago that Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes was a rookie quarterback in the NFL, sitting behind Alex Smith and learning the ways of becoming a true professional. Mahomes didn’t earn but one opportunity to start a game as a rookie. Looking across the aisle to his Week 14 opponent, Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa, the young superstar from the University of Alabama has taken a different path when it comes to becoming an NFL starter.
“You can see it from his college career and then now in his pro career, he knows how to manage the game and manage the situation,” Mahomes said. “I mean he does a good job of knowing that his defense, his special teams are working and can do what he can on offense to put up enough points to win football games. He’s done that his whole career and that’s truly a remarkable thing. I mean that’s something that I wasn’t that good at my first year here and obviously, he has the talent. He can make all the throws, he can roll to his right, to his left and throw off balance, and he can run and make stuff happen too, so that veteran kind of mental mindset that he has, I think it’s truly special at this time in his career.”
Mahomes has been impressed with what he’s seen from the Dolphins rookie quarterback. He’s mostly studied the Miami defense so far, but he has a vested interest in Tagovailoa. The two players are both represented by Steinberg Sports & Entertainment, so their familiarity extends beyond the football field. They also both seem to share a similar mindset when it comes to winning.
“Yeah, I actually talked to Tua a couple of times,” Mahomes said. “He’s actually in the same agency as me, so we were able to talk through that. But I mean, he’s just he’s super talented. He understands what it takes to win football games. I think that comes from playing at Alabama and winning those national championships there. He understands exactly what needs to be done to win football games”
A similarity that Mahomes and Tagovailoa both share as rookies is that they had great veteran mentors in their corner. While the situations are a little different, with Ryan Fitzpatrick getting benched in favor of the rookie and vice versa at various points of the season, Mahomes recognizes a similar dynamic in that quarterback room.
“I think they have a great dynamic there where they’re like me and Alex,” Mahomes told reporters on Wednesday.” Two great football players that just want to go out there and win in whatever way possible and help out the team.”
Similarities and differences aside, Mahomes understands the challenge that lies ahead in this Dolphins team. What they’re doing offensively and defensive is working to the tune of eight wins this season. He echoed his head coach, understanding the great challenge that lies ahead.
“So, I mean, obviously, it works, and they’ve won a lot of football games,” Mahomes said. “It’ll be a great challenge for us this week to beat a really good football team.”
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