Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Threw Behind-the-Back Pass to Travis Kelce 'Out of Spite'

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is no stranger to the extraordinary, and on Saturday, he added another trick to his already impressive highlight reel.

During the Kansas City Chiefs’ second drive against the Detroit Lions, Mahomes completed a behind-the-back pass to longtime teammate Travis Kelce, leaving NFL fans buzzing.

The play unfolded as Mahomes rolled to his right, facing pressure from Lions defensive lineman Josh Paschal. With Kelce improvising his route across the field, Mahomes—in classic Mahomes fashion—zipped a behind-the-back pass to his tight end on third-and-3.

The nine-yard completion at the Detroit 33-yard line picked up a first down, eventually helping the Chiefs set up a field goal. While Mahomes has toyed with behind-the-back passes in practice before, this marked the first time he pulled it off in a game, sending the internet into a frenzy as clips of the pass immediately went viral.

After the game, Mahomes provided some context, admitting that the pass wasn’t part of the plan but rather a result of Kelce’s route going awry.

"Long story short, Travis didn’t run the route he was supposed to run," Mahomes explained . "Out of spite, I threw him a behind-the-back pass. Now, it’s going to be a highlight."

When asked if the play was improvised, Mahomes didn’t hesitate.

"100%. It was an RPO, and he was the guy I was supposed to throw it to. I got stuck with the football and thought, 'Gosh darn it, Travis.' Then I threw it behind my back, and it worked out."

Mahomes, known for his audacious no-look throws and passes from all arm slots, continues to show why he's the gold standard of QB play in the NFL, even in preseason games. This latest behind-the-back toss only adds to his legend as one of the NFL's most creative and exciting players.

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