Patrick Mahomes’ father, Pat Mahomes Sr., set the internet on fire with his fight with former Atlanta Braves pitcher John Rocker during Super Bowl week. The fight went viral, and soon, Barstool Sports announced a boxing match between the two former MLB pitchers in April for the company’s “Rough N’ Rowdy” promotions.
However, per Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, it all came crashing down when the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and his wife Brittany intervened and made Mahomes Sr. pull out of the fight.
How Patrick Mahomes Stopped the Pat Mahomes Sr.-John Rocker Fight
Portnoy shockingly announced on “The Unnamed Show” on Feb. 21 that the fight had been canceled and blamed it on the younger Mahomes’ agents and his wife, Brittany.
“Mahomes’ agent, [the football player], and Brittany from what I am told… intervened and were like, ‘There’s no way this fight’s happening,” Portnoy said. ‘”We’re going to cut this guy off if he does it.”‘
Breaking: The fight between John Rocker and Patrick Mahomes Sr. has been canceled
"Mahomes' agent [the football player], and Brittany from what I'm told… intervened and said there's no way this fight happens.." – @stoolpresidente pic.twitter.com/ZIxeE0EZdB
— The Unnamed Show (@barstoolunnamed) February 21, 2025
Portnoy’s claims align with Rocker’s recent allegations that the Chiefs quarterback was trying to kill the fight through his agents.
“Hearing Pat Mahomes Jr’s team of woke suits is trying to dissuade Pat Sr from fighting me,” Rocker posted.
“Why don’t we sweeten the pot. I will put a percentage of my purse towards a charity my X followers choose. Mahomes Sr will put a percentage of his purse towards his sons charity.”
Hearing Pat Mahomes Jr’s team of woke suits is trying to dissuade Pat Sr from fighting me.
Why don’t we sweeten the pot. I will put a percentage of my purse towards a charity my X followers choose.
Mahomes Sr will put a percentage of his purse towards his sons charity.
— JohnRocker (@itsJohnRocker) February 12, 2025
It’s worth noting that the Chiefs quarterback isn’t a big fan of Barstool Sports, which could be one of the reasons he made his father back out of the fight. However, Portnoy made it clear that the fight was the idea of the former MLB pitchers, who wanted to settle their beef.
“They came to us to do this,” Portnoy said. “How would we ever come up with this concept? Like, ‘Oh, let’s put John Rocker vs. Pat Mahomes Sr.’ Like, who would ever think of that?
“They came to us and said they hated each other and wanted to fight.”
The altercation started after Rocker attempted to shake Mahomes Sr.’s hand in New Orleans during Super Bowl weekend, but it was smacked away, setting off an argument. The two then traded insults, with Mahomes later calling Rocker a “menace to society.”
While Mahomes Sr. later admitted it was a staged altercation to generate buzz for their fight, their rivalry goes back to the days when he played with the New York Mets.
Decades ago, Rocker did an infamous interview with Sports Illustrated in which he slammed the city of New York and insulted several minority groups in the process. Rocker said he “would retire” rather than join the Mets, describing New York as “depressing” and bashing many people who live there.
The interview was so controversial and inflammatory that Rocker was suspended for 28 days to start the 2000 MLB season, which was reduced to 14 games after an appeal.
The elder Mahomes has had his share of controversial moments as well and has been arrested for driving while intoxicated in 2008, 2019, and 2024. He was put on a ban last year after being caught without a valid license and is now under “intense supervision” in his first year of probation.