Building a dynasty always requires moments of silence, decisions made behind closed doors, and almost blind trust between the coach, general manager and president. For the Kansas City Chiefs, one of those moments happened before the 2017 NFL Draft and changed franchise history.
Speaking Tuesday (2/12) on the Up & Adams Show, Chiefs president Mark Donovan referenced the process that led the team to move up in the draft to select Patrick Mahomes.
Contrary to what many might imagine, there was no heated debate, extensive analysis, or endless meetings. There was, above all, trust.
“Hey, you should see this.”
It all started with a simple call from Chiefs coach Andy Reid. He rarely mentioned the executive’s past as a quarterback, only when he wanted something. And that day I wanted to.
“He calls me and says, ‘Can you come down?’” he says. “His office was one floor below mine. I came down and asked him: What happened?” “You have to see this,” Mark said.
Then Reed pressed play on the video. It was a highlight of Mahomes’ college career, more specifically, the play in which the quarterback rolls to the right, then to the left and throws a ball roughly 60 yards from the hip.
I just said: This is crazy. “Yes,” Andy said. “I knew you would understand,” he said.
Dance project
After showing the video, Reid was live. To select Mahomes, the team would have to move up a lot in the draft. It was a risky and expensive move. To convince the franchise owner, Clark Hunt, everyone had to be on board.
“I asked: Why?” He said: Because it will become a dance. I’ll talk to Brett Fitch, Brett will talk to Clark. Then Clark will call me. Then he will contact you. “And you have to say we are ready to do this.”
Then the leader asked: “Tell me why you think that.” Reid explained his vision and that was enough. “Okay, I understand you.” He did not even return to his own room. As Reed predicted, the phone rang.
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Conditional closure.
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TAMPA, FL – NOVEMBER 29: Tom Brady (12) of the Buccaneers shakes hands with Patrick Mahomes (15) of the Chiefs after the regular season game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on November 29, 2020 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welsh/Ikon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Cliff Welsh/Ikon Sportswire via Getty Images
“Are you worried about that baby Mahomes?”
Clark Hunt began the call with a series of routine matters: business, contracts, minor issues. Finally, he asked the really important question:
“Hey, by the way, are you worried about that Mahomes kid? “I’ve heard a little bit about that, yeah,” I said.
Clark explained that Reid believes the team needs to move up a lot in the draft to get Mahomes and asked the manager’s opinion. The answer came without hesitation:
“I trust my coaches. If Andy thinks we need to step up, and if Brett thinks we need to step up, we probably will. If they really think we should, then we should do it.”
The rest is history
The Kansas City Chiefs moved up with the 10th pick in the 2017 draft and selected Patrick Mahomes, a move that many analysts called bold, even risky, at the time.
Today, Mahomes is a two-time MVP, multiple Super Bowl champion, and a mainstay of the franchise.