“He elevates the people around him … he’s a competitor, a leader. I just tell everybody he has that ‘it factor,’ and that’s something you can’t coach.” Those were the words of Brent Kelley, the high school coach of Patrick Mahomes, during his Super Bowl run. They were his initial observations on a teenager who swaggered and worked his tail off to the point where he couldn’t be ignored. Years before when Mahomes became the Kansas City Chiefs‘ face, he was already calling huddles, setting tone, and turning practice fields into proving grounds.

And then Patrick Mahomes wasn’t throwing 60-yard bombs in primetime at Arrowhead. He was tinkering with mechanics on dusty Texas practice fields, fighting with the same intensity that would later illuminate NFL Sundays. He was the kid who stayed after practice to take extra routes, the kid who saw competition as an invitation, not a threat. Kelley saw it. His teammates saw it. And, of course, his family, especially momma Randi Mahomes, saw it every day at home.

Now, in ESPN’s highly anticipated documentary The Kingdom, Mahomes’s mom, Randi, offers a glimpse of the personality behind the quarterback. “I would call him the Energizer Bunny because he never stopped,” she chuckles, reminiscing. Remembering toddler Pat running after a ball and doing laps. It is a chuckle-inducing moment, yes, but one that tells us much, revealing where precisely Mahomes’s boundless energy first started.

That was not just an affectionate family nickname; it was a prophecy. The kid who couldn’t be caught running is now the man who can’t be caught slacking off. Trailing by ten with two minutes remaining, or holding on against a suffocating pass rush, Mahomes’s motor does not have a gas tank. The no-look passes, the improbable scrambles, the playoff comeback magic thrill observers. Randi sees the same kid she used to have to chase back inside the house at dusk.

Randi’s revelation is more than just a charming anecdote. It’s a window into the foundation of Mahomes’s lifelong drive. The documentary, produced by ESPN, Disney+, and Skydance Sports, interweaves glimpses of Mahomes’ toddlerhood with his journey through football history and the Chiefs’ compelling 2024 season. To the fans, this homegrown energy fills in the blanks between childhood playtime and NFL greatness. What may have begun as limitless running and sheer joy would later drive Mahomes’ creative improvisations and determination on the football field.

The anecdote also speaks volumes about the part played by the Mahomes family in his development. Randi, Pat Sr., Mahomes’s father, and his grandfather nurtured his love, allowed his raw curiosity, and tolerated his relentless drive.  Mahomes often thanks his mother for teaching him discipline, curiosity, and toughness. Something he draws upon when stadium lights are brightest. In a game where as much mental toughness is a requirement as athletic talent, those qualities are the contrast between good and legendary.

ESPN’s “The Kingdom” brings Patrick Mahomes & the Chiefs’ legacy to life

The Energizer Bunny moment comes to life in The Kingdom, a six-part original series that premieres on ESPN, ESPN+, and Disney+. It presents a big-picture sweep of Chiefs history across more than 60 years, with a deep dive into the 2024 season. The series blends archival, unflinching interviews and sideline mic’d-up moments to get a richer picture of not just Mahomes, but the team constructed around him.

Mahomes already indicated his interest in the series. “I have seen parts for sure. It’s a great documentary… I saw stuff that I didn’t even know,” he said. Praising how Disney, the Hunt family, and the Chiefs were able to put their history out there. His words illustrate a tremendous admiration for the franchise’s history and the richness of the storytelling in the venture. It has nothing to do with the trophies or the plays. It’s understanding the roots of a team that has dug itself into the collective unconscious of Kansas City. The six-part series debuts on August 14.

Coach Andy Reid also had his say in his usual combination of gallows humor and sincere admiration: “Our owner asked me to do it… So, I jumped in on it… I thought they did a really good job of not being a distraction… My hat goes off to them for handling it that way.” For Reid, who values focus and preparation above all else, the secret to success with a venture like this is keeping cameras out of the way of chemistry and execution. His stamp of approval says much about how well the production blended into the rhythm of the team.

The documentary’s scope is granny home-movie family history, sideline melodrama, and locker-room camaraderie. It grants Chiefs Kingdom fans the chance to delve deep into what drives this franchise: heart, passion, family, legacy. It’s a Kansas City narrative, but with Randi Mahomes’ playful but descriptive nickname. It’s everyone’s tale, especially every parent who has ever seen their child’s quirks become their strengths.