Patrick Mahomes won’t forget his first encounter with Buffalo Bills fans on the road. Leading the Kansas City Chiefs to victory in the playoffs’ divisional round last January, Mahomes faced off against Bills fans for the first time, having previously visited Buffalo during the 2020 season when stadiums were empty due to the pandemic.
Reflecting on his experience on the Impaulsive podcast this week, Mahomes shared how he realized the intensity of Bills fans’ disdain as they greeted him with explicit gestures and hurled snowballs after the game.
“It was genuine,” Mahomes told host Logan Paul. “These people really don’t like me.”
Despite the hostile reception, Mahomes surprisingly acknowledged the Bills’ passionate fanbase and the rivalry it has fostered with his team.
“They have a passionate fanbase,” he acknowledged When asked if he now sees himself as a “villain” in the league, Mahomes pointed to the playoff game in Buffalo this year.
Patrick Mahomes Welcomed Hostile Atmosphere
“This year definitely cast us more in that villain role as a team,” Mahomes noted. “I didn’t fully realize it until we arrived in Buffalo and I saw what felt like 40,000 middle fingers.”
Mahomes recounted a post-game incident where he was trying to give his headband and sleeve to a young fan amidst a barrage of snowballs from Bills supporters.
“I was trying to hand my headband and sleeve to a kid and snowballs are just flying at me,” he recalled.
Despite the snowball incident, Mahomes expressed respect for the Bills and their fans, embracing the competitive rivalry that has developed between the two teams.
Patrick Mahomes on Bills Mafia:
“I saw 40,000 middle fingers!” 🖕 pic.twitter.com/bspUvLprg5
— IMPAULSIVE (@impaulsive) May 3, 2024
“We have a lot of respect for the Bills and their fanbase, they just want to beat us,” Mahomes said, acknowledging that his Chiefs have knocked the Bills out of the playoffs in three of the last four seasons.
While some criticized Bills fans for their behavior, particularly the snowball throwing incident as Mahomes interacted with a young fan, Mahomes remained diplomatic, emphasizing his team’s ability to triumph in a challenging road environment.
“First and foremost, this is a great environment, really it is,” Mahomes commented to CBS’s Tracy Wolfson post-game. “We heard all week about playing a road game, and we came here to prove a point that we can play anywhere.”
