Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes spoke out Friday following recent criticism of himself and a pair of other Black signal-callers—Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens and Kyler Murray of the Arizona Cardinals—while talking with reporters at training camp.
"Obviously, the Black quarterback has had to battle to be in this position that we are to have this many guys in the league playing. Every day, we're proving that we should have been playing the whole time. We've got guys that can think just as well as they can use their athleticism. It's always weird when you see guys like me, Lamar, Kyler kind of get that on them when other guys don't. But at the same time we're going out there to prove ourselves every day to show we can be some of the best quarterbacks in the league."
Mahomes notably received a pointed criticism from an unnamed defensive play-caller, who spoke to The Athletic's Mike Sando as part of Sando's annual quarterback rankings, a survey of 50 coaches and executives:
Anonymous Defensive Play-Caller Claims Patrick Mahomes Is A One-Read QB & Ranked Him As ‘Tier 2’
"We love Mahomes because of his unorthodox throws, not because of his natural pocket presence. And when that disappears, that is when they lose games. I don't think that is a 1. I think that is a 2. Nothing against the guy. I love the kid. But take his first read away and what does he do? He runs, he scrambles and he plays streetball."
In the same article, an unnamed defensive coordinator criticized Jackson:
"If he has to pass to win the game, they ain't winning the game. He's so unique as an athlete and he's really a good football player, but I don't [care] if he wins the league MVP 12 times, I don't think he'll ever be a 1 as a quarterback. He'll be a 1 as a football player, but not as a quarterback. So many games come down to two-minute, and that is why they have a hard time advancing even when they are good on defense. Playoffs are tight. You have to be able to throw the ball, and he is just so inconsistent throwing the ball. It is hit or miss."
Murray received criticism after the Cardinals included a four-hour independent study clause for game weeks in his five-year, $230.5 million extension. It has since been removed.