"I could change any play at anytime": When Patrick Mahomes shared how Texas Tech coach helped him break the 'system quarterback' stereotype
Three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes played college football for Texas Tech from 2014 to 2016. During his time there, especially during the time as the 2017 draft approached, many referred to Mahomes being the system quarterback and would fall in the list of those quarterbacks who failed to translate well in the league.
However, that didn't hold true with him bringing a winning culture to the Kansas City Chiefs, who drafted him in the first round of the 2017 draft.
Despite what others thought, Mahomes was always confident in his skills and rebuffed claims that attributed him as "system quarterback." During his appearance on The Dan Patrick Show in April 2017, he said he had full control and authority to change plays at any moment given by his coach, Kliff Kingsbury.
"Hey, they don't understand that I'm changing plays. I'm signing on all the plays, like we're looking at a sign. I'm in total control of that offense, and I feel like, with the throws, I could change any play at any time. Coach Kingsbury let me do that, so I feel like he prepared me well to have that freedom in the NFL," Mahomes said (2:00 onwards).
"The biggest thing for me is just getting exposed to new stuff: protections, different NFL, West Coast, or whatever play concepts, and more defenses. I feel like I'll process it well. That's the only thing I haven't done yet that I did in college."
Patrick Mahomes hails Kliff Kingsbury for taking him under his wing
Patrick Mahomes wasn't a highly recruited prospect in 2014. He did receive some offers but as he recalls no one believed in him more than Kliff Kingsbury, who coached at the Texas Tech for six seasons.
“It’s someone who’s taught me a ton,” Mahomes said via Yahoo Sports. “He got me, kind of out of high school, where I was a baseball player trying to play football. Basically, trying to be on my own. You’re leaving the household and kind of being on your own, and he helped me become who I am today.”
“They were really the first and only because I didn’t get recruited by much,” Mahomes added. “I mean, I got a couple of other offers from some smaller schools. They were the one school. I credit Kingsbury; he was the one that came down, saw me, talked to me.”
Today, Patrick Mahomes is hailed as one of the best quarterbacks of this generation, with multiple MVPs and Super Bowls to his name. The Chiefs fans should thank Kliff Kingsbury for converting the talent Mahomes had from high school.