Superstar Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes to the ‘Stick to sports’ set: ‘We are people, too’
In the past week, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and safety Tyrann Mathieu have cemented their place on center stage alongside the Black Lives Matter movement.
The two Kansas City Chiefs stars have been active on social media in getting out the message. Their biggest impact came in the form of a recent video with other prominent NFL players in which they called on the league to denounce racism.
While Mahomes’ and Mathieu’s efforts were met by an outpouring of support, the two players have also faced their share of critics. The players understand that not everyone will agree with their opinions, but they have a message for detractors who would prefer that athletes stick to sports.
“I would just say that you have to believe that we are people, too,” Mahomes said. “I feel like those people have kids and they understand that their kids could play sports, and their kids could possibly be in the same position that we’re in. And they would want their kids to show their heart, show who they truly are and try to affect the world in a most positive way possible.”
Mathieu, who followed Mahomes on the video call, conceded it is sometimes difficult to get the message across to those whose initial response is to shut it out.
But the All-Pro safety hopes his involvement — as well as that of his peers across the NFL — can help make a difference. The country has roiled with protests calling for an end to racial injustice since the May 25 killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers.
“A lot of us are deep in our communities,” Mathieu said. “We feel the need to speak up for our communities, about our communities. It’s up to us to defend our communities, to defend certain people, to shift certain areas, to shift certain perspectives about my people.”
Mahomes and Mathieu aren’t alone in calling for change. Floyd’s death has prompted countless protests against racism and police brutality not just in the U.S. but across the globe. Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker also went on record during a May 29 video call to address Floyd’s death.
Some major powers-that-be are pledging to change. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell replied to the players in his own video, condemning racism. NASCAR on Wednesday announced the banning of the Confederate flag at its events and race tracks. The Marine Corps and Navy announced in the past week that the Confederate flag is prohibited from being displayed on their installations.
While each action represents a shift from the status quo, Mahomes and Mathieu plan on remaining involved in raising awareness.
They realize there are detractors to their message of inclusion, but neither will shy away from the backlash and both will continue using their place in American culture to try to bring about positive change.
“I think our social responsibility, I think it goes far beyond the football field,” Mathieu said. “I think we have a true impact in our communities. I think we are able to influence masses of people.
“For us, it’s about owning that and doing it the right way and being conscious that the only way we’re ever going to be able to get any kind of change is if both sides are willing to change. That’s the biggest thing, is to fall forward together.”
Mahomes agreed.
“That’s what we believe that we’re doing, and so obviously we know that not everyone agrees with everything that you’re going to say,” he said. “Just know that when we say stuff, we mean it and we care, and we want to make the world the best place for our future kids and for generations to come behind us.”
