Kansas City Chiefs fans were stunned to notice the physical evolution of star quarterback Patrick Mahomes after the organization celebrated him after nearly a decade with the team
19:36 ET, 10 Jun 2026
Patrick Mahomes takes the field before an NFL game
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Kansas City Chiefs fans strolled down memory lane while recollecting nine years with Patrick Mahomes(Image: Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
Kansas City Chiefs fans were reminded of the times when winning Super Bowl championships felt routine after seeing the franchise celebrate Patrick Mahomes' latest milestone.
The Chiefs marked 10 years with Mahomes this week following a historic contract extension that added two years to his existing deal. The revised deal keeps the QB in Kansas City through the 2033 season and carries a total value of $504.75 million.
The deal instantly went down in history as the first NFL contract to surpass half a billion dollars. To celebrate the occasion, the franchise shared side-by-side images from Mahomes' rookie season and Year 10. Meanwhile, New York Knicks fans are paying more for NBA Finals seats than the cost of entry to all but one Super Bowl involving Mahomes.
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The comparison saw fans focused less on the money and more on how dramatically the quarterback has evolved since arriving in the NFL. His 2017 rookie photo featured a rounder face and fuller cheeks that aligned during his college days at Texas Tech.
A decade later, the three-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback looks leaner with a more defined jawline. Mahomes weighed 225 pounds at the 2017 NFL Combine and was still listed at that weight in 2025.
The most notable symbol of Mahomes' transformation was cutting his trademark high-volume curls and replacing them with a tight skin fade after losing Super Bowl LIX. The Chiefs' QB threw for 257 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions before being dominated 40-22 by the Philadelphia Eagles.
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Fans online shared their belief that the newer photo reflects the confidence of a veteran who has become the face of the league. Others noticed how fast time feels to be moving after living through the Andy Reid and Mahomes era of the team.
One fan wrote, "It's going too fast," while another added, "It still feels like yesterday, what do you mean its been ten years?"
A third fan wrote, "He looks like such a kid year 1. He looks better with age," while another added, "That's insane how fast 10 years goes. Crazy how fast time flies when you're having fun."
Patrick Mahomes throws a pass during OTA's
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Patrick Mahomes is already at OTAs after tearing his knee last season
Mahomes returned to the Chiefs' practice facilities just 165 days after tearing his ACL and LCL in the final two minutes of Week 15's matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. The loss sealed the first playoff miss of Mahomes' NFL career.
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"It sucks watching these NFL Playoffs games. I want to be out there playing football," he said. The Chief's QB has a 17-4 playoff record and is 3-1 in the Super Bowl.
Ever since the defining playoff loss, the Chiefs quarterback has been single-mindedly consumed by a relentless ambition to defy his injury timeline and reclaim the field for the September 14 season opener against the Denver Broncos.