Patrick Mahomes loves being the villain. He has embraced the role.
The 7th-year quarterback will play in his fourth Super Bowl in five years on Sunday when the Chiefs face the 49ers in a rematch of the big game from February 2020. Where Kansas City was considered to be a fun breath of fresh air in the league the last time that these two teams met on the biggest stage, the script has flipped. Outside of Swifities, there is a large contingency of NFL fans who are tired of the consistent dominance and are rooting against the reigning champions.
Brittany and Jackson Mahomes are widely disliked, whether warranted or not. There are a lot of angry people who allowed Taylor Swift to ruin their season and want Travis Kelce to lose. The Chiefs are no longer the fan favorites that they once were.
Patrick Mahomes might even prefer it that way!
He said last week that he has no problem being the the villain. He went one step further during an interview with Nate Burleson.
Mahomes is smart enough to understand that hatred stems from greatness.
I think you’ve seen the greats [embrace the villain role] in every sport, whenever they start building dynasties and stuff like that. And we want to do that, and we want to stamp that with the Super Bowl win.
— Patrick Mahomes
The two-time Super Bowl MVP was unwilling to admit that he enjoys the villain role during his press conference last week and chimed, “I don’t want to say you enjoy it.”
Mahomes changed his tune after Burleson pressed him about the smirk on his face when he said those words. He enjoys it.
I do [like being the villain], man. And I don’t think I really understood it until this year. When you get in the playoffs and you’re on the road and, you know, it’s just you and your teammates versus everybody, it’s a different perspective.
— Patrick Mahomes
Although he is only 28 years old, Mahomes is already one of the best to ever do it. A third Super Bowl ring would bring him one step closer to surpassing Tom Brady as the greatest of all-time. It would also establish the Kansas City Chiefs as a dynasty, which would only grow the target on their back.
That’s okay with Mahomes. All of the people that doubt him fuel his fire!