This is the online version of our morning newsletter, The Morning Win. Subscribe to get irreverent and incisive sports stories, delivered to your mailbox every morning.
MIAMI — It took some time, as Patrick Mahomes had a ton of media responsibilities to attend to after leading the Chiefs to a comeback win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 54, but the game’s MVP finally made it back to the locker room late Sunday night and his teammates couldn’t have been happier to see him.
But he was even happier than they were to see his guys all together for the first time since the confetti fell at Hard Rock Stadium.
With the game ball tucked under his arm, Mahomes immediately made his way around the locker room, hugging and high-fiving every teammate in the room.
Patrick Mahomes enters the Chiefs locker room, goes around to each locker to slap five. pic.twitter.com/eXcgVJ6Hzb
— Andy Nesbitt (@anezbitt) February 3, 2020
First there was star tight end Travis Kelce, one of his favorite targets and best friends who had a smile from ear to ear. The two hugged and laughed and yelled. Total happiness.
Then Mahomes made his way to the group of receivers who had their lockers together. The QB hugged each one and he didn’t tone down the intensity of any of the hugs at all.
The defense then got their hugs.
And finally the offensive linemen got theirs.
This is who Mahomes is, teammates told me after the game – an incredible talent on the field and the best teammate you could ask for, which was easy to see from the way his guys embraced him.
“He’s an even better person than he is player and he’s a world champ… which tells you all you need to know about him,” said a beaming Kelce.
Mahomes was a master yet again Sunday night. Through three quarters, he struggled. But just when it seemed that the Niners’ vaunted defense found a way to keep him down, Mahomes lit them up for two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter that put them ahead for good.
“That’s Showtime Mahomes, baby,” Kelce said. “I can’t tell you how much he means to this team, this city, this organization. I hope he stays in Kansas City for the rest of his career.”
Mahomes was clearly just one of the guys in the locker room after leading them to a Super Bowl win.
He told backup QB Matt Moore, whose locker is next to his, that he loved him after he gave him a big hug.
He sat in his chair and talked to an equipment manager about some of the big hits he took, laughing about one early in the game that really hurt.
All this time teammates danced throughout the locker room and snapped photos and videos for social media. You got the sense that the party was just beginning.
The Chiefs are Super Bowl champs now, for the first time in 50 years. Mahomes helped get them there but they all did it together.
“We’re like a band of brothers,” Kelce said. “And now we’re married forever. We’ve all got the same ring.”
And they are all lucky to have the same QB.
Sunday’s biggest winner: Andy Reid.
The Chiefs legendary coach finally got his first Super Bowl win Sunday night and he couldn’t have been happier. He also couldn’t wait to get his hands on a cheeseburger. Something tells me he’s not going to need to buy a cheeseburger ever again in Kansas City.
Quick hits: Mahomes’ tweet comes true… Sherman gets roasted… And more!
– Mahomes’ 7-year-old tweet finally came true.
– Richard Sherman got roasted for getting roasted by Sammy Watkins.
– This time-lapse video of the Super Bowl halftime show stage being put together is cool.
– The 49ers’ loss is even more shocking when you look at this probability chart.