Over the years, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has emerged as one of the most dominant and successful quarterbacks in the league and has made a name for himself with his ability to make teams pay with his deep ball. But that’s changed a little bit in recent years.
As NFL analyst Warren Sharp pointed out on Twitter this week, Patrick Mahomes has not been attacking teams through the air deep downfield in recent seasons the same way he did during the first couple of seasons in the league.
“truly wild stat
average length of Patrick Mahomes TD passes:
2019: 17.3 air yards
2020: 13.0 air yards
2021: 8.5 air yards
2022: 4.5 air yards
last year Mahomes threw 41 touchdowns only ONE (1) traveled more than 19 yards,” Sharp said in a tweet.
truly wild stat
average length of Patrick Mahomes TD passes:
2019: 17.3 air yards
2020: 13.0 air yards
2021: 8.5 air yards
2022: 4.5 air yardslast year Mahomes threw 41 touchdowns
only ONE (1) traveled more than 19 yards
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) July 4, 2023
It’s a pretty jarring change given how often Mahomes threw the ball downfield early in his career, and the NFL world had plenty to say about the news on social media.
This is how Andy Reid has responded to defenses setting back safeties to stop Mahomes. Welp we’ll just go under you on slants and around you shallow flag routes. https://t.co/Zgv6Iy9oTe
— Brian Bookwalter (@BrianBookwalter) July 4, 2023
This is a beyond wild stat https://t.co/2CM1UGenfX
— Serious Football Guy 🍺 (brew checkmark) (@FitzyGFY) July 4, 2023
https://t.co/Zq4XQe84gQ pic.twitter.com/2yUep5HiKL
— I Ain’t Him (@Phincane) July 4, 2023
Obviously, much of this change is due to Mahomes and the Chiefs needing to adjust the offense after the departure of deep-threat wide receiver Tyreek Hill. But the changes seem to have worked as the Chiefs won a Super Bowl title as a result.
