KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- To the larger football world, Patrick Mahomes burst on the scene in 2018 in a spectacular way by throwing for 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns and winning the NFL's MVP award in his first season as a starter.
Mahomes spent his rookie season mostly hidden from public view as a backup to Alex Smith until the Kansas City Chiefs rested their starters in the final game of the regular season against the Denver Broncos.
But Mahomes' burgeoning talent wasn't a big surprise to his teammates and coaches.