Ex-Patriots star wowed by Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes speaking out on racial inequality
Although he’s just 24 years old, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ accomplishments already have exceeded the majority of those who have played his position in the NFL.
Mahomes has won an MVP award, a Super Bowl MVP and thrown for more than 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in a season.
While all of that is incredible, former Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest, a three-time Super Bowl champion and two-time Pro Bowler, was impressed more by what Mahomes has done over the last week.
First Mahomes joined other NFL stars in a Black Lives Matter video, then he spoke eloquently about the need for racial equality.
McGinest joined the “Total Access” show on the NFL Network and was asked by host Rhett Lewis about Mahomes’ impact.
“I used to like Pat Mahomes a whole lot, now I love the kid,” McGinest said. “And you talk about impact, you talk about powerful, here’s a young kid from White House, Texas who never experienced the injustices or inequalities that a lot of people in our country are going through now, who is a Super Bowl MVP, he’s a league MVP, he’s going to be the highest paid quarterback in NFL history.
“This thing didn’t affect him personally, OK? It didn’t happen to him, but to have the wherewithal and the compassion, and the voice and ability to see that this is something wrong whether you’re black or white, it doesn’t really matter. Here’s a young kid 24 years old, saw that there’s something going on wrong, and he felt compelled to step out, use his humongous platform and talk to the people.”
Mahomes told reporters this week he intends to continue to speak out and reach others, and that also impressed McGinest.
“This kid is special,” McGinest said. “He’s done it on the football field, but what’s going on in our country is a lot bigger than football, and for him to step out of his comfort zone or to some people say maybe he didn’t have to because he wasn’t affected by it, this talks a lot about him. And I can just tell you like listening to him and watching him and all the things that he’s been through the last three years and then to come out and do this.
“I’m very impressed man, and it’s special, and it tells everybody no matter if you’re affected or not, what you’re going through that you can be change. You can help what’s going on, just by using your platform.”
McGinest was asked about Mahomes likely having another decade-plus of time in the NFL and that he will be a voice for racial justice in that span.
First, McGinest took note of the NFL pledging $250 million to fight systemic racism this week.
“Before, the players were a little apprehensive, Rhett, of stepping out because you would be ostracized, you’d be alienated, scrutinized and reprimanded and sometimes your job will be in jeopardy,” McGinest said. “These players have the power now because they are part of a big business, which is the NFL, any sport or entertainment. These guys have the power. They also have the voice. People want to hear what he has to say. People are watching him. He is the face of the NFL. He has had more success in three years than most players have had their entire career, so young people are listening, and young people like Tyrann Mathieu and a lot of these other players, they understand that they have the power to make change. They have people following and listening to him.
“So that’s very impressive and to ... step out of your box, regardless of how successful you are, how much accomplishment you’ve accomplished without in your career, your life, how much money you have, regardless of all that, to be able to step out of your comfort zone and be able to speak out about something that’s going on that may not affect you, but may affect your teammates, your friends, other people’s families. That’s important to me. And it shows and it tells a lot about him, tells a lot about his family, and how he was raised. And remember, he’s coming from a biracial family household, so things are important to him on a lot of different levels, and I respect him, and like I said again I respect his mother and his father for how he was raised as a young kid, until a young man that he is now.”
Here is McGinest on Mahomes:
