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ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — When Patrick Mahomes last appeared in a game, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated him 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX. It was his first loss since winning back-to-back Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs. The defeat was particularly painful, marked by six sacks and three turnovers.
Now, the NFL star has changed his hairstyle during the offseason, cutting off a significant amount of hair. Some might wonder if there’s a superstitious element to this change, but Mahomes dismisses such thoughts.
“I was ready for a haircut the last three years,” Mahomes said with a grin after a training camp practice. “We had won the Super Bowl two years in a row. I told my teammates that I would get a new look even if we won again. It’s time to turn 30, and I wanted to change things up. There are still some curls on top, but it’s just not as long anymore.”
Mahomes is far from experiencing an identity crisis. He knows the Chiefs remain well-positioned for another championship despite last year’s Super Bowl setback. The loss was undoubtedly a motivator, as Mahomes acknowledges.
“When you make it that far and then lose at the end, it hurts,” he said. “You put so much hard work into it. But losing on that final step is always tough. How you respond matters. I thought we responded well after the last Super Bowl loss, just building back and getting even better.”
The Chiefs’ offseason has been marked by significant changes to their offensive line and wide receiver corps. Mahomes absorbed six sacks in the Super Bowl, reflecting an overmatched offensive line that struggled against Philadelphia’s powerful front.
“Where are we going now? Are we going to get even better from that loss?” Mahomes said. “We’ve done a lot in camp but you can’t prove it until you go out and do it.”
The team faces challenges with injuries and the need for more consistent play, especially deep passing. Despite finishing 15-2, there were too many close calls for comfort.
“There’s stuff we’ve got to get better at,” Mahomes said. “Especially myself. I’m going to do whatever it takes to win, whether that’s passing for a lot of yards or not passing for a lot of yards. I think if I play better, that’s going to make it better for the team.”
The Super Bowl loss has given Mahomes an extra edge in workouts and film sessions. It motivates him to find small ways to improve and avoid complacency.
Which is quite the warning for the rest of the NFL.
Contact Jarrett Bell at jbell@usatoday.com or follow on social media: On X: @JarrettBell
On Bluesky: jarrettbell.bsky.social
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