Patrick Mahomes ‘sparked Chiefs’ Super Bowl comeback with rousing halftime speech

Patrick Mahomes’ aggravated ankle injury didn’t stop him from delivering an impassioned halftime speech in the Kansas City Chiefs locker room en route to a 38-35 comeback win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII.

The NFL and Super Bowl MVP held off on getting his ankle treated, instead deciding to address the Chiefs, who entered halftime trailing by 10 points.

‘We just challenged each other, man, to leave everything out there, and I don’t want to say we played tight in the first half, but you didn’t see that same joy that we play with,’ Mahomes said Monday. ‘And I wanted guys to just know that everything we worked for is for this moment.’

Mahomes suffered the high-ankle sprain four weeks earlier against Jacksonville before aggravating it on a second-quarter hit from Eagles linebacker TJ Edwards. The Chiefs signal caller would limp off the field and into the locker room soon thereafter, but surprised fans by returning in the second half to complete 13 of 14 passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns, as Kansas City won its second Super Bowl of the last four years.

‘We put new tape on there and did some movement to get some mobility in it,’ said Mahomes, who told reporters that he did not receive a pain injection on Sunday in Arizona. ‘It was something that I was going to play through.’

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (L) after twisting his ankle as he is tackled by T.J Edwards (R) of the Philadelphia Eagles in the second quarter of Super Bowl LVII between the AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs and the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium

Head coach Andy Reid had told backup Chad Henne to loosen up, but Mahomes wasn’t going to be removed from Sunday’s game.

Reid told reporters that he trusted his quarterback, who was raised in a competitive atmosphere by his father, former Major League pitcher Pat Mahomes.

‘He grew up in a locker room,’ Reid said. ‘He’s seen the greats, and he strives to be the greatest. Without saying anything, that’s the way he works. He wants to be the greatest player ever. That’s what he wants to do, and that’s the way he goes about his business.

‘When it’s time for the guys around him to raise their game, he helps them with that,’ Reid continued. ‘The great quarterbacks make everybody around him better, including the head coach, so he’s done a heck of a job.’

Prior to Mahomes’ ankle injury, it was Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts who had been the star of the game, throwing for a touchdown and rushing for two more before halftime.

But even with only one good leg, Mahomes was simply too much for the Eagles defense, which struggled to apply pressure, or even tackle the hobbled quarterback in the open field. Mahomes’ late 26-yard run helped set up the Chiefs’ game-winning field goal.

‘M-V-Pat,’ joked Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. ‘He’s going to be the best to ever do it when it’s all said and done and is the best to do it right now.’

Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts on the bench after an apparent injury during the second quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium

Patrick Mahomes has his ankle taped in the second quarter of Super Bowl LVII

Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates after Super Bowl LVII against the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium

Mahomes was asked about potentially matching Brady’s record seven Super Bowl wins, but didn’t want to guarantee anything.

‘It’s going to be tough,’ Mahomes said. ‘I mean, seven Super Bowl victories, 10 Super Bowls. There’s a reason why he’s so far ahead of everybody else. It’s hard to do, but I’ll do my best to chase it.’

As for his immediate future, Mahomes is focused on resting his ankle, even at the cost of some personal hobbies.

‘We’ll continue to rehab, continue the treatment that we were doing, and just give it some rest,’ he said. ‘I think the best thing for it is going to be rest. One thing that might take a hit is my golf game.’