Three Super Bowl rings and three Super Bowl MVPs in just eight years don’t happen by accident. For the Kansas City Chiefs QB, Patrick Mahomes, that legendary toughness was passed down from his paternal grandmother, Cindy. A tragic incident left her in a wheelchair when Patrick’s father, Pat Sr., was just seven, but her relentless spirit fueled his MLB career and laid the foundation for Patrick’s rise to NFL greatness. Five years after her passing at age 68, Pat Sr. and fans everywhere are coming together to remember the woman who taught the Mahomes family to “never back down.”

“Wow. 5years have flew by. I know you’re having a blast up there walking and watching over all of us. Miss you and love you,” wrote Pat Mahomes on Instagram on September 1.

He shared two photos: one with Cindy and his father, Sr Mahomes; and another of Cindy with his son Jackson Mahomes.

Cindy Mahomes was the epitome of strength. Despite the challenges and odds against her, she kept moving forward, determined to give her family the best life possible. She raised her children and grandchildren with unwavering grit. Thus, she had an immense influence on Patrick Mahomes while he was growing up. True to form, the Chiefs QB doesn’t cut any corners in giving her the credit she deserves. 

“The black woman in my life that will always be an inspiration to me is my grandma, Cindy Mahomes,” the quarterback once said in one of the episodes of the Heart of Kingdom. “She told me to never back down, no matter what the situation was or is. She never backs down, and she was someone that was gonna do whatever it took to make sure her family was getting treated the right way, or her family was getting the most out of the opportunity that was ahead of her.”

Cindy worked as a nurse. She met with an accident in 1979 that left her confined to a wheelchair, as it took away her ability to move from the neck down. Yet, she refused to let her body dictate her family’s destiny. A seven-year-old Pat Sr. watched in awe as his mother re-learned how to write using her left hand, raising him with unwavering grace. That resilience became the blueprint for Pat Sr.’s 11-year Major League Baseball career. Whether pitching for the Minnesota Twins or navigating life hurdles, Cindy remained his emotional anchor.

For instance, when Pat Sr. was hospitalized after a minor car accident early in his career, Cindy’s immediate, calm focus was entirely on ensuring he wasn’t paralyzed. She taught her family how to endure. That led Pat Sr. to finish his MLB career with a 42-39 win-loss record and a 5.47 earned run average (ERA).

“She’s definitely been my inspiration. I’d say if she can do that after the adversity she’s had, then this game of baseball is really pretty simple,” Pat Sr. once told the Star Tribune.

After her passing, the Chiefs QB opened up about how her presence shaped his life.

“Hopefully, I could have that same competitive spirit and loyalty as I continue to grow older and get off that football field as well. That’s how I’ll forever honor her legacy and grandma. I hope I made you proud,” said the quarterback. 

Inheriting the fighting spirit, Patrick Mahomes became one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks after being picked 10th overall by the Chiefs in the 2017 NFL Draft. Now that Cindy’s fighting spirit burns bright through her grandson, it is what made the fans emotional as they poured their tribute in Pat Mahomes’ post. 

“My favorite Dad Sr Mahomes.”Pat the stat “you are blessed to have such an amazing figure in your life and I love and respect him forever..Perkins,” a fan wrote.

“🌹❤️😇, Love you Auntie Cindy,” another wrote.

“🙏🏾💎,” posted a fan.

“❤️❤️❤️” wrote another fan.

“Love you uncle Pat❤️,” one wrote.

Despite being confined to a wheelchair, Cindy never missed a beat as a mother. She was a constant presence at her sons’ games and even coached her daughter Tenisha’s softball team, refusing to let physical limitations weaken her devotion to family. That unwavering commitment left a lasting imprint on her grandson. Today, beyond his status as a star signal-caller, Patrick Mahomes carries that same devotion into fatherhood. Whether he’s spending quality time with his wife, Brittany, or playing with their three children, the 30-year-old carries forward the same family-first heart that his grandmother modeled every single day.

“How I honor her legacy is by the way that I go about my business, how I take care of my family, and how I go out there and compete every opportunity I have,” said Mahomes. “I just go out there and give everything I have on the football field, and hopefully, I can have that same competitive spirit and loyalty as I continue to grow older and get off that football field as well. That’s all. Forever honor her legacy. Grandma, I hope I make you proud.’’

Five years without his grandma, Patrick Mahomes still carries her relentless spirit within him.