During his high school days, Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes described himself as a “baseball player that was playing football.” Mahomes’ ridiculous arm strength has continually baffled the NFL ever since his early days in the league, but real fans know the secret. Up until a particular moment in his life, Mahomes was preparing for a career as a professional baseball player, but soon realized his calling to be in football.

Thriving under the tutelage of his father, Patrick Mahomes Sr., Mahomes had put the entire MLB world on notice. Despite getting drafted by the Detroit Tigers, Mahomes continued his football career with Texas Tech University, while also initially opting to play baseball for the Red Raiders. Mahomes eventually decided to give a hundred percent of his focus to football, and perhaps Patrick Mahomes Sr. was the one who took this decision the hardest.

Patrick Mahomes dad was concerned

Patrick Mahomes Sr. has had a noteworthy career in the MLB. Playing for teams like the Minnesota Twins and the New York Mets, Mahomes Sr. put the ‘relief’ in a relief pitcher, making several playoff appearances during his illustrious career. But perhaps Mahomes Sr’s biggest asset was his eldest son, Patrick Mahomes II.

The reigning Super Bowl MVP spent his early years soaking in the MLB experience and learning the ins and outs of the craft. His father, like many others, hoped Mahomes to follow in his footsteps, but things probably worked out for the best.

Looking back on his son’s decision at the time, Patrick Mahomes Sr. had a rather observant take on the matter.

Speaking to FOX4’s Carey Wickersham, Mahomes Sr. said, “Yeah. I mean, it wasn’t that I was mad. I just saw the danger, you know, you can get hurt a lot easier, you know playing football, then you can playing baseball.”

Mahomes Sr. acknowledged his son is his own person but still believes that the decision was one he wouldn’t have made “I wasn’t mad you know, I always thought he’s gonna be a baseball player. But you know, in the end, the bottom line, you know what his decision is his career, and whatever he wants to do, he do. He does but you know, I wouldn’t have chosen.”

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Despite being aware of the dangers that come with football, Patrick Mahomes Sr. has made his peace with the decision his son made. Since then, Mahomes Sr. has been a proud spectator to his son creating NFL history and adding to his legacy.

A ‘What If’ for the ages

In an alternate universe, we might be talking about Patrick Mahomes, the baseball player rather than the Super Bowl champion. Mahomes was this close to embarking on his MLB journey, getting scouted at just the age of 18. The 2017 MLB draft saw Mahomes get drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 37th round. The then-Tigers scout, Tim Grieve, had a massive impact in drafting Mahomes.

Speaking on his decision, Grieve said, “With Patrick, it was as simple as ‘here’s a kid who looks like he’s going to play football BUT…let’s be that team that started to build the relationship so that if he wants to play baseball 2-4 years down the road, we’ve got our foot in the door,”

Grieve felt confident that with Mahomes, the team would eventually figure out a way to win, but Mahomes clearly had other ambitions.

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