Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs enter this season with the goal of winning their historic third Super Bowl in a row.
The team’s preseason games offer a small taste of what opponents and fans can expect from Andy Reid’s starters next year, and his offense unveiled a new weapon in Game 2 against the Detroit Lions.
One of Mahomes’ favorite targets is Travis Kelce, so it was only natural that during the Chiefs’ second drive of the game, he threw a smooth behind-the-back pass to the star tight end for eight yards of gain. The play resulted in a first down and kept the offense alive until it settled for a 37-yard field goal to take a 6-0 lead with just under three minutes left in the first quarter.
Here’s everything you need to know about Mahomes’ behind-the-back pass to Kelce in the Chiefs’ preseason game.
MORE: NFL Preseason Injury Tracker | RB Depth Charts
Video: Patrick Mahomes’ behind-the-back pass to Travis Kelce
Mahomes has been trying to get Reid to incorporate a behind-the-back play into the Chiefs’ offense for several years, but clips of the quarterback attempting the throw in training camp have been posted on the team’s social media, suggesting it could become a permanent part of his game this season.
“Coach Reid wants me to throw the ball behind his back more than anyone in the world,” Mahomes said in a “First Things First” interview.” appearance in May. “He makes intentional plays when I have the opportunity to throw. It’s not because of coaching, it’s because I don’t have the confidence to do it in the game. One of those games, man. We have to do it. There’s too much hype about it. Hopefully it goes to Travis (Kelce).”
And so it was. Mahomes unveiled the new trick on Saturday and it landed in Kelce’s hands, just as fate predicted. Whether he uses it during the regular season remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: The behind-the-back pass will only make the Chiefs harder to beat on their way back to the title game.
MAHOMES BEHIND THE BACK 🫢
📺: #DETvsKC To @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/eewdYOpS8c— NFL (@NFL) 17 August 2024
Reactions to Patrick Mahomes’ behind-the-back pass to Travis Kelce
Naturally, social media went wild when Mahomes completed this improbable pass. Here are the best reactions to the trick play so far, including commentary from Jason Kelce himself.
This bastard actually did it!! Magic Mahomes
— Jason Kelce (@JasonKelce) 17 August 2024
Mahomes.
Best player in the league.
It is foolish to claim otherwise.
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) 17 August 2024
I feel like Mahomes has the exact same obsessions as Josh Allen, only they always work when he executes them https://t.co/tGFb457QG7
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) 17 August 2024
I am convinced that Patrick Mahomes was created by artificial intelligence. pic.twitter.com/xo388ncEak
— Patrick Allen (@RPatrickAllen) 17 August 2024
Patrick Mahomes just threw a behind-the-back pass to Travis Kelce. I’m done. #NFL
— Cris Carter (@criscarter80) 17 August 2024
when someone says Mahomes isn’t the GOAT https://t.co/yn0vLJOUJY pic.twitter.com/atKGXoDrFv
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) 17 August 2024
MAHOMES IS AN ANIMAL…SOMETHING LIKE A GOAT
— Dante’ Jones (@Dantej21) 17 August 2024
Me, when Mahomes threw the pass behind his back to Kelce: pic.twitter.com/2x3gWaq5T3
– Lauren (@dogmomRN23) 17 August 2024
Patrick Mahomes has taken the debate that NFL players can’t play in the NBA seriously and brought the basketball court to the football field with this BEHIND THE BACK BEAUTY. Don’t compare other quarterbacks to him, he lives in HIS OWN WORLD. pic.twitter.com/rbod8t4Fov
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) 17 August 2024
Mahomes taping the behind-the-back pass during the preseason so teams don’t have to worry about it at all during the regular season is just evil.
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) 17 August 2024
Kids now yell “MAHOMES” when attempting behind-the-back passes on fields across the country: pic.twitter.com/uwR35MVBt5
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) 17 August 2024
Patrick Mahomes finds his receivers pic.twitter.com/zDNRgg65zt
— BricksCenter (@BricksCenter) 17 August 2024