Patrick Mahomes risks angering Andy Reid after declaring he won’t run crucial Chiefs play again Mahomes’

Patrick Mahomes is famous for improvisation, leadership, and willingness to do whatever it takes to keep drives alive. But in the Kansas City Chiefs’ recent 22-9 win over the New York Giants, he made clear there is one play he never wants to repeat – and it involves something more defensive than a quarterback normally handles.

Late in the first half, with the score tied, Mahomes handed off a backward pass to Isiah Pacheco. The pass bounced off Pacheco’s hands and hit the turf, becoming a live ball.

The Giants’ defender Bobby Okereke was trying to pick it up, but Mahomes reacted quickly, chasing him down and tackling him to prevent a turnover.

Mahomes grabbed the loose ball after it bounced and the Chiefs kept possession. It was a high-stress moment for the three-time Super Bowl winner.

Why Mahomes refuses to entertain the play. After the game, Mahomes allowed he was pleased with how he played it: “I will say it was a great tackle by myself,” he said. “That was a big-time tackle. I’m not going to try to do that again, but that was – we’ll throw the ball forward from now on.”

He took responsibility for the chain of events, too: “Yeah, I can’t throw the ball backwards,” Mahomes admitted. “That’s not good. So, just letting the rush get to me a bit and trying to throw it out, looking to see if the guy is actually in the spot that we’ve got to get to.

“Obviously, did it once. I knew immediately it was backwards. You could tell I’m running to go recover the ball even though they had blown the whistle. In the second, did it again. I don’t think I’ve done it maybe ever in my career.”

Mahomes’ coach Andy Reid praised the effort. Reid noted that perhaps it wasn’t an ideal play, but he appreciated how hard Mahomes plays.

“That’s how he rolls,” Reid said. “He goes 100 miles an hour. It seems like every week he does something like that. The guys know that he’s all in.  “It’s not like he’s just throwing the ball back there. He’s going to do whatever it takes to come out on top in the game.”

While Mahomes’ tackle prevented what could have been a potentially game-turning turnover, it also exposes risks. For one, asking a star quarterback to make defensive plays carries injury dangers and runs outside expected roles. His refusal to repeat it could also clash with Reid’s plans.

The concern inside the Chiefs organization is that Mahomes might be pushed into more of these “make-up” moments because of offensive breakdowns.

In recent weeks, Kansas City’s offense has sputtered. With route timing off, missing targets, and protected windows shrinking, Mahomes has often had to make plays under pressure.

Sometimes that means scrambling; sometimes it means improvising. But falling back on defensive hustle plays like this suggests a lack of confidence in the system or protection.

The effort by Patrick Mahomes to recover the loose fumble. Is not being talked about enough! 😤

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— Brad Henson Productions (@BradHensonPro) September 22, 2025

Implications for Mahomes, Reid, and the Chiefs
Reid’s philosophy has long favored letting Mahomes play instinctively. He trusts his arm, his vision, and his competitive fire. But there’s a balance: sometimes those instincts lead to high risk.

From the front office to the coaching staff, there’s increasing awareness that Mahomes shouldn’t be asked or expected to bail out schematic failures with heroics. If he feels forced into a defensive recovery role, it suggests he believes something in the offense needs fixing.

The broader fan and media reaction is also notable. Some praise his humility and willingness to admit mistakes; others worry about what this says about the state of the offense.

If Mahomes’ signature plays are increasingly about recovery and defense rather than planned scoring, it could shift how opponents game-plan against the Chiefs.

Mahomes will likely not be satisfied with simply making tackles again. The challenge for some is whether Reid, the offensive line, and the coaching staff can shore up the issues so Mahomes isn’t put in those vulnerable situations.