Patrick Mahomes looks forward to establishing his legacy on and off the field

Patrick Mahomes recently spoke out about wanting to extend his legacy.

The game of football will remember Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for his accomplishments on the field—a list that is already quite long considering how little he has actually played in his career. However, if you listen to the man himself, he’s just as concerned with what his national platform and considerable wealth will allow him to do off of the field.

In an interview at NFL.com, Mahomes recently spoke about what his new 10-year, $503 million extension means for him personally. Yes, it provides generational wealth. Yes, it provides immense security professionally. Yes, it shines a spotlight on him brighter than anything previously experienced. However, it all allows him to further his legacy—something the 24-year-old is already invested in and thinking about.

"“It’s an exciting time. I’m just glad that I get to continue building this legacy in Kansas City. Obviously with everything going on in the world, with COVID and all this different stuff, this security and go into the community to give back, I can’t wait to not only build this legacy on the field but off of it. I’m excited for the future ahead, not only for me but for the Kansas City Chiefs and the communities that have brought me up so far.”"

Mahomes has made considerable investments into the community as a player already, establishing a solid foundation to his legacy as a person off of the field, yet still in the spotlight. He established his 15 & The Mahomies foundation to handle his civic efforts. The “signature” program there is 15 for 15, which supports the heart of Mahomes’ non-profit and aims to empower the lives of underprivileged youth in numerous ways—from classroom to supplies to after school programs.

During his short NFL career, Mahomes has been a very active participant in and around the K.C. community. He’s supported Special Olympics causes, brought Boys & Girls Club participants to a Chiefs game, provided scholarships for children of Navy SEALs, built a playground, promoted awareness for pets in need (KC Pet Project), and has given away hundreds of thousands of dollars to local charities.

Recently Mahomes has been pushing for more informed citizenry and for people to register to vote. He’s working with LeBron James and other athletes on “More Than A Vote,” which aims to educate people politically on the issues and to fight voter suppression. Many communities are underrepresented politically in their locales because they are unable or don’t know how to vote and these measures can help create better representation.

Now that he is the NFL’s most popular player armed with the single largest contract given to anyone in American professional sports history, his ability to extend his legacy is greater than ever. Not only are the Chiefs in good hands with Patrick Mahomes at the helm, but Kansas City and beyond will be a much stronger community for having him around.