NFL Veteran Blames Patrick Mahomes for Ending His Career and Making Him Cry

In an emotional and unexpected revelation, a former longtime NFL wide receiver has pointed to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes as the reason behind his retirement. During an appearance on The Facility on FS1, the ex-player recounted how Mahomes’ unforgettable 13-second game-tying drive in the 2021 Divisional Round of the playoffs left him shattered, not just as a player, but as a competitor.

“That drive broke me,” he confessed, his voice tinged with a mix of admiration and despair. “I had been in the league for over a decade, seen it all, but nothing prepared me for the way Mahomes dismantled everything we threw at him in just 13 seconds. It made me realize there was nothing left for me to give.” The Chiefs’ iconic playoff game against the Buffalo Bills, which ended in a dramatic overtime victory, has already become the stuff of legend. But for this unnamed veteran, it marked the end of an era.

The wide receiver admitted that he cried after the game, overwhelmed by the realization that the game had evolved beyond his grasp. “I didn’t cry after losing the Super Bowl. I didn’t cry when I tore my ACL. But that night, sitting in the locker room after the game, the tears came. It wasn’t just a loss—it was the moment I knew I couldn’t compete at this level anymore.” His candid reflection has sparked a wave of sympathy and surprise across the NFL community.

Mahomes’ 13-second masterpiece was the culmination of an almost superhuman ability to remain calm under pressure, delivering two perfect throws to set up the game-tying field goal. “We thought we had them,” the receiver added. “I mean, who can march down the field in 13 seconds? Apparently, Patrick Mahomes can. It was like he had a cheat code.” For this veteran, watching Mahomes defy logic and rewrite the rules of the game was as awe-inspiring as it was soul-crushing.

The aftermath of that playoff game wasn’t just about the scoreboard; it was about the psychological toll it took on his team and himself. The receiver recalled how the locker room fell silent, a mix of disbelief and exhaustion hanging in the air. “It’s one thing to lose a game. It’s another to feel like you’ve been beaten by someone who’s playing an entirely different sport.”

For a player who had prided himself on his grit and determination, that realization was devastating. “I’d built my career on never giving up, always finding a way to win. But that night, Mahomes made me feel helpless. I’d never felt that way before, and I knew I couldn’t keep playing if I didn’t believe I could win.”

Fans and analysts alike have reacted strongly to his admission, with some praising his vulnerability while others questioned whether one game could truly push someone to retire. But for the receiver, the decision was clear. “When you’ve been in this league as long as I have, you know when it’s time. That game, that moment, it showed me that the NFL had moved into a new era, one dominated by guys like Mahomes.”

Mahomes, for his part, has remained silent on the matter, though he’s often spoken about how much that game meant to him and the Chiefs. It was a defining moment in his already illustrious career, but it came at a cost for others. “I’m not saying he did it on purpose,” the receiver said with a wry smile. “But he did it. He ended my career. And you know what? Maybe that’s okay. He’s that good.”

As the NFL continues to evolve, stories like this serve as a reminder of the human side of the game. For this former player, Patrick Mahomes wasn’t just a quarterback that night—he was the embodiment of an unbeatable force, a player so transcendent that he changed the course of a career with just 13 seconds of brilliance.