What Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes thinks about Royals’ playoff run: ‘Gonna be special’

Patrick Mahomes already has something he’s looking forward to during his bye-week break.

The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback said he plans to be in attendance Wednesday at Kauffman Stadium for Game 3 of the American League Division Series when the Royals take on the New York Yankees.

“I’m just excited for these guys. They’re hungry. They’re playing great baseball right now,” Mahomes said Thursday. “To be at The K, sold-out crowd hopefully, and get to see that October baseball there is gonna be special.”

Mahomes, 29, has never seen a Royals home playoff game; KC’s last postseason appearance was in 2015.

The Royals earned at least one home playoff game after sweeping the Baltimore Orioles , 2-0, in the Wild Card Round earlier this week.

“It’s awesome. It’s great for the city,” Mahomes said. “I’ve heard all the stories about how awesome the environment was the last time they were in the playoffs, and they’re getting to go up against a great baseball team in the Yankees — a historic baseball team.”

Mahomes, remember, joined the Royals ownership group back in 2020. At the time, he was the youngest co-owner of a major professional franchise at age 24.

The Chiefs QB also has a close relationship with Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., whom he texted regularly throughout the season. Mahomes and Witt shared similar upbringings as the sons of former professional baseball pitchers.

Mahomes has been to World Series games before. In high school, he attended 2010 and 2011 World Series home games for the Texas Rangers, the team he grew up rooting for as a Whitehouse, Texas native.

Other Chiefs also spoke Thursday about the Royals’ postseason run.

That included linebacker Drue Tranquill, who said he’s been following the games and is expecting the arrival of a Witt Jr. jersey later this week.

Coach Andy Reid, meanwhile, complimented the Royals on the “great job they’ve done to this point.”

“I know they’re fired up to keep on going,” Reid said. “I know we’re all glad to have them coming back here and having another chance to see them play.”

Chiefs receiver Mecole Hardman said he’d been paying attention to the Royals, as well.

“That was a good series. Happy for them, man,” he said. “Hopefully they can continue that momentum going into the Divison Series.”

When he does attend Wednesday, Mahomes could be flanked by a longtime buddy and Yankees fan.

Former Chiefs receiver Gehrig Dieter, who lives in the KC area, was named after former Yankees great Lou Gehrig and has been a lifelong supporter of the team.

Mahomes still indicated it’d be OK if Dieter was around him Wednesday night.

“Because when we hopefully win, I’ll get to talk trash,” Mahomes said with a laugh. “ ... I think if the Yankees lost this series, he might have to move cities. So let’s see if we can do that for him.”