Introduction
Patrick Mahomes has been in the National Football League (NFL) since 2017. As of the 2026 season, he is playing his tenth NFL season with the Kansas City Chiefs. Although he entered the league as a first-round draft pick, he did not become the team’s full-time starting quarterback until 2018. Since then, Mahomes has developed into one of the most recognized quarterbacks in professional American football, earning major individual awards, winning Super Bowl championships, and helping the Chiefs become a leading team in the league.
Mahomes is known for his powerful arm, quick decision-making, ability to make difficult throws, and talent for performing under pressure. His career has included record-setting seasons, memorable playoff games, and several appearances on the sport’s biggest stage. Understanding how long he has played in the NFL also means looking at his college football career, his early years in Kansas City, his championship achievements, and the qualities that have made him successful.
When Did Patrick Mahomes Enter the NFL?
Patrick Mahomes entered the NFL in 2017 after the Kansas City Chiefs selected him with the 10th overall pick in the first round of the NFL Draft. Before joining the professional league, he played college football at Texas Tech University, where his passing ability and athletic skills attracted attention from NFL teams.
The Chiefs made a trade to move up in the first round and select Mahomes. The organization viewed him as a quarterback with the potential to lead its offense for many years. However, the team did not immediately place him in the starting role. Instead, Mahomes spent his rookie season learning the professional game and working behind veteran quarterback Alex Smith.
Mahomes made his first regular-season NFL appearance on December 31, 2017, against the Denver Broncos. That appearance gave him his first experience in an official NFL game and marked the beginning of his professional playing career.
Because his NFL career began in 2017, the 2026 season represents his tenth season in the league. His time in the NFL is different from the number of seasons he has spent as a starting quarterback, since he began starting regularly in 2018.
Patrick Mahomes’ Early Life and Football Background
Patrick Lavon Mahomes II was born on September 17, 1995, in Tyler, Texas. He grew up in a sporting family, and his father, Pat Mahomes, played professional baseball. Being around sports from a young age gave Patrick opportunities to learn about competition, discipline, and the demands of professional athletics.
During his school years, Mahomes played multiple sports, including football, baseball, and basketball. These experiences helped him develop coordination, throwing strength, movement, and an understanding of different athletic situations. Although baseball was also an important part of his early sporting life, football eventually became his main focus.
Mahomes attended Whitehouse High School in Texas, where he played quarterback and demonstrated strong passing skills. His performances helped him attract attention from college football programs. He eventually chose Texas Tech University, where he continued developing his ability to read defenses and throw the football accurately over long distances.
His college career played an important role in preparing him for the NFL. At Texas Tech, Mahomes became known for producing large passing totals and making difficult throws from different positions. His style was exciting, but professional teams also needed to evaluate how his skills would translate to the faster and more complex NFL game.
The Chiefs ultimately decided that his potential justified selecting him early in the 2017 draft.
His First NFL Season With the Kansas City Chiefs
Mahomes’ first NFL season was mainly a period of learning. In 2017, the Chiefs already had Alex Smith as their starting quarterback, so Mahomes did not need to carry the team’s offense throughout the season. This arrangement allowed him to observe how an experienced quarterback prepared for games, communicated with teammates, and managed professional competition.
His only regular-season appearance in 2017 came against the Denver Broncos in the final game of the season. The Chiefs had already secured their playoff position, making the game an opportunity to give their young quarterback valuable playing experience.
Although he played in only one regular-season game that year, his rookie season was an important step in his development. He became familiar with the team’s offensive system, practiced with professional teammates, and learned from the coaching staff.
This period also explains why the answer to how long Mahomes has been in the NFL is not the same as the number of years he has been the Chiefs’ starting quarterback. He entered the league in 2017, but his first full season as the starter came in 2018.
When Did Patrick Mahomes Become the Starting Quarterback?
Patrick Mahomes became the Kansas City Chiefs’ starting quarterback in 2018 after Alex Smith moved to another team. The change gave Mahomes the opportunity to lead the offense throughout a full season and demonstrate what he could accomplish as the team’s main quarterback.
His first season as a starter exceeded expectations. Mahomes threw for 5,097 passing yards and 50 touchdown passes during the 2018 regular season. These performances established him as one of the NFL’s most exciting young players and helped him earn the league’s Most Valuable Player award.
The Chiefs’ offense became especially dangerous because Mahomes could make accurate throws over long distances while also creating opportunities when a play did not develop as planned. His ability to move outside the pocket, extend plays, and find receivers in difficult situations made him challenging for opposing defenses.
The team reached the AFC Championship Game during the 2018 season but lost to the New England Patriots in overtime. Despite that disappointment, Mahomes had demonstrated that he could lead a championship-level offense.
His first starting season changed the direction of his career. Rather than being known mainly as a promising young draft pick, he became a central figure in the Chiefs’ plans for sustained success.
Patrick Mahomes’ Super Bowl Championships
One of the biggest reasons Mahomes is so widely recognized is his success in the Super Bowl. His first championship came after the 2019 season, when the Chiefs faced the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV in February 2020.
The Chiefs fell behind in the game but mounted a late comeback to win 31–20. Mahomes was named Super Bowl MVP, giving him his first championship and the first of several major postseason achievements.
Kansas City returned to the Super Bowl the following season but lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV. That defeat showed that even a talented quarterback and a strong offense could face major challenges against a well-prepared opponent.
Mahomes and the Chiefs returned to championship success in Super Bowl LVII after the 2022 season. They defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38–35 in a closely contested game, and Mahomes earned another Super Bowl MVP award.
In February 2024, Kansas City won Super Bowl LVIII by defeating the San Francisco 49ers 25–22 in overtime. The victory gave Mahomes and the Chiefs consecutive Super Bowl championships and strengthened his reputation as a quarterback capable of performing in high-pressure situations.
These championships have been central to his NFL legacy. They also show how much he has accomplished during a career that began less than a decade before his first title.
Major Records, Awards, and Career Statistics
Mahomes’ career includes several impressive individual achievements. His 2018 season earned him the NFL Most Valuable Player award, while his performances in major championship games brought him Super Bowl MVP honors. He also earned another regular-season MVP award following the 2022 season.
During the 2022 regular season, Mahomes threw for 5,250 yards and 41 touchdown passes. Those numbers demonstrated his ability to produce at a high level across an entire season. He also helped Kansas City secure the AFC’s top playoff seed before the team went on to win the Super Bowl.
His career statistics include thousands of passing yards and hundreds of touchdown passes, reflecting his role as the Chiefs’ primary offensive leader. Official NFL and Chiefs statistics provide season-by-season records of his appearances, completions, passing yards, touchdowns, interceptions, and rushing contributions.
Mahomes is not known only for passing statistics. He can also gain yards by running when defenses leave space available. His movement creates additional options for the offense, particularly when defenders cover his receivers and the original play breaks down.
Statistics alone cannot explain every part of his impact. His ability to lead late-game drives, adjust to defensive pressure, and remain involved in critical moments has helped define his career. His awards and records reflect both individual skill and the success of the team around him.
Why Patrick Mahomes Has Remained Successful
Mahomes’ continued success comes from a combination of natural ability, preparation, coaching, and teamwork. His arm strength allows him to attempt throws that many quarterbacks would avoid, while his accuracy helps him complete passes across different areas of the field.
Another important quality is his ability to improvise. Football plays are designed to work in a particular way, but defensive pressure can force a quarterback to change direction or move away from the pocket. Mahomes is often able to keep his eyes on his receivers while moving, giving his teammates extra time to get open.
His relationship with head coach Andy Reid has also been an important part of the Chiefs’ success. Reid’s offensive system gives Mahomes opportunities to use his decision-making and passing skills, while the team’s coaching staff works to prepare for different defensive strategies.
Team support matters as well. Offensive linemen protect the quarterback, receivers create passing opportunities, and running backs help balance the offense. The defense and special teams also play major roles in winning championships. Mahomes’ accomplishments are significant, but they have been achieved as part of a larger organization.
His ability to learn from difficult games has also helped him maintain a high level of performance. Across a long NFL career, players face losses, injuries, changes in teammates, and adjustments from opponents. Adapting to these challenges is essential for remaining competitive.
Patrick Mahomes in the 2026 NFL Season
The 2026 season marks Mahomes’ tenth NFL season and his ninth season as the Chiefs’ regular starting quarterback. By this stage of his career, he has already experienced the transition from rookie backup to MVP winner and multiple-time Super Bowl champion.
His professional journey illustrates how quickly a promising prospect can become the central figure of a franchise. In 2017, he appeared in only one regular-season game. By 2018, he was leading one of the league’s most productive offenses. In the years that followed, he helped Kansas City reach the Super Bowl multiple times and establish a period of sustained success.
As with any active player, his statistics and achievements continue to change during the season. His final totals for 2026 will depend on games played and performances recorded before the season ends. Fans following his career can consult the official Chiefs and NFL statistics pages for updated information.
What remains clear is that Mahomes has already built an extensive professional record. His first decade in the NFL includes major individual awards, championship victories, record-setting passing seasons, and years of leading the same franchise.
Conclusion
Patrick Mahomes has been in the NFL since 2017, making the 2026 season his tenth season as a professional football player. He began his career with the Kansas City Chiefs as a first-round draft pick and spent his rookie year learning behind Alex Smith before becoming the team’s starting quarterback in 2018.
Since taking that role, Mahomes has earned regular-season MVP awards, won multiple Super Bowls, and established himself as one of the most prominent quarterbacks of his generation. His combination of arm strength, creativity, leadership, and ability to perform under pressure has helped him achieve remarkable success.
The key distinction is that Mahomes entered the NFL in 2017 but became a full-time starter in 2018. By 2026, he has spent ten seasons in the league, with a career that continues to develop as he leads the Kansas City Chiefs.
