Patrick Mahomes has returned from a family trip to Disneyland, and he’s now diving into one of his earliest passions—sports of all kinds. While most know him as the Kansas City Chiefs’ star quarterback, Mahomes’ love for athletics goes far beyond football. As a child, he played both baseball and football and also had a brief stint in basketball, which sparked a lifelong admiration for the game.
Recently, Mahomes was tuned in to the NCAA Tournament, specifically watching the semifinal matchup between Duke and the Houston Cougars. Earlier in the day, the Florida Gators faced off against Auburn. But Mahomes focused on Duke’s game, which turned out to be a dramatic contest.
Duke initially faced a tough challenge from the Cougars. However, freshmen Kon Knueppel and Cooper Flagg played key roles in helping Duke gain a 34-28 lead by halftime. In the final eight minutes of the game, Houston narrowed the gap with a 10-0 scoring run, bringing them within four points. But Flagg responded with a crucial three-pointer with just three minutes left. Duke ultimately secured a 70-67 win, ending the Cougars’ run. It was a historic moment for Houston nonetheless, as it marked their first appearance in the national championship game since the 1983-1984 season.
Crazy!!
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) April 6, 2025
Mahomes, clearly caught up in the excitement, reacted to the thrilling finish with a single word on social media: “Crazy!!” Like many fans, he was emotionally invested in the game, especially since he has a deep connection to Duke basketball.
His relationship with the Duke program has grown over the years. In fact, former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski once praised Mahomes’ athleticism, saying he had the potential to be an elite point guard had he chosen basketball over football. They’ve shared playful exchanges on social media, highlighting the bond between the quarterback and the school’s basketball tradition.
Basketball has become a beloved offseason hobby for Mahomes. Not long ago, he was also cheering for his own alma mater, Texas Tech. After the Red Raiders defeated Arkansas in the tournament, Mahomes proudly posted an Instagram story with the caption: “You already know! @texastechmbb.” But the celebration didn’t last long. On March 29, Texas Tech was knocked out of the Elite Eight by the Florida Gators.
Even though the loss ended their championship hopes, Mahomes still had a proud personal moment. After signing a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deal with Adidas, he saw his custom logo appear on Texas Tech uniforms—a deeply emotional achievement for him. He called it one of the most meaningful off-field accomplishments of his career, reflecting on the hard work he had put in during his time with the program.
Now back from his family getaway, Mahomes is using all this inspiration—from both his basketball passion and college pride—to refocus as he gears up for the next NFL season.