Patrick Mahomes shares how Fernando Mendoza’s rookie year reminds him of debut Chiefs season

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes drew parallels between the early days of his career with the team and fellow quarterback Fernando Mendoza's first season with the Las Vegas Raiders. Speaking to reporters after the Chiefs' 30-27 victory over the Raiders, which set the tone for a 4-0 start to the 2026 season, Mahomes highlighted the importance of Mendoza learning from Kirk Cousins.

Mahomes likened the experience Mendoza would gain from Cousins to his own early time with the Chiefs under Alex Smith. He emphasized that Cousins is a "true pro," emphasizing his ability to manage the team and the situation effectively. Since entering the league as the 10th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Mahomes faced the challenge of being named the backup quarterback. It was only the following season that the Chiefs opted to make him their starter, a decision that led to an MVP-winning season for the rookie.

Similar to Mahomes' path, Mendoza started his NFL career as a high draft pick, but the Raiders initially opted to trust Kirk Cousins as their starting quarterback. It remains to be seen what lessons Mendoza will glean from watching the team operate under Cousins, but Mahomes hopes the experience will serve as a strong foundation for the quarterback's development.