Three-peat is alive for Chiefs ... and Patrick Mahomes when it comes to winning ESPYs
A Super Bowl three-peat is alive for the Kansas City Chiefs this season, and so it is for Patrick Mahomes at the ESPYs.
For the second straight year, Mahomes pulled off an ESPY double by winning Best Athlete in Male Sports and Best NFL Player.
The top male athlete award was announced on Thursday on the live ESPY Awards program. Mahomes wasn’t there, and Andy Reid, who attended the event with his wife Tammy, accepted the award.
“I’ve been around this kid for a few years now, to watch him grow as a football player, as a teammate, as a leader has been phenomenal,” Reid said. “But more than that, to watch him grow as a father and as a husband has probably been the best part of that.
“We’re very lucky to have him in Kansas City.”
The other finalists for the top athlete award were Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers, golfer Scottie Scheffler and Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers.
Mahomes tweeted: “Incredible athletes across the board in this category. Blessed and honored to bring home this award again. Thanks to the fans and @ESPYS. Big dawg Andy crushed too.”
The NFL award was announced on Wednesday.
The Chiefs were up for Team of the Year, but that award went to the University of South Carolina women’s basketball team, which won the NCAA championship with a 38-0 record.
The Chiefs were part of another ESPY, not as a winner but as the opposing team in Best Play. The winner was quarterback Lamar Jackson catching his own pass. In the AFC Championship Game, a Jackson pass was batted in the air by Chiefs safety Justin Reid. Jackson hustled to snare the ball and turn the play into a 13-yard gain.
The Chiefs won 17-10 and advanced to Super Bowl LVIII, where they defeated the San Francisco 49ers in overtime for their second straight NFL championship.