The Kansas City Chiefs are coming off a season that few saw coming, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014. As a result, expectations have climbed around the Chiefs, with Patrick Mahomes carrying much of that pressure heading into the new season.
However, plenty of questions surround Mahomes as he works his way back from a torn ACL. While anticipation continues to grow around the veteran quarterback, Dan Orlovsky recently made a ranking that rubbed Mahomes’ longtime trainer the wrong way.
Patrick Mahomes’ Trainer Calls Out Dan Orlovsky for His Assessment of the Chiefs’ Star
In his latest rankings, Orlovsky evaluated his top 10 NFL QBs across seven traits: arm strength, ball placement, mechanics, decision-making, pocket presence, second reaction, and rushing ability.
In arm strength, he placed Mahomes fifth, behind Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, Caleb Williams, and Matthew Stafford.
Orlovsky then put Mahomes ninth in decision-making with the football. He explained the reasoning behind the surprisingly low placement in his evaluation.
“Some might see decision-making as a question mark on his otherwise impeccable scouting report,” Orlovsky wrote. “But that would be discounting just how much is asked of him as a decision-maker in Kansas City. He threw 11 interceptions last season, but he was constantly trying to find plays when they weren’t there.”
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Even with that explanation, the ranking still stands out for a quarterback who has built his career around making difficult decisions under pressure.
Orlovsky then ranked Mahomes third in second-reaction ability, behind Allen and Williams. However, he placed the Chiefs’ star seventh in rushing ability. And in pocket presence, ball placement, and mechanics, he kept Mahomes outside the top 10.
That overall evaluation clearly caught the attention of Bobby Stroupe, Mahomes’ longtime personal performance coach and trainer. He took to X and offered a short warning that suggested Mahomes could have something to say on the field.
“Oh. 👌 We will keep Dan informed as the season goes on,” he wrote.
Oh. 👌
We will keep Dan informed as the season goes on. https://t.co/P7nvRAnGtq— Bobby Stroupe (@bobbystroupe) August 13, 2026
Now, Mahomes may not look like the typical elite athlete, but that has never stopped quarterbacks from thriving late in their careers.
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Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger both carried extra weight, yet each continued producing at a high level into their late 30s.
So, physical appearance alone should not decide what Mahomes can accomplish. More importantly, the Chiefs star has never relied solely on his legs to control games. His arm talent, accuracy, and ability to create throws have always driven his success.
Even after playing only 14 games before his injury last season, Mahomes finished with 3,587 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. PFN’s QB Impact Metric gave him a 79.0 impact score, which ranked 11th among NFL quarterbacks.
However, as the new season approaches, many analysts still want to see how often the two-time NFL MVP uses his legs after his ACL injury.
His early training camp clips offered some encouragement, as he looked comfortable scrambling despite the major setback. Mahomes’ scrambling ability has always forced defenses to stay alert. So, seeing him willing to run on his repaired knee provides another positive sign for the Chiefs.
For now, Mahomes is entering the season with one goal: climbing back toward the top. So, it’ll be interesting to see how he performs and whether he can silence his doubters.
