Feb 12, 2023; Glendale, AZ, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) waves to the crowd after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Breen/The Republic via USA TODAY Sports
KC Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Wins 2023 ESPY for Best Male Athlete
The Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl-winning 2022-23 campaign was a group effort, but it was quarterback Patrick Mahomes who led the way all season long. The superstar signal-caller has been rewarded for his efforts on multiple occasions this calendar year, but another honor is being added to his resume.
On Wednesday night, it was announced that Mahomes is the 2023 ESPY award winner for Best Male Athlete.
Earlier on Wednesday, prior to the start of the ESPYS, it was revealed that Mahomes was the winner of the ESPY award for Best NFL Player as well. Mahomes wins the Best Male Athlete award by edging out NBA champion and Denver Nuggets mega-star Nikola Jokic, New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge and global soccer icon Lionel Messi.
This is the first time Mahomes has won the Best Male Athlete ESPY, and he becomes the first NFL player to do so since Tom Brady in 2021. Prior to Brady, Drew Brees won in 2010 as a member of the New Orleans Saints.
This past season, Mahomes led the NFL in passing yards (5,250) and passing touchdowns (41) on a team that won 14 regular-season games. He then battled through a high-ankle sprain over the course of the postseason and helped propel Kansas City to a Super Bowl championship back in February. It's been one heck of a past several months for the consensus best quarterback in football, and he spoke at the Chiefs' ring ceremony last month about remaining hungry for more success:
"I told the guys that are going to be at the ceremony tonight, ‘This is it. You’re celebrating, get your ring.' Even though we’ve been working this entire time, you have in the back of your mind, we’re getting our rings, we’re Super Bowl champs. But now, it restarts. That’s how the NFL is. It’s time to move on. You’re going to training camp next, and you want to repeat."
