Patrick Mahomes and Jason Kelce have more in common than just football and Travis Kelce. The two NFL players are both proud papas of multiple kids, and fans are going crazy over a certain aspect of dad life that the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles starters share.
The Context
On Tuesday’s episode of Inside the NFL, the Chiefs’ head coach, Andy Reid, addressed the team in their locker room after their victory over the Baltimore Ravens, which secured their spot in Super Bowl LVIII. Mahomes spoke to his teammates after Reid’s remarks, telling the players, “Great job today. Like I’ve been saying, we ain’t done yet.”
The Reaction
The Super Bowl-winning quarterback tweeted, “Yoooo why they have to do me like that!?!?!? 🤣🤣🤣 #DadBodSZN.” He immediately quote-tweeted his first post, adding, “Like I got kids!!!! @Chiefs @insidetheNFL @NFL 🤣🤣🤣”
While some rather troll-esque X (formerly Twitter) users did shame Mahomes for his less-defined build and its speculated effects on his athletic performance — like he’s not one of the best NFL players in the league at the moment, but go off Steve — most fans celebrated his dad bod. In fact, many people went as far as comparing his “father figure” to Jason Kelce’s recent spectacularly-shirtless spectacle.
“You and @JasonKelce doing more for dad bods than anyone in history. Doing the lord’s work,” one X user tweeted. Another posted a photo of the Eagles center’s viral antics in the stands at the Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills game in January, quipping, “I see no differences.”
Others encouraged the dad of two not to be self-conscious of his body, with one fan gushing, “We love the @JasonKelce & your dad bod! Embrace it!!!!” More NFL aficionados compared Patrick to another legendary quarterback. Attaching a photo of Tom Brady’s undefined torso during his days spent winning Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, a fan pointed out, “This was Brady’s peak body too. Don’t worry man.”
More kind and uplifting individuals joked that the quarterback‘s build is actually providing “extra rib protection.”
“Need to be a lil thick around the waist to absorb those hits right it’s all intentional,” someone tweeted. Another person wrote, “God wasn’t about to give you GOAT football s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s AND a perfect body.” Validating their point, someone else replied, “You can have a dad bod when you got the golden arm.”
The Love
The playful and positive messages far outshined any criticism. Another fan jokingly replied, “That’s a body of a champion right there!! 🐐 But i hear ya, eating off those kid plates will get ya!.” Others encouraged the professional athlete not to stress over his body aesthetic because, after all, he’s a professional athlete of the highest caliber.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, Patrick Mahomes' daughter, Sterling Mahomes, was dressed to impress for the team's playoff game against the Buffalo Bills in a sweet photo captured by @BrittanyLynne. https://t.co/OCG8InKhLi
— SheKnows (@SheKnows) January 23, 2024
“You’re more active than 90% of dads for sure. You earned the working dad bod!” wrote a supporter. One X user pointed out the amount of love people were sending Patrick’s way in response to his insecurity, thoughtfully writing, “You’ve encountered some playful banter about the dad bod phenomenon! Embrace the vibes and rock that dad bod with pride.”
When you’re well on your way to another Super Bowl victory, it’s a given that you’ve got one hell of a body to get there — regardless of what it looks like or how it’s perceived by society’s aesthetic standards. We, for one, can’t wait to see Patrick’s dad bod in action on the football field next weekend!