Through his first two seasons as the starting quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes has been far and away the best player in the entire NFL. On Monday, the Chiefs signed their franchise quarterback to a contract extension which will pay him upwards of $450 million over the next ten seasons. This is the largest contract in league history, and will lock him up with the team through 2031.
Aside from being the largest deal in NFL history, this deal will also be the largest contract in sports history, surpassing the mark of Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout who agreed to a 12-year, $426.5 million deal last year.
This deal will not kick in for another two seasons, which gives the Chiefs some cap flexibility going forward. The deal is worth $450 million, but he could make possibly $503 million and it includes a $140 million injury guarantee and a no-trade clause, according to ESPN’s Adam Scheffter.
Mahomes took to Twitter to announce the deal using the caption “Here to stay…!”
In a statement following the announcement of the signing, Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt commented on Mahomes being with the Chiefs for the next decade. “Since he joined the Chiefs just a few years ago, Patrick has developed into one of the most prolific athletes in all of sports. With his dynamic play and infectious personality, he is one of the most recognized and beloved figures to put on the Chiefs uniform. He’s an extraordinary leader and a credit to the Kansas City community, and I’m delighted that he will be a member of the Chiefs for many years to come.”
Mahomes’ deal will have ripple effects for the NFL, with players like Deshaun Watson and Lamar Jackson slated to receive massive contract extensions in the near future, as well as Dak Prescott in the midst of contract negotiations with the Dallas Cowboys. This will make things significantly harder for the Cowboys as the baseline is now set, and it should not come to a shock if Prescott plays on the franchise tag for the next two seasons.
In the case of Mahomes, a few weeks ago we wrote a story asking whether or not he is worth a $200 million contract. Given that in two seasons as a starter he has thrown over 70 touchdowns and just 17 interceptions, won a MVP, as well as a Super Bowl, he is worth every penny of the contract he will be getting.
