Justin Reid reveals how Patrick Mahomes' freelancing helped Chiefs lift Super Bowl LVIII - "This is part of the Mahomes magic"
In February, Justin Reid watched Patrick Mahomes, from the sidelines, operate in close quarters to deliver a third Super Bowl victory for the Kansas City Chiefs. He revealed that the final pass to Mecole Hardman was unscripted.
Reid was a guest on the "Green Light" podcast with Chris Long. The Chiefs safety broke down the game-winning play, in the overtime, from Mahomes and said that the quarterback freelanced it because 49ers DE Nick Bosa blew up the shovel pass.
"That play is so crazy because you know Patrick actually freelanced that play. It was actually supposed to be a shovel pass. But Bosa blew it up. Bosa blew up the shovel pass where it wasn't there yet. Patrick just saw that Mecole [Hardman] was open."
He added:
"He [Mecole Hardman] wasn't really supposed to get the ball on his plate, but this is just part of the Mahomes magic on what he does. And he's just a baller and makes things happen. He saw an opportunity. He took it. He threw the ball and you know it's game over."
With six seconds left on the clock and a Super Bowl at stake, Mahomes faked a run after taking the snap and hit Hardman, who ran in motion before changing directions.
The Chiefs started the final drive at the 25-yard line. Patrick Mahomes threw for 42 yards, with zero incompletions, going eight for eight. The Chiefs QB ran for 27 more yards. The 2x NFL MVP accounted for 69 of the 75 Super Bowl-winning yards in passing and rushing.
Justin Reid talks Patrick Mahomes and Chiefs' quest for historic Super Bowl three-peat
Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs will enter the 2024 NFL season, once again, as the Super Bowl favorites. The players know what's at stake this year - a chance to create history - with another Super Bowl victory.
Reid is well aware of this. Speaking on the same podcast, the Chiefs safety said that the players understand it's going to be a tough road ahead for the team, in quest of their Super Bowl three-peat. Reid mentioned that the players are ready for the challenge, to carve their legacy. [From 42:38]
"It's legacy. It's a competitive nature... There's no shortcuts to it. We know how tough it's going to be. No one's gonna roll over for us. But the challenge of it, is how you write your name in history, man. So this is this is just legacy for us to do something that's never been done before."
The Chiefs have a much better than 2023 and are well-suited for a historic three-peat. They extended Travis Kelce to a $34.25 million contract, keeping him through 2025. The Chiefs brought in a lethal offensive weapon for Patrick Mahomes in Marquise "Hollywood" Brown and drafted speedy wide receiver Xavier Worthy.