ESPN host: Patrick Mahomes may earn more money by taking hometown discount with Chiefs
The million-dollar question in Kansas City is how many millions quarterback Patrick Mahomes will earn in his next contract with the Chiefs.
Last week, the Chiefs announced they were exercising their fifth-year team option for Mahomes, and that would cover the 2021 season. Nevertheless, Mahomes is going to get a huge payday, with some expecting him to receive $40 million per season.
But should Mahomes consider taking a hometown discount? Mike Greenberg, who is host of ESPN’s “Get Up” show, believes Mahomes ultimately make more money in his lifetime if he asks for less.
Does that seem counterintuitive?
Greenberg says former Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan, who is in the news because of ESPN’s “The Last Dance” documentary, is a perfect example of why money made during a playing career can be less important than endorsements.
“I think sometimes we look at this, we use the wrong wording,” Greenberg said. “When people say should Patrick Mahomes take less money, I think a different way to look at it would be should Patrick Mahomes invest some of the extraordinary amount of money he is going to make in his life into giving himself the best chance of winning championships?
“Let me say two things about it very quickly. Tom Brady (in) his career earned less money than Peyton Manning, Eli Manning or Drew Brees. He also won more Super Bowls than all three of them combined. The example Patrick Mahomes should be looking at is Michael Jordan, whom we’re talking about. Michael Jordan is worth $2 billion today. He made $90 million on the floor. Someone like Patrick Mahomes is in a unique situation, where the amount of money he makes off the field should dwarf any amount of money they can pay him, and the best way to get there is winning championships. I would view it, Dan (Orlovsky, co-host), as an investment.”
Mahomes already has sponsorship deals with State Farm, Head & Shoulders, Oakley, EA Sports and others, and it would seem likely he would begin appearing in more commercials if the Chiefs continue to win Super Bowl championships.
Here is the clip of Greenberg talking about Mahomes:
One caveat to Greenberg’s Mahomes/Jordan comparison: As “The Last Dance” documentary pointed out, one reason Jordan won six NBA championships is because the Bulls’ second-best player, Scottie Pippen, was just the 122nd-highest paid player in the league despite being a seven-time NBA All-Star.
This story was originally published May 4, 2020 at 12:39 PM.
