Patrick Mahomes’ secret comes to light: Chiefs GM explains how the star QB dealt with Tyreek Hill’s departure

Nobody doubts Tyreek Hill’s departure was a hard blow for the Kansas City Chiefs. However, quarterback Patrick Mahomes assembled what was left of his team to infuse it with his unmatched work ethic and lead it to two straight Super Bowl wins, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach recalled.

It is no coincidence that Mahomes is on the short list of candidates to be the greatest of all time (GOAT). Hill’s departure stripped the Chiefs of their best receiver and perfect complement to tight end Travis Kelce, but the star signal-caller did not let that deter him from his objectives.

Hill was a key piece for the Chiefs to play in two Super Bowls in a row, the LIV that they won against the San Francisco 49ers and the LV that they lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 2022, the receiver decided it was time to leave the Chiefs, and he was traded to the Miami Dolphins.

“A couple of years ago, actually was the year when we lost Tyreek,” Veach recalled. At that time, Mahomes sought to recreate with the newcomers the chemistry he had with Hill. “We had some new receivers and I think JuJu [Smith-Schuster] was here and some other guys and Pat wanted to make sure that he got on the same page as those guys,” the general manager explained.

We’ll never get enough of this.@PatrickMahomes x @Primetime_jet pic.twitter.com/HUSASqHJow

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) July 23, 2024

Mahomes’ unique recipe for success

The untimely departure caused confusion and anger within the Chiefs, but Mahomes did not let that stop him. Instead, he implemented a unique recipe to lift his team and a year after Hill’s departure, he led it to back-to-back victories in Super Bowls LVII and LVIII.

Recalling that time, Veach explained that Mahomes was involved in every facet of the passing game, seeking to improve just 1%. “We get done in practice, we get done with the meetings and he [Mahomes] comes to the special team’s phase of practice, brings the receivers in and goes through the tape,” the GM explained.

Mahomes’ perspective was vital to the team’s success despite the deficiencies of his receivers, especially in the 2023 season. “So, you have the coaching element of the coaches breaking down the practice tape going through the film. Pat will do that again on his own with the receivers,” Veach explained.

“So you’re going to get coach Reid’s perspective, you’re going to get the OC, the quarterback’s perspective but then you’re also during special teams’ phase of our practice, you’re going to get Pat’s perspective of it too ,” broke down the general manager.

XAVIER WORTHY. RASHEE RICE. HOLLYWOOD BROWN.

PATRICK MAHOMES IS ABOUT TO HAVE A LOT OF FUN. pic.twitter.com/HsRIqD4Z2R

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) July 22, 2024

Mahomes’ “new” Chiefs

This year, the Chiefs front office bolstered the crumbling receiving room with the arrival of Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy.  Both have made a good impression in training camp and if Mahomes achieves his eternal goal of improving just 1%, the Chiefs will be on their way to an unprecedented three-peat.