Mahomes’ Christmas Sacrifice: Why Playing on Christmas Day Is a ‘Bad Feeling’

Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs’ star quarterback, is no stranger to the high-stakes world of professional football. However, when it comes to spending Christmas Day on the field, even the Super Bowl MVP has his reservations. The NFL’s decision to schedule a rare slate of Wednesday games this season means that Mahomes, along with his teammates, will have to sacrifice their holiday for a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day.

This is the second consecutive year that the Chiefs will be playing on Christmas, having faced the Las Vegas Raiders last year on a Monday. But this year’s schedule is particularly grueling. Mahomes and the Chiefs will play three games in just 11 days. They face the Cleveland Browns on December 15, the Houston Texans on December 21, and the Steelers on December 25. Such a tight schedule is challenging, not just mentally but physically, and Mahomes is open about his frustration.

“It’s not a good feeling,” Mahomes said in a press conference on Wednesday. “You never want to play this amount of games in this short of time. It’s not great for your body. But, at the end of the day, it’s your job, your profession. You have to come to work and do it.”

This condensed schedule raises significant concerns for Mahomes, who admitted that he’s never faced three games in such a short span during his football career. But despite the tough circumstances, Mahomes remains professional and focused. “All you can do is focus on the game. The practice you have that day,” he said. “I try to prepare my body all year long for this stretch. That’s tailoring my workouts, tailoring how you practice and prepare.”

While Mahomes is a seasoned athlete, the intense schedule and physical strain are inevitable. The Chiefs’ coaching staff, however, does its best to minimize the impact on the players. “The coaches do a great job of taking care of us on the practice field,” Mahomes added.

This year’s Christmas Day game means Mahomes won’t get to spend the holiday with his family for the second year in a row. For a man who has always been open about his faith, missing out on time with his loved ones during such an important occasion is a sacrifice that doesn’t go unnoticed. Mahomes, alongside his wife Brittany, is a devout Christian, and his faith plays a major role in everything he does—both on and off the field.

“My Christian faith plays a role in everything that I do,” Mahomes shared in a 2023 Super Bowl interview. “I always ask God to lead me in the right direction and let me be who I am for His name. I feel like I’ve grown in my faith these last few years, and I think that’s given me more sense of who I am and why I play the game.”

For Mahomes, the pressure of playing football is not about the wins or losses. It’s about glorifying God through his talents. “It’s not about winning or losing,” he explained. “It’s about going out there and being the best that I can in His name.”

While Mahomes’ holiday sacrifice may be disappointing for his family and fans alike, his resilience and unwavering commitment to both his faith and profession shine through. It’s a reminder that behind every touchdown and every victory, there’s a person who faces tough decisions, makes sacrifices, and continues to give their all for something bigger than themselves.