NFL

Was Patrick Mahomes’ viral behind-the-back pass to Travis Kelce planned? The Chiefs’ quarterback answers

In what was one of the most blatant examples of his prowess, the Chiefs’ signal caller pulled out an unbelievable pass, but was it planned? Let’s find out.

MICHAEL REAVESAFP

It’s not everyday you see a quarterback in the NFL making a behind-the-back pass to a teammate. Frankly, you don’t ever see a quarterback in the NFL doing that. On the other hand, one could argue that Patrick Mahomes isn’t like any other quarterback in the league.

Patrick Mahomes surprised with a behind-the-back pass

On Saturday, the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs faced off against the Detroit Lions in a preseason game. With the start of the 2024-25 NFL season now less than a month away, it was another opportunity for players to get reps and for the team as a whole to build a rhythm. In the end, it turned into a showcase of why Patrick Mahomes, the reigning Super Bowl MVP, is among the best quarterbacks in the NFL today.

Indeed, there was one moment in particular that has now become a viral video, when the Chiefs ran an option in which Mahomes retained the football. Instead of running with it, the Chiefs’ man in the middle slipped it smoothly behind his back to tight end Travis Kelce who after receiving the ball managed to secure a first down. As you can see in the clip above, Mahomes’ pass took the entire defense by surprise, allowing Kelce an open path and in turn the necessary yardage. Needless to say, the crowd went wild which brings us to the obvious question: Was it planned?

Believe it or not, the pass was not part of an Andy Reid-concocted play, but rather the product of a mistake on Kelce’s part and Mahomes’ ability to adapt in a split second under pressure. Speaking after the 24-23 loss to the Lions, Mahomes had this to say. “Long story short, Travis didn’t run the route he was supposed to run. And then it was kind of a behind-the-back pass because I was mad, I was pissed off at Travis. He was supposed to run a flat route...he doesn’t run it. Out of spite, I threw a behind-the-back pass, but now it’s gonna be a highlight,” explained Mahomes after the game.

Now, again, while it appears that the moment would not have occurred had Kelce run the right route, one still has to acknowledge Mahomes’ ability to improvise his play on the fly and in such an outrageous way, something the signal caller appeared to address. “That’s what I’ve been trying to say to everyone. It can’t be planned. It’s gotta be naturally happening in the groove of things... It’s not like I planned that at all or anything, it just sort of happened,” Mahomes said. Of course, credit to Kelce who still had to catch the ball.

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