Patrick Mahomes’ journey to NFL stardom wasn’t straightforward. Growing up in a sports-oriented family, he was exposed to baseball, basketball, and football, thanks to his father, Pat Mahomes Sr., a former MLB pitcher. Despite his strong ties to baseball, Mahomes was drawn more to basketball. In fact, he once stated in a “Would You Rather?” interview that basketball was his “first love.”
In a recent Instagram post, Mahomes’ mother, Randi Mahomes, teased an untold story about how Patrick ultimately chose football over basketball. She hinted at a pivotal moment in his childhood that helped him make the decision, explaining that while he loved both sports, something occurred that changed everything. Randi plans to share more details during a Zoom session with sports parents.
Throughout his high school years, Mahomes was talented in football, baseball, and basketball, playing at Whitehouse High School in Texas. Although many believed he would follow in his father’s footsteps in baseball, he was more drawn to basketball, with even NBA star Steph Curry commenting on his basketball skills. However, Mahomes ultimately transitioned to football, where he became a star, leading the Kansas City Chiefs to multiple championships.
Randi Mahomes also opened up about her parenting choices, reflecting on the challenges of raising a young athlete. After her divorce from Pat Mahomes Sr. in 2006, she became the primary caregiver for Patrick, Jackson, and Mia. In her journey as a sports parent, she once had to rethink how she was supporting Patrick after he gave her feedback about her involvement. This led her to seek professional guidance from Dr. Elizabeth Lombardo, a performance coach, to better understand how to help her children manage pressure.
Randi now plans to share her parenting lessons with other sports parents, aiming to help them understand when to step back and allow their children to take charge of their own decisions.
In this light, the question arises: Did Patrick Mahomes make the right choice by choosing football over basketball? Given his success in the NFL, it’s clear he found his true calling, though his path was anything but easy.