Super Bowl 2024: Patrick Mahomes admits he likes being the ‘villain’ this season and insists ‘you have to embrace that to be great’ as the QB looks to cement the Chiefs dynasty… but claims his viral ‘dad-bod’ photo caught him at a bad angle

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has embraced his role as the villain during Super Bowl LVIII, hoping to transform his team into a dynasty with a third title in five years.

Mahomes says he has come to embrace the role of the NFL’s big bad wolf and the one everyone wants to see rid of.

“I’ve definitely understood that since this year,” Mahomes told CBS Sports. “I think this is the year where it actually turned out that way.

‘That’s part of it. You turn into that bad guy. You turn into that team that everyone doesn’t want to win. You have to embrace that too to be great.

“And I think you’ve seen the greats do that in every sport, whenever they start building dynasties and things like that. And we want to do that, and we want to emphasize that with the Super Bowl win.

CBS’ Nate Burleson pointed out that Mahomes was smiling during the interview and suggested the quarterback seemed to enjoy playing that villain.

“Yeah, man,” he replied. “And I don’t think I really understood it until this year. When you go into the playoffs and you’re on the road and you know it’s just you and your teammates against everyone else, it’s a different perspective.”

The conversation turned to the topic of “being a living legend,” something Mahomes briefly resisted. “Man, honestly, it’s something I always wanted to be, I was just someone who could make the most of it and be a great athlete and take advantage of every opportunity. The living legend is something I let other people talk about.”

Burleson interjected, saying he knew Mahomes is “a humble guy,” but told him, “You know you’re one of the greats. You don’t have to say it. I will say it. Everyone says it.’

Mahomes continued, “I think there’s two things. One, like I said before: I never want to have any regrets. I think that’s my biggest fear in the world: not maximizing the opportunities I’ve had in my life.

“And I know I’ve been blessed with a lot of different things. And being with the Kansas City Chiefs, (my) time with the Kansas City Chiefs is one of them.

And the second is that I have envisioned greatness. I’ve seen Tom (Brady), I’ve seen Peyton (Manning) and I’ve seen that growing up, and I want to do what I can so I can be that inspiration for the generation behind me. And I think that’s another way.

“But at the same time, I want guys to step up and say, ‘Hey, I want to be like that guy and the way he carries himself, on and off the field.'”

Mahomes: ‘I want to do what I can that will be an inspiration to the generation behind me’

Patrick Mahomes will look to cement the Chiefs’ dynasty with a third title in five years

In a light-hearted moment, Mahomes also talked about a viral locker room moment where people made fun of him for his “dad body” physique.

“I got a bad angle, man,” Mahomes laughed. ‘I say: hopefully we win this match. Maybe I’ll just take off my shirt in the middle of the field.

“I need the upward angle. You know what I am. Where they come down. See the chest a little bit.

“I know it was a bad picture, but I’m gonna show it to everyone, man. I’ve got a bit of something going on – still dad vibes, but not as bad as that photo made it seem.”