Patrick Mahomes says he grew up a Patriots hater, appreciates their greatness now

NEW ORLEANS (KCTV) - One of the greatest quarterbacks in football history was once the very thing those who root against him are currently: a hater.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes shared at Super Bowl Opening Night his rooting allegiances as a kid growing up in Whitehouse, Texas.

“I was a Cowboys fan growing up,” Mahomes said, “and I just hated the Patriots.”

Ironic considering the villain role Mahomes and the Chiefs have taken on after winning back-to-back Super Bowls and being in a spot where winning a third straight is possible.

.@PatrickMahomes as a kid: Cowboys fan and Patriots hater 😂

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Mahomes is now 17-3 as a starting quarterback in playoff games, trailing only former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for most in NFL history. But as Mahomes chases Brady

“More than anything, I appreciate the greatness of the Patriots more now because I see how hard it was to do what they did.”

The three-time Super Bowl champion and three-time Super Bowl MVP said he’s comfortable with people disliking the Chiefs.

“I don’t even think it’s embracing being the villains, we embrace who we are,” Mahomes said. “I believe we play the game the right way, we believe that we play with a lot of heart and a lot of ion for the game and we win football games.

“If winning football games makes you a villain, we’re gonna keep going out there and doing it.”