'Crazy S--t,' Patrick Mahomes' Influence is Leading to Injuries for Younger QBs, Says NFL Insider

Major stars across any sport influence future generations to come. Trying to emulate Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes may not be the best approach for aspiring signal-callers, though.

"You have some (younger) quarterbacks who grew up with Mahomes who stay in and do crazy s--t," one source told The Athletic's Jonathan Jones . "That'll be a problem eventually. They're writing checks that their bodies can't cash."

Mahomes' improvisational style has been one ingredient of his success. He isn't a big runner but has enough athleticism to extend plays and elude would-be tacklers.

That does, however, mean the six-time Pro Bowler can take more hits than a traditional drop-back passer.

Mahomes, who suffered a season-ending torn ACL in 2025, told ESPN's Nate Taylor he thought he "ran a little bit too much" before the injury.

Through two games, his 4.4 rushing attempts per contest are on pace to be a career low, so he appears to be adapting a bit.

Mahomes has also averaged 2.6 seconds per throw compared to 2.79 seconds in 2025 , according to NFL's Next Gen Stats. He's getting rid of the ball a little quicker to counteract the rush.

The 31-year-old seems to be acknowledging the way he used to play wasn't sustainable across an entire career.

It's one thing for younger QBs to mimic Mahomes by making sidearm throws or attempting to fool the defense with a no-look pass . Those will probably backfire but not in a way that has significant consequences.

Assuming you can be a magician like Mahomes in the pocket is a more foolhardy pursuit.