Patrick Mahomes slammed for ‘whining’ about NFL making Chiefs play on Christmas Day

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI: The NFL’s decision to introduce a rare slate of Wednesday games this season — primarily to ensure Christmas Day football — has sparked backlash, including from Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

With the Chiefs set to face the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 25, Wednesday, Mahomes and his teammates will spend their holiday at work for the second year in a row, Fox News reported. 

This scheduling quirk also forces the Chiefs into a demanding stretch: three games in just 11 days.

Patrick Mahomes calls out grueling NFL schedule as 'not great for body'

For the Kansas City Chiefs, the grind begins with a matchup against the Cleveland Browns on December 15, followed by a game against the Houston Texans on December 21, before wrapping up with the Steelers on Christmas.

Mahomes, visibly frustrated by the tight schedule, shared his concerns with reporters. “It’s not a good feeling,” he admitted.

“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," said the Chiefs quarterback.

When asked if he had ever experienced such a grueling schedule, Mahomes candidly replied, “I haven’t in football.”

Despite the challenges, he emphasized the importance of staying focused and preparing his body for the demanding stretch.

“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," he added.

Acknowledging the strain on players, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid also weighed in. “It’s a unique situation. You just have to manage it,” he said.

Reid added, "It is what it is. You make the best of it.”

“The main thing is you get guys ready for the game. Give them a chance to get ready for the game,” he further said, adding, “They’re going to do whatever you present to them. You try to help them out with that."

Patrick Mahomes misses spending Christmas with family

This isn’t the first time Patrick Mahomes has had to sacrifice his holiday for football.

Last year, the Chiefs played the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Day, though that game fell on a Monday.

However, the addition of a Wednesday game this season—a rarity in NFL history—has added a new level of difficulty.

The league has only played a handful of Wednesday games, with the most recent being in 2020 due to Covid-19 rescheduling.

Besides the physical toll, the grueling schedule also takes a personal one. Mahomes, a devout Christian, reflected on missing Christmas with his family for the second consecutive year.

“My Christian faith plays a role in everything that I do,” he had shared ahead of Super Bowl LVII in February.

“I always ask God to lead me in the right direction and let me be who I am for His name," Mahomes said.

Patrick Mahomes says his faith helps him handle 'pressures' of football

Patrick Mahomes also explained how his faith helps him stay grounded, even under immense pressure.

“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,” he said.

“It just kind of relieves the pressure of playing a football game because I know that I’m on that football field to glorify Him before everything. So, it’s not about winning or losing. It’s about going out there and being the best that I can in His name.”

The upcoming stretch isn’t just a scheduling inconvenience—it has serious playoff implications.

The Chiefs, who have already clinched the AFC West, are vying for the No 1 seed and a first-round bye.

Meanwhile, the Steelers, Texans, and other teams involved in this holiday slate are battling for playoff berths and divisional supremacy.

Fans slam Patrick Mahomes for 'whining' about Christmas Day game

Patrick Mahomes’ recent comments about the NFL scheduling the Kansas City Chiefs to play on Christmas Day have sparked a wave of backlash online, with fans accusing the quarterback of whining over something many teams endure.

One Facebook user said, "Quit whining, they're not the only team to do this, the Seahawks just did. I think they shouldn't have to play games this close together, very rough on the players. Hard for their bodies to recover that quickly."

Another added, "Cry it was being done that way before you ever played."

Someone else noted, "When did he realize before signing contract that was going to happen?"

A follower remarked, "He acts like he's on the only team who's ever had to play on Christmas. This isn't a first."

A comment read, "No different than other teams playing 3 games in 12 days during regular season. Oh, one day."

Another observed, "Boo boo! When your the Champion and NFL marquee team deal with it. The refs will let you win."

As one person explained, "Oh how the rich and entitled whine and complain! Must be rough. Try thinking about our Military personnel, law enforcement, and healthcare workers!"

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