State Farm quietly pulled Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes’ commercial following injury
With all due respect to celebrity Chiefs fans Henry Winkler, but the joke about the NFL being scripted has jumped the shark.
While no one quips about the NFL season being planned out in advance, we continue to see that truth is stranger than fiction, even in sports.
For instance, when State Farm debuted a new Patrick Mahomes commercial with singer Meghan Trainor in August, who could have guessed it would mirror actual events?
That spot played off Trainor’s name and comically showed her ineptitude in trying to treat Mahomes. Meanwhile, Chiefs assistant athletic trainer Julie Frymer took care of another player in the ad.
At one point, Trainor tried to put a knee brace on Mahomes’ arm. It was all funny until Mahomes actually hurt his knee in a Dec. 14 game against the Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Two ligaments in Mahomes’ knee needed to be repaired, and he was wearing a big brace a week ago. Coach Andy Reid noted that Mahomes has been working closely with Frymer following surgery.
The irony of what happened to Mahomes months after that commercial aired wasn’t lost on football fans, even in Denver.
The commercial was a hit, making 900 million TV impressions, according to iSpot. That company tracks commercials and “helps advertisers measure the brand and business impact of TV and streaming advertising” with “fast, accurate and actionable measurement.”
Despite the popularity, State Farm didn’t wait long in taking down the commercial. According to iSpot, it last aired on Dec. 16, two days after Mahomes’ injury.
State Farm did not respond to a request for comment about the commercial being pulled. It is still up on YouTube.
However, the insurance company’s spot with Mahomes and Chiefs guard Trey Smith has 823 million impressions and counting, as the commercial is still airing.
This story was originally published January 8, 2026 at 8:59 AM.
