Patrick Mahomes: Fueled by Perfectionism

Patrick Mahomes has taken the NFL by storm since entering the league in 2017.

In just a few short seasons, he has achieved superstar status and cemented himself as one of the best quarterbacks of this generation. Behind all the highlight reel plays and championship trophies lies a driving force—Mahomes’ perfectionist personality.

His relentless pursuit of excellence has powered his rise, but also comes with challenges to manage.

Let’s take a deeper look into Mahomes’ perfectionism and how it impacts his approach both on and off the field.

Preparation is Key

One hallmark of Mahomes’ game is his intense preparation. He spends hours dissecting film, studying tendencies of opposing defenses, and visualizing how plays will unfold. This dedication to the mental aspects ensures he is optimally prepared to handle any situation that may arise on gameday. According to former teammate Travis Kelce, “The film study is unreal with Pat. He’s in there for hours and hours just breaking down defenses.”

Mahomes’ coaches have also commented on his work ethic when it comes to preparation. Kansas City Chiefs quarterbacks coach Mike Kafka said: “He’s in here early, he’s leaving late. He’s trying to get that extra work, that extra look, those extra reps.” This attention to detail sets Mahomes apart. While some star quarterbacks do the bare minimum in the film room, Mahomes approaches it with a perfectionist’s eye, determined to find even the smallest of advantages.

Always Striving for More

What’s most impressive is that Mahomes’ drive for improvement doesn’t waver even after achieving the sport’s highest honors. Though he has an MVP and Super Bowl MVP already on his mantle, he remains unsatisfied and constantly seeks ways to get better. In the offseason, he works diligently on refining his mechanics and footwork. During the season, he challenges himself to make more precise reads and decisions.

This relentless pursuit of perfection prevents Mahomes from becoming complacent, even at the peak of his powers. As former NFL quarterback Trent Green explained, “He’s always trying to get better, and that’s what you want as a coach. You don’t want a guy that gets to a certain level and then says ‘I’m good.’ He’s always trying to find little things to improve on.” Mahomes’ constant self-evaluation and improvement mindset is what allows him to reach new heights each year.

Demanding Leader

While Mahomes’ sense of humor and fun-loving personality shine through publicly, his teammates have witnessed another side—his demanding leadership style. He holds extremely high standards, not just for himself but for those around him as well. Mahomes drives his teammates to strive for excellence through his words and actions.

According to Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, “He demands greatness out of himself. He also demands it out of others. He’s not going to allow mediocrity.” Wide receiver Demarcus Robinson echoed this, saying Mahomes is always “pushing, pushing, pushing” those around him. His competitive fire and demand for perfection rubs off on his teammates. They feel compelled to match his level of dedication in order to meet the bar he has set.

This leadership approach has been a major factor in the Chiefs’ success. With Mahomes leading the charge, the team culture embraces hard work, attention to detail, and a refusal to settle for anything less than a championship. While not all players may respond positively to such intensity, Mahomes’ teammates in Kansas City seem to thrive under his demanding style.

Dealing with Mistakes

Perfectionism comes with downsides, however. One potential issue is an inability to move past errors and mistakes. For some highly perfectionistic athletes, a single mistake can snowball into a spiral of negativity. Fortunately, most reports suggest Mahomes handles setbacks relatively well.

Still, he is famously hard on himself after turnovers or missed opportunities. According to his high school coach, “If he threw an interception, he was mad for two days.” Even now in the NFL, Mahomes admits he dwells on mistakes, replaying them in his head, determined to learn from his errors.

The key is that Mahomes’ drive to correct flaws doesn’t consume him. He channels frustration into extra film study and practice, rather than lingering self-criticism. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid praised Mahomes’ ability to “flush things and move on.” While perfectionism makes any imperfection feel unacceptable, Mahomes has developed mental skills to avoid letting mistakes derail his performance or confidence going forward.

Fuel for Success

There is no question Mahomes’ perfectionist tendencies have played a pivotal role in propelling his astounding success at a young age. His relentless work ethic when it comes to preparation separates him from his peers. His constant pursuit of self-improvement keeps raising the bar for his abilities. And his demanding leadership inspires those around him to greater heights.

All the late nights in the film room, additional reps on the practice field, and never-ending analysis seem to be perfectly aligned with Mahomes’ perfectionist mindset. He refuses to leave any stone unturned in his quest to master his craft. While some may see this as overkill, for Mahomes it has paid massive dividends. At only 27 years old, he already has an MVP, Super Bowl ring and is widely considered the best player in the NFL. His drive for excellence is a huge factor powering his unprecedented accomplishments.

Finding Balance

While perfectionism clearly benefits Mahomes in many ways, it’s also important he finds balance. Taking the game, and mistakes, too seriously can foster unhealthy pressure and negativity. Some experts argue a degree of imperfectionism—being okay with imperfect outcomes—may be just as valuable as perfectionism for success and well-being over the long haul.

Certain athletes attribute their longevity partly to knowing when to relax and have fun, rather than obsess over details at all times. Legendary quarterback Tom Brady, for example, is famous for managing stress through low-key hobbies like painting. Balance helps top athletes avoid burnout and remain focused over decades-long careers.

Mahomes seems aware of the importance of balance. He makes time for family, faith and hobbies outside of football. His lighthearted personality also helps him avoid taking himself too seriously. Still, as the pressure of his stardom increases, maintaining perspective will grow more challenging. Learning to leave football behind mentally as well as take losses in stride may serve Mahomes well in the later stages of his career. Striking the right balance between perfectionism and imperfectionism remains an ongoing process.

Lessons from Brady

Interestingly, Mahomes has been teammates with another legendary perfectionist—Tom Brady. As the ultimate winner in NFL history, Brady exemplifies taking an obsessive approach to an extreme level. But he has also endured ups and downs, such as the Deflategate controversy, that Mahomes has not yet faced. It will be fascinating to see if Mahomes incorporates any of Brady’s methods for dealing with the enormous pressure that comes with striving for greatness over decades at the top.

Brady’s mental skills training and ability to compartmentalize setbacks while staying laser focused are hallmarks of his success. Perhaps Mahomes can learn from Brady’s example of balancing perfectionism, imperfectionism, stress management, and maintaining joy in the game even during adversity. Their dynamic provides a unique window into how an ascending star can learn from a living legend as his own career progresses.

Conclusion

In the end, Patrick Mahomes’ relentless perfectionism appears a double-edged sword. On one hand, it serves as a wellspring of motivation, work ethic, leadership and on-field success. However, taken to an extreme it could also foster negativity, pressure and burnout. The key is effectively managing and channeling his perfectionist tendencies—continuing to use them as fuel while avoiding their potential downsides.

As Mahomes’ career advances, striking this balance will grow more nuanced. Learning from seasoned veterans like Brady may help smooth the process. For now, Mahomes’ journey of refining his approach to perfectionism promises to offer valuable insight into the psychology of elite athletic performance. With his dedication and insatiable drive, Mahomes seems poised to thrive for many years as one of the NFL’s transcendent stars.