When the NFL released the players at the top of their player-voted top 100 players, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was listed fourth. He was behind wide receiver Tyreek Hill, quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Christian McCaffrey, all of which Mahomes and the Chiefs beat in the 2023 postseason. To some, this seems unfathomable.
All those players are incredible; this isn’t an argument for or against them. People will wonder, however, if this can serve as extra motivation for Mahomes. It could, but he seems to be able to self-motivate pretty well. He knows he won’t be first every year.
The vote occurred in November when the Chiefs weren’t playing particularly well. Also, not all of the players vote. Mahomes knows these things, so it is doubtful he uses it as extra motivation. He is a player who always tries to excel and do his best at all times.
While Mahomes might be able to find extra motivation, it will more likely be aimed at specific teams or situations. He’s more likely to be even more revved up when Kansas City plays the Raiders this season after players added fuel to a long-raging rivalry by mocking Mahomes with a Kermit the Frog doll wearing a Chiefs’ 15 jersey.
The Chiefs are laden with veterans and experienced coaches who can and will handle team motivation every game. With players like Mahomes, Chris Jones, Travis Kelce and a head coach like Andy Reid, motivation should never be an issue.
One overwhelming factor will play into Kansas City’s motivation this season: their desire to become the first team ever to win three straight Super Bowls. They have the roster and the coaching staff to do it and are more than motivated. That does not mean they will or that it will be easy. This is the NFL, and nothing is ever easy.
Several factors can derail even the strongest teams — injuries, suspensions, turnovers, age, competition — all could play a factor. The Chiefs will have a target on their backs all year and get everyone’s best effort. That’s why it is so hard to repeat in any sport.
Kansas City’s schedule is also especially brutal. They start with games against contenders with top quarterbacks — the Ravens and Bengals. They play every day of the week this season except Tuesday, which will severely disrupt their normal practice rhythms.
Many things could prevent the Chiefs from winning another Super Bowl, but lacking motivation isn’t one of them. Their leaders won’t allow complacency. Things like best-player lists and rivals mocking Mahomes won’t make Kansas City or their quarterback play better or worse. A chance to be the only team to win back-to-back championships is all the motivation needed.
