Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes says he 'didn't understand how to read defenses' until last year
Patrick Mahomes, 24, is already an NFL MVP and a Super Bowl MVP after leading the Kansas City Chiefs to their first title in 50 years in only his second season as a starter.
And he has accomplished all of that without a full grasp of the game's finer points, Mahomes revealed during a teaser for an upcoming episode of HBO's "The Shop."
"I didn't understand how to read defenses until, like, halfway through last year," he said. "I understood coverages, but being able to pick up little tendencies defenses do, stuff that Brady and them have done — I was just playing."
Mahomes commented how he only began seriously playing quarterback during his junior year of high school and that he feels like he has a long way to go in terms of experience.
All of Mahomes' physical gifts shine — the rocket arm, the pocket presence, the mobility. Through his first two years as a starter, few have been able to slow the quarterback down, as he has accounted for 76 passing touchdowns and just 18 interceptions.
Now, Mahomes said he is prepared to take the mental aspect of his game to the next level
"This year, I could actually recognize more and more stuff," he said. "And I think the more experience and the more I learn, then I'll be able to go out there and call plays because I've seen it. I still think there's a long way for me to go."