Patrick Mahomes, known more for slicing up defenses with his arm than steamrolling through them, added a new highlight to his reel this past Sunday. In a moment that no one saw coming, Mahomes lowered his shoulder at the goal line, barreled through San Francisco 49ers safety Malik Mustapha, and sent the defender crashing to the turf.
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The result? A touchdown, a viral highlight, and a rare instance of Mahomes doing his best power running impression.
Of course, in typical fashion, the Kansas City Chiefs QB was quick to deflect any praise with some self-deprecating humor.
"I wasn't trying to lower my shoulder," Mahomes said, laughing. "I was just trying to absorb the hit. My dad bod, man, just had enough weight on me where he went down."
For those keeping score, Mahomes, listed at 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, collided with the 5-foot-10, 206-pound Mustapha — and the result wasn't exactly an NFL mystery. But it's not every day you see a quarterback, especially one of Mahomes' style, truck a defender and put them on their back.
As for Mustapha, he took the moment in stride. "People will remember that play," he said, adding that he'd rather be known for something else. But for now, it's his signature moment—getting flattened by one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the game.
For Mahomes, it was just another way to make the highlight reel. For Mustapha, it was a reminder that the NFL can humble you in an instant. Either way, this is the kind of play that sticks with you, whether you're the one delivering the hit or the one on the wrong end of it.
