Patrick Mahomes has little left to prove, but you wouldn’t know it by the way he talks about the game. With three Super Bowl titles, two MVPs, and a résumé that is headed in the direction of the all-time greats, he could easily settle in. Instead, he’s still chasing improvement. “Whenever you end on a loss, it gives you a little bit more motivation," he says. "Every workout, every practice, every film study, whatever it is.” His edge hasn’t dulled with success: it’s sharpened by it.
Sustaining that level of performance takes more than talent. It means paying attention to the details—nutrition, recovery, and what he puts into his body every day. And for Mahomes, that includes coffee. Not just any coffee, but a purpose-built product he’s had a hand in shaping: Throne SPORT COFFEE. “I’ve been someone that’s drank coffee my whole career,” he says. “But I want to know what’s going into my body and how it helps me perform.” Mahomes joined Throne as a lead investor and the second-highest stakeholder in 2024, and it isn’t just an endorsement. He’s been involved since early-on, giving feedback on everything from ingredients to flavor.
That commitment to excellence is now front and center in Throne’s new “This. Not That.” campaign—a cheeky takedown of sugar-laden alternatives and a statement on performance-forward choices. The brand’s Coffee PLUS+ formula, complete with 150mg of natural caffeine, B vitamins, electrolytes, and BCAAs, is tailored for anyone who wants clean energy without compromising taste or health. “There's a lot of ready-to-go coffees out there, but if you look at the ingredients behind a lot of 'em, there's not a lot of good stuff that goes into it,” Mahomes says. “I think it's huge to have an option out there that's healthy for you, that tastes good, and that gives you the energy that you need."
Off the field, Mahomes’ growing business empire reflects the same level of intention. Alongside his wife Brittany, he’s built a diverse investment portfolio spanning everything from sports teams to wellness brands. But for him, it’s not just about ROI. “Entrepreneurship is getting behind people you believe in,” he says. “Everything that I invest in is stuff that I believe in and, more than what I believe in, I believe in the people." That’s what made Throne a fit: good product, good mission, good people.
And with training camp looming, Mahomes is dialed in. He’s excited to have some of his offensive weapons healthy again, he’s motivated by last season’s ending, and yes, he hears the talk. At this point, bet against him at your own risk. “We didn't win the Super Bowl last year, so we have something that can motivate us every single day," he says. “I'm excited to showcase what this offense can be.” If you’re looking for signs of a step back, you won’t find them in Kansas City.
At this point, bet against the Chiefs at your own risk.
Our conversation, lightly edited and condensed for clarity, is below.
So you joined the brand as an owner and second-highest stakeholder last year. Can you tell me a little bit about what made you want to join Throne?
Yeah, I think first off, meeting the people, meeting Michael and meeting the people behind Throne Sport Coffee. You saw how much they cared, how much they were invested, how good of people they were. Being able to have my own input on how the coffee was made, the flavoring, the things that are in the coffee, was huge for me. I've been someone that's drank coffee my whole entire career, and I also want to know what's going into my body and how it helps me perform. And so being able to get a coffee that I love, a coffee that I like, and that I know is making me better every single day, was super important to me.
You talked about input in the flavoring. Is there one you’ve got in the can, no pun intended, that you're waiting on?
I've loved the original four that we came out with. Obviously the mint mocha has been huge and people have loved it, but for me, the french vanilla, the salted caramel, and the black have kind of been my favorite go-to so far. But every coffee flavor that they've had has hit, and so I think that's been really cool. And being in it from the very beginning has been huge for me because I can give my input on some of the taste and stuff like that, and I feel like we've done a great job with it.
You talked about knowing what's in the coffee. I love that it's NSF certified. I think that's huge. Can you talk a little bit about the ingredients?
Yeah, I mean, first off, with the ingredients and knowing what's in the coffee. Having the BCAAs, being NSF certified, having 150 milligrams of natural caffeine, it’s huge for me. Like I said, I have to know from my job and from my livelihood what I'm putting into my body. And obviously with some of the coffee things you have out there, there's a lot of sugar, a lot of extra stuff in there that doesn't necessarily go to performance and into making you feel better. And so having a coffee that I can go to take right out of the fridge, drink ready to go, and knowing that I'm getting the best stuff, the best ingredients in my body as well, getting the energy that I need was super big for me.
Can you talk about the “This. Not That” campaign and what the premise is?
I mean, obviously, there's a lot of ready-to-go coffees out there, but if you look at the ingredients behind a lot of 'em, there's not a lot of good stuff that goes into it. I mean, they might have a flavor here or there that you like, but they have to put a lot of sugar and a lot of fake ingredients to get there. So having a great flavor coffee that has a lot of great ingredients in there that not only may give you the energy but make you feel better after you drink. It was huge to me. And so being able to get this and not those that have kind of been on the market so far was something that I think people can really go out there and do for themselves.
And I think you've seen people not only being athletes, but—I don't know when it really happened—but being into your health has been huge. And I think people will truly be able to go out there and get something that's healthy for them and makes them a better person, and whatever they want to do in life, it doesn't have to be working out. It could be just going to work and knowing you want to feel great at work. So I think it's huge to have an option out there that's healthy for you, that tastes good, and that gives you the energy that you need.
You and your wife have a pretty robust portfolio of investments. What does entrepreneurship mean to you?
Entrepreneurship is getting behind people that you believe in. Obviously, everybody wants to make money and do all these different type of things, but I think you want to go out there and maximize people's dreams and maximize your dreams as well. And so everything that I invest in is stuff that I believe in and, more than what I believe in, I believe in the people, including Throne Sport Coffee, it's with good people that want to go out there and be the best versions of themselves, and help the world as much as they can.
Pivoting a bit, OTAs and mini camp recently wrapped, and training camp is right around the corner. I imagine you're pretty energized about the upcoming season. Is there anything in particular you're psyched for?
Yeah, I think getting some of the guys back. I mean, we had some couple guys that got hurt last year and didn't get to really showcase their talents, and so having some of those guys back, especially on the offensive side, will be a ton of fun. So having Rashee and Hollywood and some of these guys, and then this second year with Xavier Worthy, I'm excited for them to showcase who they are and showcase what this offense can be.
Obviously, we didn't win the Super Bowl last year, so we have something that can motivate us every single day. And I'm excited to start it back up.
Is there a chip on your shoulder coming into the season after the Super Bowl?
I think there's always a chip on my shoulder individually, but I think whenever you end on a loss, it gives you a little bit more motivation. Every workout, every practice, every film study, whatever it is. And so I think more than anything, I'm just excited to get back at it, get back on the winning column, try to win a lot of games, and give ourselves a chance to go out there and get redemption and win the Super Bowl.
Tell me about the chip on your shoulder, personally.
I think it's just, whenever you're an athlete, you always have a feeling of ‘you need to be better,’ you need to advance to the next level. Really, in any profession, you can have that same chip. And so for me, I feel like I can play even better next year, this upcoming season, and that comes with motivation and work every single day. I'm excited to start it back up in training camp and then build throughout the season.
You and Coach Reid are this generation's most dominant QB-coach duo. What have the conversations been like in the off-season and heading into a season of trying to get another ring?
I think what makes Coach Reid so special is that he continues to push you to be better. You would think with all the success that we have, he would just roll the football out there and tell you to go out there and just play and do what you did, but he always holds me accountable first.
He pushes me to be even better and to work on the little things here and there, and it keeps me motivated to get even better. When I keep that same motivation, it bleeds throughout the rest of the football team. I think we have a lot of guys that want to be the best versions of themselves, and then collectively as a team.
You're heading into your ninth season with Coach Reid. Do you have a favorite story?
Man, I have so many. I think my favorite one is when he comes out with the Santa costume. I think that Coach Reid, he has such a good sense of when the humor is needed, he can be that person that gets onto you and makes you better and holds you accountable, but then right at that right moment, he'll showcase the humor. Him coming out in that Santa costume after we beat the Steelers this last year was a big moment for me, but he's done several things over time that have kind of kept the fun-loving coaching going.
An area of fascination is how professional athletes take care of their bodies. We've been talking to a lot of NFL players about what they're doing to stay healthy week-to-week, and how much they're spending doing it. Are you willing to tell us what you do to be available and how much you spend every year?
I don't know exactly how much I spend every year, but I know it takes a lot. You have a nutritionist, you have chefs that cook for you. You have people that train you and you work out with, and then you do have to do all the rehabilitation stuff as well.
I think you've seen it across all sports, everybody has a full team that helps take care of their body. It started with some of the guys like LeBron and Steph, and these guys that have kind of showcased what it takes on a day-to-day basis. And so you just try to tweak that and be even better the next year.
I don't even know if I want to know how much money I've spent on it, but it's part of your profession, and it's part of you going out there and being the best versions of yourself that you can be.
We have WNBA All Star coming up this week. I know you've talked about wanting Kansas City to get a WNBA team, and it was kind of a bummer to see them not get one in the expansion.
Oh, for sure. I mean, it's been really cool to see the WNBA and how it's really grown over these last few years, especially. There's been a lot of great players for a long time, and it's exciting to see them get the publicity that they've deserved.
We obviously wanted the team in Kansas City. We didn't luck out enough to get the team. A lot of great, deserving cities got 'em, but it won't stop our push to try to get a team to Kansas City. We know this fan base, and from my experience with the NWSL and the Women's Soccer League, we know that this fan base will embrace them, and so one of these days we'll have a WNBA team in Kansas City.
Is there anyone you're excited to see share the court this week?
I think obviously Caitlin Clark, A’Ja Wilson, but there's a lot of young talent in the league. There's a lot of players that have been playing good for a long time. So to get that infusion of talent on one court, it'll be a great game.