Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs were potentially a coin flip away from playing in Super Bowl LIII. On Friday, the quarterback vowed to take the next step in 2019.

In a radio appearance with Sports Radio 810 WHB from Radio Row in Atlanta (h/t Soren Petro), Mahomes promised to play in Super Bowl LIV: “I wanted to win the AFC West, I wanted to win the AFC and I wanted to win the Super Bowl. We got close. Next year, I’ll be in the Super Bowl and you’ll be interviewing me on media night.”

He added, “I wish I was in this game. I’ll still enjoy it. It stings more this year than last year but I’ll still enjoy it.”

For Mahomes’ sake, hopefully the Chiefs can find some magic on the defensive side of the ball. The team’s inability to reach Super Bowl LIII had very little to do with anything Mahomes and Co. did wrong on offense. Instead, it was a complete collapse on the defensive side of the ball in the fourth quarter and overtime that doomed the Chiefs.

Not surprisingly, the team fired defensive coordinator Bob Sutton just days after that humbling loss.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Report: 2023 No. 7 pick expected to terminate KHL contract, join Flyers
Mavericks advance to Western Conference Finals aided by controversial call late
Connor McDavid, Oilers hammer Canucks to force Game 7
Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk epic increases excitement for potential rematch
Seize the Grey wins in muddy Preakness
Even Mike Budenholzer admits the Suns need a point guard
Watch: Juan Soto's first multi-homer game as a Yankee
Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa lead at PGA Championship
Knicks could get major boost for Game 7 showdown with Pacers
Giants All-Star pitcher suffers setback in recovery from injury
Panthers star named winner of 2024 Selke Trophy
WNBA to investigate $100,000 sponsorship deals for Aces players
Tiger Woods blames one big factor for missing the cut at PGA Championship
'Ain't good enough': Draymond Green claims Celtics must 'win it all' or it's a 'failure'
Blue Jays GM wants struggling club to feel 'massive sense of urgency'
Raptors expected to flip former NBA champion during the offseason
MLB insider reveals Mets' massive extension offer that Pete Alonso turned down
Celtics legend provides update after gruesome finger injury
Bulls hire former NBA head coach as top assistant
Chiefs move on from young running back

Want more Chiefs news?

Join the hundreds of thousands of fans who start their day with Yardbarker's Morning Bark, the best newsletter in sports.