The hate for Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs only makes them stronger.
Before Super Bowl LVIII, Mahomes confidently predicted he would secure his third championship and initiate a dynasty. For years, he has dazzled fans as the NFL’s most thrilling player. However, the narrative has shifted. Critics have begun to voice their displeasure.
“You turn into that villain. You turn into that team that everybody doesn’t want to win. You have to embrace that, too, in order to be great,” Mahomes remarked to CBS’ Nate Burleson last January.
As Mahomes faced growing animosity in 2024, the Chiefs emerged as the most disliked team in the NFL. Fans are weary of their consistent victories.
Cue the GIF of Jesse Pinkman expressing disbelief: He can’t keep getting away with this!
The Chiefs and Mahomes possess a captivating quality reminiscent of “Breaking Bad’s” Walter White. White’s character defied rules and expectations, finding success in ways that only fiction could allow.
This perception leads many to view the Chiefs’ success as almost fictional.
Since the New England Patriots’ dynasty, the Chiefs have faced numerous accusations of referee favoritism. A quick glance at social media after a controversial call reveals rampant memes and complaints about Mahomes supposedly charming officials. Any favorable call for the Chiefs triggers conspiracy theories, fueled by a growing fatigue among fans.
Jason McCourty, a former NFL cornerback who won a Super Bowl with the Patriots, reflected on his experience witnessing their dynasty. He spent eight seasons with the Titans and one with the Browns, where playoff success eluded him.
“When I was in Tennessee, we never made the playoffs. We lost every year,” McCourty shared with FOX Sports. “We’d play a team right after my brother [former Patriots safety Devin McCourty] faced them, and it would go the opposite way. I often wondered, ‘What’s going on inside [the Patriots’] building? Why?'”
While McCourty didn’t harbor hatred for the Patriots due to his brother’s involvement, he understood the source of resentment. However, his perspective shifted once he joined the team.
“You relish in that,” McCourty explained. “You love the fact that people are complaining and saying the refs love [Tom] Brady and this team has an ‘advantage.’ You absolutely love it when everyone talks about how to beat you. You dive right in. … In that locker room, you embrace the hate, and you absolutely thrive on it.”
Fans are particularly fixated on officiating and penalties, often scrutinizing every call made during a game.
It’s undeniable that the Chiefs’ ability to work officiating crews is a strategic element of their game plan, reminiscent of the Patriots’ approach during their dynasty.
Other teams, like the New York Jets, have attempted to replicate this strategy by hiring a situational football and game management coordinator to educate players on officiating tendencies. However, the Chiefs seem to execute this tactic more effectively than their competitors.
A well-known pop star once said, “The haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate.” This sentiment may resonate with the league-wide fatigue surrounding the Chiefs. Taylor Swift’s relationship with Travis Kelce began last season, coinciding with his third Super Bowl victory. While many of her fans have embraced the NFL, some traditional football fans have not welcomed Swift’s presence. Her appearances during Chiefs broadcasts have sparked controversy, adding another layer to the dislike directed at the team.
Kelce’s ex-girlfriend, Kayla Nicole, expressed her desire to see a different team in the Super Bowl this year, stating her preference for the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game.
“Yeah, I do. Somebody new. I’m bored. You wanna see the Chiefs in the Super Bowl again?” she remarked on the “I AM ATHLETE” podcast.
Interestingly, the mounting criticism may inadvertently fuel the Chiefs’ determination.
They transform this animosity into motivation, adopting a mindset of “us against the world.” In many respects, they are correct; the Chiefs have few fans beyond their home city. Their recent game attracted a record number of viewers on ESPN, many of whom likely tuned in to root against Kansas City.
“When you get in the playoffs,” Mahomes stated last year, “and you know it’s just you and your teammates against everybody, it’s a different perspective. … I do [enjoy playing the villain role].”
While it’s unrealistic to expect fans to appreciate greatness without reservation, the dynamics of rivalry and competition in sports often lead to a complex relationship between teams and their supporters.
