How Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes prepared for 'revenge tour' after Super Bowl loss

A previous story noted that quarterback Patrick Mahomes "has had a look about him" throughout training camp coming off the Kansas City Chiefs' 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX this past February. 

For an article published on Thursday, Nate Taylor of ESPN expanded on Mahomes' attempts to improve following that disappointing defeat. 

"Unlike previous years, Mahomes didn't spend many camp reps extending the play by scrambling before throwing the ball," Taylor wrote. "Staying in the pocket more often, Mahomes polished his modified footwork, which he emphasized in the offseason, whether in workout sessions with Bobby Stroupe, his longtime trainer, or when watching film of himself last season with offensive coordinator Matt Nagy."

One can only guess what could have been for the Chiefs offense last season had wide receivers Rashee Rice and Marquise "Hollywood" Brown not gone down to injuries. Rice appeared in four games before a knee issue left him needing surgery, while Brown suffered a sternoclavicular injury in August that kept him sidelined until Week 16.

Additionally, star tight end Travis Kelce may not have been completely focused on football-related matters last summer due to his much-publicized relationship with entertainment superstar Taylor Swift and his numerous off-the-field business endeavors. Kelce seemingly has embraced more of a football-first mentality during the ongoing preseason. 

All that said, the 2024 Chiefs won 15 of 16 regular-season games before Kansas City rested starters in Week 18. The Chiefs then held serve through the AFC portion of the playoffs before Mahomes tossed a pair of interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown, in the Super Bowl loss to the Eagles. 

Shortly after that defeat, Chiefs defensive end Charles Omenihu hinted that Mahomes would want to go "on a revenge tour" this fall. More recently, Mahomes acknowledged that Kansas City failing to become the first team in NFL history to three-peat as Super Bowl champions has given him "more motivation to be even better" this season. 

According to Taylor, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid had his players "go through rigorous team reps" when inclement weather forced Reid to move a training-camp session indoors last week. 

"One (rep) featured the offensive line giving Mahomes enough time to experience a luxury he used to have," Taylor explained. "He scrambled out of the pocket, rolling to his right to give players an extra second to get open. Then Mahomes, in a flawless manner, executed one of his signature moves: He flicked a behind-the-back pass to [running back Kareem Hunt], who didn't have to decelerate to catch the ball in stride."

It sounds like Mahomes could be in midseason form by the time the Chiefs open the upcoming campaign with a matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers that will take place in Brazil on Sept. 5.