Fact Check: Was Patrick Mahomes drinking vodka during the Colts vs Chiefs game?

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI: A video of Patrick Mahomes drinking from a small bottle on the sidelines during the Colts vs. Chiefs game has gone viral online. 

A humorous caption claims the Chiefs quarterback was drinking vodka, drawing more than 1 million views and hundreds of replies, with many users joking about the moment or comparing it with athletes’ usual hydration routines. But was Mahomes really drinking vodka during the game?

Claim: Patrick Mahomes drank vodka from a small bottle during the Chiefs' game

The rumor began after an X user captured a clip of Patrick Mahomes drinking from a small bottle containing a yellowish liquid during the Kansas City Chiefs’ game against the Indianapolis Colts and shared it online.

The user captioned the video, “Mahomes downing some vodka before the game?” The post suggested the bottle contained vodka, but it did not provide any evidence identifying the drink.

The clip came from the Chiefs’ 33-30 overtime win over the Colts on September 20, 2026, which improved Kansas City’s record to 2-0.

Mahomes had a strong performance, throwing for 382 yards and three touchdowns. Shortly after the game, the brief video of him taking a quick drink from the bottle began circulating on social media, with some users joking that he was drinking alcohol before or during the game.

Posts such as the one from @BronGotGame helped spread the claim by presenting the drink as vodka. 

Fact Check: False; Mahomes did not drink vodka

The claim that Patrick Mahomes was drinking vodka or any other alcohol before the Chiefs-Colts game is false. Multiple sports reports identified the drink as pickle juice, not alcohol.

The Kansas City Chiefs have used pickle juice as part of their pre-game and sideline routines to help prevent or relieve muscle cramps.

Mahomes has also spoken about the practice. In 2020, he said he had been taking “little shots” of pickle juice since high school for this purpose.

Reports published after the September 20, 2026 game, including several news outlets, identified the drink as pickle juice and debunked the alcohol claims that spread online.

The original viral post presented the moment as a joke and used laughing emojis while suggesting that Mahomes was drinking vodka.

Community notes and journalists later clarified the claim. The short video does not show the contents of the bottle clearly, but Mahomes’ past comments and the Chiefs’ known use of pickle juice support the identification of the drink as pickle juice.

No credible reporting or official statement supports the claim that Mahomes was drinking alcohol.