The landscape of elite quarterbacks has changed in the NFL, and young stars such as Deshaun Watson, Lamar Jackson, and Patrick Mahomes are the flag bearers. Mahomes shared his thoughts on the rival quarterbacks, and the impact each player has had on the racial stereotype of the position.
Mahomes was very candid in his response to questions regarding race during his discussion on HBO’s “The Shop: Uninterrupted” last Saturday night. Co-Executive Producer Maverick Carter posed questions about possibly feeling the pressure as a successful black quarterback.
“I didn’t feel any added pressure until this year,” said Mahomes. “I don’t know what it was about this year. It could’ve been Lamar [Jackson], Deshaun [Waston] and how we kind of elevated our game — we were doing our thing. But growing up, my dad played baseball, and there’s every race there. So I didn’t know any different I was just going, ‘The best player played.’ That’s how it was, so I didn’t even watch football like that.
“I think this year seeing how much it meant for us to do this, we can be at the top of the league, and it wasn’t just running; it wasn’t just scrambling and doing all that different stuff we were mentally just dominating the game.”
Mahomes was league MVP in 2018, while Jackson followed by winning the award last season. Watson helped lead the Texans to a division title and playoff win before falling to the eventual champion Kansas City Chiefs. Mahomes would go on to discuss understanding the impact of being a successful black quarterback in the NFL.
“I think I started realizing it after I played either Deshaun or Lamar and they had the little special on Sports Center,” said Mahomes. “I could see how much it was impacting, not only me, but the kids below me. And the guys that came before me like Doug Williams and all these guys, I knew their stories. It hadn’t impacted me as much as it did until I realized I could not be where I’m at if it wasn’t for guys like that before me laying the foundation for me to come out and play.”
Mahomes continues to lead the charge in changing the face of the position moving forward. His exciting and efficient style of play impacts all cultures and opens the door for more diverse opportunities throughout the league.