The Kansas City Chiefs are in their ninth training camp with Patrick Mahomes and the eighth with him as the team’s starting quarterback. Mahomes, who turns 30 in September, is still finding ways to wow spectators.
Patrick Mahomes Opens Eyes With Teammate in Chiefs Training Camp
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Connecting With Travis Kelce Understudy
Mahomes has been finding his teammates in noteworthy ways, including tight end Noah Gray and wide receiver Xavier Worthy. The connection with Gray came on a behind-the-back pass that raised eyebrows.
A little behind the back action from Mahomes to Grey!
Any chance this happens in a game this year????#ChiefsKingdom #ChiefsCamp2025 pic.twitter.com/4Q0Ha2hIwc
— Smartest Guy in the Zoom (@Chris_Ains32) July 28, 2025
Gray is entering his fifth NFL season and turned 26 in April. The display could be a sign of what is to come for Mahomes and the Chiefs as they prepare for what may very well be the final year of Travis Kelce’s career.
Gray, a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, set career highs with 40 receptions, 437 yards, and 5 touchdowns in 2024.
He has a 103-1,077-9 line for his career.
He will have to step up if he is the Chiefs’ long-term replacement for Kelce, Mahomes’ top target since he became the starter. But his chemistry with Mahomes suggests there could be more there if the Chiefs lean on him more.
Former Teammate Praises Patrick Mahomes
Ex-Chiefs QB Chase Daniel spoke highly about Mahomes, specifically regarding another pass, this one to Worthy, saying it highlighted the three-time Super Bowl champion’s greatness.
“Mahomes is going launching down the field. This is, to Xavier Worthy. Xavier Worthy, 4.2 [40-yard dash]. Fastest guy ever to run the combine. Okay, I like this, because, first of all, this is the first day of camp,” Daniels said during a clip shared to X on July 28. “His eyes are right down the field. As soon as he hits step No. 3, 1-2-3, ball’s gone. This is the subtle differences that make I him the best in the world at what he does. They did not throw the ball deep last year. I truly believe that they are going to throw the ball deep this year.”
“These Chiefs, man, people – they got a sour taste in their mouth, I really believe that. I think that they’re going to be back in the Super Bowl. I don’t know if they’re going to win the Super Bowl, but they’re just too good to be stopped.”
I can’t believe how much Patrick Mahomes sped up his drop so he wouldn’t under throw Xavier Worthy.
These are the subtle differences that make him the best in the world. pic.twitter.com/37Chrgi6hx
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) July 28, 2025
The Chiefs won 15 games in 2024, and one of their two losses came in Week 18 while their starters rested. There is plenty of reason to believe the Chiefs can make another title run, even with the improvements made around the AFC West and conference in general.
Patrick Mahomes Gets Additional Motivation for 2025 Season
Mahomes’ greatness is rarely questioned, but he can still find some motivation in the “slight” from the creators of the “Madden” video game series, EA Sports. The release of this year’s “99 Club” – players who are rated 99 overall – did not include the Chiefs star.
Two quarterbacks – the last two MVPs, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson – both made it. As did wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson.
The list also includes Lane Johnson, Myles Garrett, and Saquon Barkley.
"It's fair. He's a 98. They didn't win the Super Bowl."
— @ochocinco says it's "fair" to leave Patrick Mahomes out of the Madden 99 club | @FirstTake pic.twitter.com/WunALlhxfy
— Chiefs Receipts (@ChiefsReceipts) July 28, 2025
Mahomes has bigger fish to fry than worrying about his virtual rating. Still, it would hardly be the asinine thing an athlete would have used for motivation. Moreover, Mahomes has beaten both of his peers in the playoffs in the past two seasons.
Main Photo: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
