Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez just scored the first offensive touchdown of his career. It came during the NCAA matchup against UCF on November 15, when he took a direct snap and jogged into the end zone to push Tech’s lead to two scores. Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes noticed immediately and quickly made a public call for Rodriguez to get recognition.

Mahomes quoted his own earlier post on X about Rodriguez, originally shared on November 8, where he called for Heisman consideration: “Get him to New York! @HeismanTrophy.” On November 15, after Rodriguez’s touchdown, the Kansas City Chiefs’ QB reposted it with a simple ‘‼️‼️‼️.’

It might seem vague, but the message from the 30-year-old was unmistakable.

“Get him to New York! @HeismanTrophy,” Patrick Mahomes wrote via X. 

Mahomes, a proud Texas Tech alum, backed Jacob Rodriguez for the Heisman ceremony in NYC. While he often supports his alma mater, he rarely speaks this strongly, making you wonder if he saw something truly special.

The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback had attended the Texas Tech game against BYU during his bye week. And he saw Rodriguez’s performance up close. The NCAA star finished with 14 tackles, one interception, and a fumble recovery in a 29-7 win over previously unbeaten BYU. That performance alone could convince anyone. 

However, if you’ve watched Texas Tech this season, you probably know Jacob Rodriguez’s backstory.

The 23-year-old began his career at Virginia as a quarterback but later gave up the position and transferred to Texas Tech to play linebacker. Meanwhile, his wife, Emma Rodriguez, serves as an Army helicopter pilot. His personal story adds a compelling layer to his football journey.

The narrative often overshadows just how good Jacob Rodriguez is. As the emotional anchor of Texas Tech’s defense, he entered Week 12 with 91 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 7 forced fumbles, 3 interceptions, and 2 fumble recoveries, numbers that would put any defender in the national spotlight.

Now, with Texas Tech climbing to No. 6 in the College Football Playoff rankings, Rodriguez’s impact feels even more significant. Doesn’t that make you wonder why defensive players so often get overlooked for awards like the Heisman? 

For decades, Air Raid offenses have defined Texas Tech football. Patrick Mahomes led one of those attacks from 2014 to 2016 as he threw for 11,252 yards and 93 touchdowns. Yet no Texas Tech player has ever brought a Heisman Trophy back to the South Plains. 

But now the Heisman conversation around Jacob Rodriguez heated up even more in Texas after he struck his now-famous Heisman pose. 

Jacob Rodriguez’s Heisman pose fuels Patrick Mahomes’ support

Against BYU, Jacob Rodriguez struck a celebratory Heisman pose after a tipped-ball interception in the third quarter. His teammates had encouraged him to do it, and the crowd loved it. Then he pulled off the pose again in Week 12, right after scoring his first offensive touchdown. His teammates fed off that energy, and so did the crowd. 

Even Patrick Mahomes showed his support online for one of this season’s most unlikely Heisman contenders. Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire backed Mahomes’ push as well.

“The Heisman is given to the best football player. It’s not given to the best quarterback; they have awards for that,” said McGuire. “If you can’t say that Jacob Rodriguez, at his position, is not playing at an elite level, as good as anybody in the country … That kid deserves to be part of that.”

Of course, Jacob Rodriguez’s odds of actually winning the Heisman remain slim. But with Mahomes championing him, he’ll likely earn votes from across the country. For now, Texas Tech still has West Virginia on the schedule and a possible Big 12 championship game ahead. After that, Rodriguez will finally learn his Heisman fate. 

Regardless of the result, he has already earned the respect of fans, coaches, and Patrick Mahomes, who believes he belongs on the sport’s biggest stage.