Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes discusses criticisms Black QBs face

“Obviously, the black quarterback has had to battle to be in this position that we are to have this many guys in the league playing. Every day, we’re proving that we should have been playing the whole time. We’ve got guys that can think just as well as they can use their athleticism. It’s always weird when you see guys like me, Lamar [Jackson], and Kyler kind of get that on them when other guys don’t. But at the same time, we’re going out there to prove ourselves every day to show we can be some of the best quarterbacks in the league.”

Mahomes admitted the opinions of his critics aren’t a concern to him. However, he still feels the pressure to prove himself each week — pressure he says every NFL QB feels, no matter his race, and all the way up from a rookie to legends like Tom Brady.

• Patrick Mahomes stats (2021): 4,839 yards, 37 TD, 13 INT, 98.5 rating

“You always feel like you have more to prove,” said Mahomes. “I promise Tom Brady is feeling like he has more to prove. That comes with any sport, any competitor. If you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse. They build you up to tear you down. You’ve got to kind of know that. For me, it’s all about how I can make myself better, not what other people say. How can I make myself better so that we go out there and play football games? At the end of the day, nothing matters until you’re on that football field playing and that’s where you get to prove who you are every single day.'”

Mahomes has been a Pro Bowler for four straight seasons and won the NFL MVP Award in 2018. He then led the Kansas City Chiefs to a Super Bowl title the following year.