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Make no mistake about it: Patrick Mahomes is the face of the NFL. The Tyler, Texas native is the son of Pat Mahomes, a former Major League Baseball player, and Randi Martin.
He burst onto the scene in 2018 when he made history by throwing 50 touchdown passes and 5,000 yards in a single season — a record he shares with Peyton Manning. He followed up his initial success by leading the Kansas City Chiefs to an incredible victory at Super Bowl LIV. If that wasn’t enough, he carried the team through to yet another Super Bowl the very next year, though they ended up losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mahomes has gone to two more Super Bowls since and he's won back-to-back titles (2023 and 2024).
Mahomes has been rewarded for his efforts when he scored one of the biggest, most lucrative deals in sports history by signing a contract extension worth $503 million. It’s not just his career that’s been flourishing beyond belief — the 25-year-old became engaged to his high school sweetheart Brittany Matthews on September 1, 2020, and the two welcomed a baby girl in 2021 and a baby boy in 2022.
And it's a family affair – as he's had success, we've seen his brother Jackson Mahomes alongside for the journey.
Do the Mahomes brothers have the same parents?
Yes! Patrick Mahomes' younger brother Jackson Mahomes was born in 2000 in Tyler, Texas. That makes the two about four and a half years apart. They grew up together in Texas with their parents.
An inside look at NFL star Patrick Mahomes' family
Patrick Mahomes’s life is a picture of humility, passion, work ethic, and stability. Yet, it’s worth keeping in mind that his early upbringing and family environment weren’t necessarily this balanced. Sacrifices had to be made, differences had to be set aside, and his loved ones had to put their heads down to refocus on the bigger picture. So let's dive into what we can learn about Patrick Mahomes’ parents.
Patrick Mahomes started in baseball like his father
Pat Mahomes Sr. used to be an MLB baseball pitcher from 1992 to 2003 and played for teams like Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, and Chicago Cubs, among others. He played until he was 39 and was inducted into the Sioux Falls Canaries Hall of Fame in 2019.
I always tell [Patrick Jr.] before every game how proud I am of him and remind him of what my dad Johnny Mahomes used to tell me: Youll always be successful if you perform to the limits of your ability
Pat Mahomes I to The Shadow League
While interviewed by the Shadow League journal, Pat Sr said that even though he and his son ended up pursuing two different team sports, they were both inspired by “supportive fathers” and an “early burning passion for athletics.” He also shared that he used to take Pat Jr. to the ball field at the age of four and had him trail balls in the company of other baseball players. Young Patrick went on to become acquainted with the likes of A-Rod and Derek Jeter and therefore decided to give baseball a shot.
Though he changed course during high school, Patrick Jr. still incorporated his baseball knowledge into his football skillset. Moreover, he followed his idol, Derek Jeter, closely and learned what it’s like to work hard both on and off the pitch. Pat Sr. also said that his son is a bit of a “gym rat” in how he approaches his training regimen and physicality.
Patrick’s mom Randi talked him out of quitting football
While senior Mahomes has several anecdotes to share regarding his son’s devotion to football, Patrick’s mom Randi has spoken extensively about the quarterback’s shy personality and what it was like to raise him alongside his younger brother Jackson and sister Mia Randall.
Randi was a full-time mother to her two boys as they were growing up. And so, she was able to take a more hands-on role in their emerging careers. Presently, she works as a private events coordinator at Hollytree Country Club.
Before his junior year in high school he came to me that summer wanting to quit football, but I just said you're going to regret it if you quit.
Randi Martin to Fox4’s Kathy Quinn
Growing up, Patrick was an introverted kid, and according to Randi, “he never got excited” about traveling or going to venues like Disney World or Yankee Stadium. His true passion lay in sports, and he used to dedicate every fiber of his being to excelling in it.
Randi said that she knew from the get-go that her son could reach the highest pinnacle of football, even though he doubted himself as a teenager. Patrick even came to her before his junior year and asked if he could quit football, but she convinced him to keep chugging along.
Randi Martin Mahomes was a source of discipline
Randi wasn’t just her son’s pillar of support; she was also a source of discipline. She had to ground her son if he ever fell into a bit of trouble. Lastly, she taught her sons not just to be humble about their success but also to be polite and respectful to other kids. For example, she instructed Patrick to say ‘Hi’ every day to any kid that sat by themselves or seemed lonely.
I am proud of the football, but the family part of it–I’m way more proud and that`s something that I definitely don`t get enough of [...] I don`t think it`s really hit me because he’s still my son.
Randi Martin to Fox4’s Kathy Quinn
With his mother being White and his father Black, Patrick reckoned with a biracial identity growing up. During the George Floyd protests, Mahomes spoke up about his experiences and said that while he personally hasn’t been discriminated against due to his skin color or ethnicity, he condemns the “senseless murders” and hopes for a world where no one has to “experience these tragedies.”
Patrick’s parents divorced when he was 11, but they still remain “best friends”
Pat and Randi had gotten married at a young age. Their sons Patrick and Jackson were born in 1995 and 2000, respectively. In 2006, the parents decided to divorce, leaving their sons splitting their time between each parent’s home for the rest of their childhoods. Randi also welcomed another daughter Mia in 2011; the father’s identity has not been disclosed to the public.
The year following the divorce had been a challenging one for the Mahomes. Randi described this year as “the most difficult of [Patrick’s] life.” Eventually, Patrick started making friends through sports, becoming more outgoing by the time he was in high school. Even though the brothers primarily lived with their mom, Pat Sr. would always be “at school, at practice, at every game,” said LaTroy Hawkins, Patrick’s godfather and ex-MLB pitcher.
Pat and Randi continue to be on amicable terms and support their son the best way they can. They attend all the industry events alongside Patrick Jr. and even sit in the same suite for the Chiefs’ games. They reportedly call each other “best friends” even today.
Their unity and togetherness in the face of their fraught history demonstrate the true power of parenthood. Patrick Mahomes can’t solely be credited with his illustrious career. He’s likely got a cohesive support structure guiding his decision-making, helping him through the ups and downs, and keeping him grounded amidst the chaos and the widespread fame.
For me, being a black quarterback — having a black dad and a white mom — it just shows that it doesn’t matter where you come from. It doesn’t matter if you’re a baseball player or basketball player, follow your dreams.
Patrick Mahomes to ESPN
Pat and Randi both recognized the immense talent demonstrated by their son. They knew that they had to overcome their differences to raise an athlete capable of taking the world on its shoulder and becoming a No.1 athlete in his position. Patrick’s fiance Brittany without a doubt, provides a considerable amount of support, encouragement, and guidance, but the parents have been nurturing his talent from day one.
In Summary: Never turn away from your loved ones
Patrick’s fortunate enough to have the loveliest parents inspiring each and every one of his moves — both on and off the pitch. We might not be as lucky as him to have both parents in the picture, but we’ll surely have people that love us and support us no matter what. We have to keep those loved ones in mind and ensure that we do everything we can to do right by them.
Parenthood is a continual struggle, but if you can prioritize your child time and again, you’re winning the battle. Your child’s wellbeing should be your biggest concern; everything else can be negotiated or compromised in favor of your child. Not that parents shouldn’t pursue their own dreams or interests — it means that all other problems become trivial by default. Pat and Randi Mahomes exemplify what it’s like to throw your differences away in order to stand behind and lift your son. If they can approach parenthood with such a bright attitude, it’s possible for just about anyone.
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The Lifestyle of Happiness: Why It's Not All In Your Head
We often hear that happiness isn't something that just arrives at your doorstep one day, wrapped neatly in a bow. We remind ourselves all the time that it's a state of mind more than anything else, that it's a life skill to be developed and strengthened with time, and that it's always a process. All of which is important and true. But it's a roof without a structure. It's missing the most crucial part.
When we talk about happiness as a state of mind, we can make the mistake of thinking it's all in our heads. As if repeating a feel-good mantra to ourselves a hundred times a day will root out the deep fears and insecurities that fester beneath.
We can all understand the allure of buying into quick fixes. But here's the truth: you can't positive affirmation your way to lasting happiness, any more than you can "kumbaya" your way through your minefield of fears. You have to design your life for it.
The Lifestyle of Happiness: Why It's Not All In Your Head
Now before you get overwhelmed at the thought, rest assured: happiness, despite the colossal industry that's arisen to complexify every last aspect of it, is actually much simpler than most people imagine.
Hear me out.
The lands that depression forgot
Today, we think of stress, anxiety, loneliness and other mental strains as integral and omnipresent aspects of our lives. In the wealthiest and most stable societies the world has ever known, we've gotten to the point of normalizing and trivializing -- and when it comes to stress, at times even glorifying -- the mental stresses that are causing unprecedented and ever-skyrocketing incidents of mental illness.
Did you know that one in every four Americans aged 18 to 29 has already struggled with major depressive disorder in their lives? For the oldest generation of Americans alive today, those aged 60 and over, that ratio is just over one in ten -- for their entire lives. So can you imagine how the millennials' children will fare, if this runaway trend isn't stopped?
Now did you know that there are societies in the world with barely any incidence of clinical depression?
This is no exaggeration. These are facts related in an eye-opening TEDx talk by Dr. Stephen Ilardi, a professor of clinical psychology at the University of Kansas.
Who are these mystical happy folk who depression has mostly spared? There's nothing mystical or magical about them, actually. They're simply indigenous tribes, whose traditional lifestyles, with their intense physical activity, natural diets, embeddedness within nature, and closely knit social bonds mirror the way humans lived for all but the last 10,000 of the 1.8 million years of our existence. In other words, they live the way our bodies evolved to live.
So should we all abandon the cities and return to the land to live as hunter-gatherers then? Probably not, though that would doubtless make for a fun weekend adventure.
What we should do is design our lives as much as possible around the basic needs of our bodies and minds. Positive thinkingis in our heads -- in the sense that it depends on our brain chemistry. But our brain chemistry is affected by everything we do, from what we ate for lunch, to who we ate it with, to whether we ate it outside or in the sun, and maybe took a walk afterwards.
In short, it depends on our lifestyles. It all comes down to the very basics of human wellness.
Time-tested and true: The ingredients of happiness
Ilardi used his findings to devise what he calls the Therapeutic Lifestyle Change program for treating clinical depression, or TLC for its delightful little acronym. The results proved simply astounding.
But the TLC program doesn't just provide a drug-free pathway out of depression. It also provides a blueprint for wellness, informed by almost two million years of human evolution. What do we need to be well? Let's have a look.
1. Exercise
We all know exercise is good for us, but many of us might not realize just how important an effect physical activity has on our brain chemistry, and by extension our moods, mental clarity, energy, motivation and long-term health. Physical activity has been shown to alter the body and mind in ways more powerful than any pill you could take. Physical activity, says Ilardi, is "literally medicine," and yet so many of us struggle to integrate it into our lives.
It shouldn't be a struggle. If the gym isn't for you, give yoga a try. If yoga doesn't pull you in, start biking everywhere, or even just going on long brisk walks. Whatever the activity, find one that draws you in and makes you want to integrate it into your weekly routine. Choosing a form of physical activity that's social and useful -- as opposed to running on a treadmill alone and getting nowhere, for example... -- can help you stop thinking of it as "exercise," and find your joy in the activity itself.
2. Social connection
It's not an exaggeration to say that our ancestors spent every minute of every day in the company of those closest to them. For most of our history, it was the only way to survive, and so we evolved to find our comfort, leisure, and meaning through our connections with others. Our species is profoundly social and even tribal by nature. We need each other, deeply and daily. In fact, even just being in the physical presence of others has been shown to combat the brain's stress response mechanism that's at the root of so many of our ills. Connection literally heals us -- just as its absence kills.
Yet in today's individualist society, many of us spend so much time racing towards our career goals that we sacrifice our social connections, and undermine our own health, happiness -- and goals -- all in the process. It's time we got back to valuing what really matters in life.
3. Omega-3 fatty acids
Despite the image we have of our rugged ancestors marauding around the plains chasing wild beasts with spears, the less glamorous reality is that most of our ancestors' diets came from fish, nuts, plants, and other easier catches. (I mean if you could spare a little energy and the risk of becoming dinner, wouldn't you?) Our brains are mostly fat. Diets high in omega-3 fatty acids, and in the key active ingredient EPA, have been proven to have significant anti-depressant and mood-enhancing effects.
4. Sleep hygiene
In the rush to squeeze ever more time out of every day, many of us have taken to viewing sleep as an expendable luxury, or an inconvenience to be beaten down on the fast lane to our goals. It's even become commonplace in our performance-obsessed culture to see high-profile figures glorify sleep deprivation, or try to shame the wise few who insist on good sleep hygiene as somehow weak or lazy. It's no wonder then that the average American today gets 6.7 hours of sleep a night, while a century and a half ago this number was closer to nine.
Two million years of evolution, and modern science, tell us that the sleep-shamers are both wrong and irresponsible. While everyone's sleep needs vary somewhat, most people need eight hours of sleep a night to truly be at their best. Inadequate sleep has a major impact on our mood, mental performance and long-term health, and is a major cause of depression. How's that for a good reason to sleep better?
5. Sunlight
Anyone who's ever felt the winter (or rainy-day) blues knows the incredible mood- and mind-enhancing effects of the sun's rays. Our ancestors lived most of their lives outside after all, so it's little surprise that our bodies and minds depend on sunlight to function at their peak. People who don't get enough natural light see their sleep quality, mood, hormonal balance, and energy suffer, and they begin to crave unhealthy foods.
That's why natural light is so important in workspaces. And it's also why those of us who live in northern or low-light climates should consider buying a light therapy lamp for the darker months. I've tried one, and I can tell you, it's really night and... day.
6. Anti-rumination strategies
Our ancestors had little time to sit in a corner and dwell on negative thoughts. Our brains are meant to be active. So if you ever catch yourself in a negative thought spiral, break it immediately by focusing your mind on something external to yourself: social interactions, creative hobbies, writing your thoughts in a journal, being in nature -- all of these have been shown to have significant mood-enhancing and anti-depressive effects.
Happiness is easy -- our lifestyles are complicated
Everywhere we look, it seems people are dragging their feet wondering where happiness went, or else racing towards a mythical future where they imagine it to be hiding out.
But the simple truth is that if we stopped to smell the roses -- or better yet, travelled to less fortunate places where the money is scarce but the joy is abundant -- we'd find that happiness really isn't that complicated at all. If our material needs are met, there's love in our lives, and we're living lifestyles in tune with the basic needs of our bodies and minds, then all the gratitude, confidence and motivation in the world will flow naturally from that. We need to get back to the fundamentals and tend to the foundations of our lives, instead of perpetually reaching for a fresh coat of paint to paper over an unstable structure.
No, it's not happiness that's complicated. What's complicated are our frenetic, sedentary, and socially disconnected lifestyles.
Just don't blame happiness for playing hard to get.