Chiefs’ Dustin Colquitt says fame hasn’t changed quarterback Patrick Mahomes
Life as the punter on the NFL’s most explosive offense may seem like a breeze, but Chiefs punter Dustin Colquitt talked Thursday about the challenges he faces on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
The Chiefs tied for the second-fewest punts in the 2019 NFL season but had the fourth-most field-goal attempts. That’s noteworthy because Colquitt is the holder for Harrison Butker.
“You end up being a sports psychologist for the kicker because you’re kicking a lot of field goals, so you’re holding a lot,” Colquitt said. “And like you said, you gotta make sure that you get a lot more practice just leading up to games. Pregames become important. And then when you get out there, like you said, you’re trying to make guys fumble, you’re trying to turn the field over, trying to bury it inside the 10-yard line.
“The days, like you know, of (kicks inside) the 20-yard line, Those are gone. You’re trying to bury that thing deeper, you’re trying to get to the 10, the 5 and stuff like that.”
A big reason for Colquitt’s lack of punting is quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who already has won an NFL MVP award and Super Bowl MVP.
Colquitt talked about Mahomes’ ability to do just about everything on the field but also praised his teammate’s leadership.
“It’s fun watching a quarterback that can do these different things,” Colquitt said, “but also rally guys when something bad happens and brings them over and says, ‘Hey we still need you, get your head back in the game’ and comes over to heater and talks to a kicker and says, ‘hey, that was a pretty good punt, but I don’t want you kicking anymore.’”
That leadership was on display during Super Bowl LIV as Mahomes implored his teammates to stay positive despite a fourth-quarter deficit against the 49ers.
Mahomes is the face of the NFL, as McAfee noted, but Colquitt said his teammate is still down to earth.
“To say the guy hasn’t changed is very true,” Colquitt said. “I spend a lot of time with him, and I do things with him all the time here in the city. If I text him, he always texts me back within 10 minutes.
“He always has time for people, and that’s the coolest thing about Pat is he makes it a point to go and find that person who can’t give anything to him back but he wants to give everything in an experience. It’s cool to see.”
McAfee joked that Mahomes is that way because he hasn’t signed what is expected to be a $200 million (or more) contract.
But Colquitt doesn’t think the big payday will change Mahomes.
“He has a Super Bowl ring, he’s got the MVP and if he hasn’t changed there, I can’t see money being one of those things that changes the guy,” Colquitt said. “He already has the endorsements, he’s got the Oakley stuff. He’s still the same dude.”
Colquitt, who grew up in Tennessee, just completed his 15th season with the Chiefs. He’s happy to have spent his entire career with one team. He was also happy fans finally got to see a Super Bowl champion.
“I’ve been blessed to stay all in Kansas City. It’s not fun. I feel like it’s a little bit of ‘Game of Thrones.’ Winter is coming. Every year (I think), ‘Oh my gosh, I don’t know if I can do another winter,” Colquitt joked.
“But it’s a lot of fun. I love it. The fans here are obviously second to none. Arrowhead Stadium has been cool. How deserving are our fans? I say I’ve wait 15 years for the Super Bowl. They waited 50 in the city. It was cool to finally be a part of delivering that. The parade was great. This offseason has been great except for the brakes that have been put on the country with this COVID-19. I hope everybody’s healthy.”
Colquitt recently donated $25,000 for scrubs to be given to local hospitals:
You can watch the interview here. This is one clip from the show:
