MIAMI — Long before he ever dreamed of playing football for a living, much less playing in the Super Bowl, Patrick Mahomes tagged along with his dad as he bounced around the major leagues as a journeyman pitcher.
He hung around superstars like Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter. He watched how they prepared and saw how they dealt with both success and failure.
The lessons he learned are a big reason why he’s the starting quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl. They’re also why he’s the rare player who could be the face of the NFL for years to come.