Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes stirred up intrigue on social media after news broke that the Las Vegas Raiders had fired head coach Antonio Pierce.
On Tuesday, the Raiders announced Pierce’s dismissal following a disappointing 4-13 season. Pierce had been promoted to head coach just a year ago after a 5-4 run as interim coach in 2023, which included a marquee Christmas Day victory against the Chiefs in Kansas City.
NFL insider Adam Schefter broke the news, which was later shared on ESPN’s Instagram account.
Fans quickly noticed that Mahomes “liked” the post – a seemingly subtle but pointed response that gained significant attention.
The interaction takes on added significance considering comments Pierce made about Mahomes last year.
During an appearance on Maxx Crosby’s podcast, Pierce outlined a strategy for defending the Chiefs’ star quarterback, dubbing it the “Patrick Mahomes rules,” a nod to the Detroit Pistons’ infamous “Jordan Rules” for neutralizing Michael Jordan.
“We’ve got the Jordan rules and we’ve got what I’m calling now, from now on as long as I’m here, the Patrick Mahomes rules,” Pierce said.
“You remember when Jordan was going through it with the Pistons, all those guys in the ’80s before he became Michael Jordan, Air Jordan, the Pistons used to whip his ass. Any time he came to the hole, elbows, feeling him, love taps.
“We’re in his head, mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, I’m touching you. So I showed my guys Jordan getting his ass whooped.”
The bold comments fueled the Raiders’ rivalry with Kansas City, but the results on the field painted a different story.
While Pierce’s Raiders did notch a significant win against the Chiefs in 2023, they couldn’t maintain that momentum and completely fell apart this season.
Meanwhile, Mahomes and the Chiefs continued their dominance, posting a 15-2 record to secure the AFC’s top seed once again.
They are now just two wins away from reaching the Super Bowl for the fifth time in six years, a run of success that cements their place as one of the NFL’s most impressive dynasties.
No NFL team has ever won three consecutive Super Bowls, a feat last accomplished in a major North American sports league by the 2000-2002 Los Angeles Lakers.
Mahomes and the Chiefs, however, are two-thirds of the way to making history, having claimed back-to-back Lombardi Trophies in the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
While they faced moments of inconsistency in the regular season, their postseason experience and resilience make them the team to beat. (Although a potential matchup against the Buffalo Bills will certainly be interesting.)
With home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, the Chiefs are poised to make a strong push for the elusive Super Bowl three-peat.
As for Mahomes’ social media activity, it may simply be a footnote in the storied rivalry between the Chiefs and Raiders, but it’s yet another sign of how the NFL’s biggest stars continue to dominate both on and off the field.
We all know the type of person Mahomes is. Having said that, he’s also a fierce competitor. His social media “like” wasn’t a low-blow – but it certainly serves as a final laugh.
What are your thoughts on Mahomes taking a victory lap around Pierce?
More importantly, do you think the Chiefs will actually pull off the three-peat???
