When Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was just a little kid, he saw his father, a former MLB player, prepare for hours before taking on the field. That, in itself, was a blueprint that Patrick Mahomes Sr. had gifted his son. So, as he grew up and the roles reversed, one thing the QB always looked forward to was his father cheering him on from the sidelines. After all, those were the memories he cherished, and Senior kept ensuring more of those moments.

Last season, despite some hiccups, he attended most of Mahomes’ games. Now, Mahomes Sr. has not always been the easiest one in the Mahomes family. In fact, the QB has been Sr.’s beast of burden for DWI cases since his second Super Bowl win. But Sr. isn’t backing down from doing everything he needs to do to show his support, even if it means going to the court and requesting formal approval to travel.

Ahead of the 2026 NFL season, Mahomes’ father filed a motion in the 7th District Court in Tyler on Friday for approval to travel and see his son play, according to Nic Huber of KTRE 9. In the motion, he is asking to see seven games in Kansas City, Missouri; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Cincinnati, Ohio. And he already knows how he needs to prepare.

The motion states that Mahomes Sr. is aware that he must undergo urinalysis testing before and after every instance of travel when requested by his supervision officer. This could also hint at which games we can expect Mahomes, who is recovering from his ACL tear, to start.

While Mahomes is looking forward to a Week-1 start, it is highly unlikely that head coach Andy Reid will put him on the field that soon, especially with Justin Fields in the building. Now, the Chiefs have the fifth-hardest schedule this year with two starting games at home. So, Mahomes may start in Week-3, when the Chiefs play the Raiders in Las Vegas. This wouldn’t be it.

Since Senior is asking for Cincinnati as well, Mahomes will expectedly start in Week 14. Barring these two, six home games remain in the Chiefs’ schedule after the Bye Week. So, if everything goes well for the team, Reid might give Mahomes a break in Week 18 against the Raiders at home for possible playoff appearances. This adds up to seven games that Senior will be attending and that Mahomes is possibly returning to the field in Week 4 for good. For Senior, an approval might not be difficult.

You see, the last time Senior had a hiccup regarding drinking was on New Year’s Day, January 1, when his ankle monitor registered a TAC level of 0.045%. While he pleaded not guilty, his probation was still increased. Now, while that obviously sounds like bad news, he has certainly been up to meeting all of his probation conditions successfully.

The filing notes that Mahomes Sr. has contributed to society, completing 160 hours of community service. He also spent 16 weeks in an outpatient treatment program at Cenikor, a nonprofit dedicated to substance use disorder treatment and behavioral health services. Not to mention, he did get a one-time travel permit very recently.

The last time he was granted permission to travel out of state was to Missouri from June 5 to June 7 to cheer for his granddaughter, Patrick Mahomes’ five-year-old Sterling, as she performed her first dance recital. Pat Mahomes Sr., who has been on probation since 2024, was given permission back then if he fulfilled certain criteria.

He had to report to his probation officer a day before leaving and submit to urinalysis testing and then report to his probation officer “as scheduled thereafter.” This time, the rules are no different, and he knows it all too well. But the biggest rule will be ensuring his son’s focus is not deterred because of him as he tries to return to the field as soon as possible.

Patrick Mahomes’ race against time for Week 1 gets major update

Patrick Mahomes’ 2025 season came to an end after he tore his ACL and LCL in a game against the Los Angeles Chargers on December 14. However, the Kansas City quarterback gave his 100% in the recovery. While we have been following Mahomes’ recovery closely, a recent revelation also shed light on a wholesome aspect of his recovery.

“After he returned to Kansas City later in the week, he shared with some of those closest to him a more immediate goal for his recovery,” The Kansas City Star’s Sam McDowell wrote in a Mahomes recovery feature on September 4. “He wanted to walk before his baby daughter, 11-month-old Golden.”

Mahomes became so dedicated to his rehab that he travelled with his trainer even when he flew to spend time with his family. Kansas City, too, ensured that its star QB got proper rest this offseason. Head coach Andy Reid did not play him in preseason games. However, he was present in every practice.

According to Tom Pelissero, there are chances of the quarterback hitting the field for the Week 1 face-off against the Denver Broncos.

“At this point Andy Reid has not even confirmed that Patrick Mahomes is starting in week one,” Pelissero said to Rich Eisen. “I would say all signs are pointing toward Patrick Mahomes being out there.”

While the signs show it or not, Reid might want to get him back at a pace he is comfortable in. But what’s sure is that Mahomes Senior will be present on the sidelines cheering on his son trying to rebuild the Chiefs dynasty.