Before Patrick Mahomes became the face of the NFL, he was a raw but electrifying talent at Texas Tech, lighting up defenses in the Big 12. A two-sport athlete with a background in baseball, he made throws no one else would even dare attempt, often turning broken plays into highlights.
His college career may not have been filled with championships or trophies, but it was a three-year display of pure, unfiltered talent that proved he was ready for the NFL.
Let’s look back at his journey through college before he was selected 10th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Freshman Year (2014): Two-Sport Athlete Finds His Footing
Coming out of Whitehouse High School in Texas, Mahomes was a multi-sport star, excelling in football and baseball. His father, Pat Mahomes Sr., was a former MLB pitcher, and there was legitimate debate over whether Patrick’s future would be on the diamond or the gridiron.
Texas Tech saw his football potential and immediately brought him in as part of Kliff Kingsbury’s air-raid offense. As a freshman, Mahomes started the year as the backup to Davis Webb but got his chance late in the season.
His breakout moment came against Baylor, where he threw for 598 yards and six touchdowns in a 48-46 shootout loss. Even in limited action, his arm strength and improvisational skills were on full display.
Sophomore Year (2015): Birth of a College Star
Mahomes took over as the full-time starter in 2015, and it didn’t take long for him to make an impact. In his first full season leading Texas Tech’s offense, he threw for 4,653 yards, 36 touchdowns, and just 15 interceptions while adding 456 rushing yards and 10 more touchdowns on the ground.
In Kingsbury’s pass-heavy system, Mahomes thrived. His ability to make throws off-platform, extend plays with his legs, and fit the ball into impossible windows made him one of the most exciting quarterbacks in college football. But despite his individual brilliance, Texas Tech finished just 7-6.
That season included a now-infamous 55-52 loss to TCU, a game in which Mahomes threw for 392 yards and two touchdowns but was outdueled by Trevone Boykin. The Red Raiders could score at will, but their porous defense often put Mahomes in impossible situations — something that would become a theme throughout his college career.
Junior Year (2016): Record-Breaking Greatness
If there was ever a season that hinted at Mahomes’ future NFL dominance, it was 2016. As a junior, he put up video-game numbers, throwing for 5,052 yards, 41 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, while adding 285 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.
His signature game came against Oklahoma in a legendary duel with Baker Mayfield. In a jaw-dropping 66-59 loss, Mahomes set an FBS record with 819 total yards (734 passing, 85 rushing) while throwing five touchdown passes. It was one of the greatest quarterback performances in college football history.
Baker Mayfield vs Patrick Mahomes in 2016. 125 points. 1,708 yards. 🍿🍿🍿pic.twitter.com/mCxk1Il7dC https://t.co/DiARB39MME
— Dylan (@PowellAnalytics) March 4, 2024
Despite Mahomes’ heroics, Texas Tech finished 5-7, missing out on a bowl game. The lack of team success kept him from receiving major national awards, but NFL scouts had taken notice. His ridiculous arm strength, mobility, and ability to make off-schedule throws separated him from other prospects and was what pushed Kansas City to trade up 17 spots to draft him 10th overall.
Since being drafted in 2017, Mahomes has gone on to win the AFC West every single season, multiple Super Bowls, MVPs, and Super Bowl MVPs. Currently 29 years old, his achievements in the NFL have already surpassed every other player in the leagues history except for one.