Patrick Mahomes is arguably the biggest star in the NFL and one of the most talented athletes in all of sports.
But unlike a lot of the torn players around him, the Kansas City Chiefs star has something of a father figure.
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Photos of Mahomes shirtless went viral earlier this season, as the three-time Super Bowl winner was mocked for his physique.
But his lack of abs, muscle definition and slight paunch are in the design.
In October, Mahomes interviewed GOAT quarterback Tom Brady and said his build was “for a reason.”
“I'm using those hips and those obliques to really rotate through there,” Magomes said.
“People who saw the father's body, for some reason – this is italic. I understand them correctly.”
Brady, who is known for his personal streak, agreed, joking: “We've got to keep some padding in there.
“We get hit all the time, and they don't understand that we can't look like those receivers all the time.”
Mahomes' Texas-based coach, Bobby Stroup, went further and really explained why Mahomes doesn't have — or really need — a six-pack.
Stroup and Mahomes have been working together since the superstar was 9 years old, and 20 years later they are sticking to their own formula.
“In terms of the approach we take, I call it the cake system because — I'm really corny — but there are basically eight layers to it,” Stroup, who is founder and president of the Center for Athlete Performance Improvement, told People magazine.
“There are eight different things we focus on: movement knowledge, force absorption, force transfer, pattern stability, tissue elasticity, mobility, stability, and flexibility.”
Some days during the offseason, they practice for more than four hours, but other sessions last as long as 90 minutes — depending on Mahomes' schedule and family life.
Patrick Mahomes endorsements
Patrick Mahomes earns more than $50 million per season on his contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.
But the star midfielder also benefits from his brand off the field.
Mahomes has a net worth of $70 million.
This is due in large part to some of the brands he endorses.
The Chiefs star is the face of Adidas in the United States and appears in State Farm commercials.
He also appears in Subway and Head and Shoulders ads.
Mahomes also became the face of the energy drink Prime, owned by Logan Paul and KSI.
During the season, the day after the game is their biggest concern, as it takes about three hours of massage and movement to make sure all his muscles and bones are in top condition.
As for the father's body, Stroup believes that the father's body is very useful.
“I'll be the first to tell you that I think an NFL quarterback should have at least 14% body fat,” he said.
“It's not from an unhealthy standpoint, but from a power-absorbing standpoint. You have to be able to connect.
“We know there aren't a lot of Hall of Fame quarterbacks who have six-pack abs, and there's a reason for that.
“We have to find that fine line of performance and health. The aesthetic part is a different conversation.
“I don't want him to look like a model because the way he chooses to play requires a certain type of physique, and that physique needs more body fat.
“That's the core belief I have for him.”
Mahomes told the men's magazine in 2018 about his diet and eating habits, though it's unknown how much they have changed in the past six years, especially with the quarterback now approaching his 30s.
At the time he was eating “four to five” small meals a day with a personal chef to monitor his nutrition.
However, Mahomes is known to be a tomato ketchup addict and reportedly puts it on everything.
This also includes things you can't really associate with it, like macaroni and cheese.
It's also a staple snacker and in 2023, he told GQ Sports: “I like to eat a lot of chips and candy whatever it is – especially at night.
“I always carry… a purple bag of Doritos, which I just got. I used to be a Cool Ranch guy, but now I wear the purple bag.”
He named Whataburger his favorite fast food restaurant during an appearance on Jason and Travis Kelce's New Heights Podcast.
“Being a little kid growing up in Texas,” Mahomes said [with] Whataburger is down the street and my mom says, “I'm at work, what are you going to do for food?”
“I had to go to Whataburger every day and I fell in love with it.
“The burgers are world class, and they actually have a variety of things you can get.
“[They also have] “The best ketchup I've ever eaten – and as a ketchup connoisseur, that's very high praise.”
He also likes a shot of pickle juice to treat muscle cramps, and has an endorsement deal with his favorite beer, Coors Light — which he was seen shouting during an open-air bus tour during the Super Bowl parade.
