Did Patrick Mahomes intentionally snub Kansas City Chiefs teammate Samaje Perine at the end of Sunday’s Super Bowl LIX loss to the Philadelphia Eagles?
That’s what fans were asking after footage of some somber sideline moments were shared by ESPN’s SportsCenter.
Mahomes, dejected after tossing two interceptions in the 40-22 demoralizing defeat, was seen exchanging handshakes with teammates along the bench in the fourth quarter at New Orleans’ Superdome.
Beginning with wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and ending with an embrace of long-time favorite target Travis Kelce, Mahomes went down the Chiefs bench in the game’s final moments to share his appreciation for everyone’s contributions.
Perine, however, was clearly left hanging when Mahomes passed him over to hug Kelce, who had four catches for just 39 yards on Sunday.
‘Patrick Mahomes completely ignored Samaje Perine,’ one critic wrote on X. ‘What a loser.’
Did Patrick Mahomes intentionally snub Kansas City Chiefs teammate Samaje Perine at the end of Sunday’s Super Bowl LIX loss to the Philadelphia Eagles?
Perine (pictured on January 26) may have shaken hands with Mahomes a moment earlier
One responder slammed Mahomes for ‘very poor leadership,’ while another opted for a pun: ‘Not cool Mahomie.’
There was even a claim Mahomes was ‘still mad’ about going 0-3 at Texas Tech against Perine’s alma mater, Oklahoma.
But while Mahomes was ripped as a ‘jerk’ who ‘divided’ the locker room, many, many other commentors felt Mahomes was being unfairly maligned. He was, after all, thanking his teammates for a another strong season.
‘Mahomes showed great team spirit with his teammates,’ one fan wrote.
Many made the obvious connection to Kelce, the teammate Mahomes is, perhaps, most associated with after winning three Super Bowls together.
‘He skipped over Perine because Kelce was next to him and he probably already locked eyes with his besty,’one fan wrote on X. ‘I’ve done this before by a mistake. It happens.’
That fan went on to reference a rumored interaction between Perine and Mahomes that could explain the situation.
‘Also reports are that he dapped up Perine already,’ that person wrote.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) and running back Kareem Hunt (29) walk off the field
‘Pretty sure it was not on purpose,’ wrote one fan, echoing a belief apparently held by many others. ‘Too much happening and people making more of it than it was.’
Whatever the circumstances, Mahomes can be forgiven if he was distracted. The three-time Super Bowl MVP completed 21 of 32 passes for three touchdowns and a pair of picks, but spent much of the night dodging a ferocious Eagles pass rush.
Without much – if any – blitzing, Philadelphia still managed to generate significant pressure leading to six sacks and a least one of Mahomes’ two interceptions, one of which was returned by Cooper DeJean for a touchdown.
A distraught Mahomes took the blame for Sunday’s loss on X, writing: ‘I let y’all down today. I’ll always continue to work and try and learn and be better for it.’
Mahomes went on to thank ‘God for every opportunity he has given me,’ before adding, ‘we will be back.’