In the aftermath of the Kansas City Chiefs’ crushing 31–28 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day, the heat hasn’t just been on the players—it’s been squarely on Head Coach Andy Reid. But quarterback Patrick Mahomes is making sure the criticism stops with him.
Fans have spent the last 24 hours lighting up social media, labeling Reid “too conservative” for punting twice on fourth-and-short in Dallas territory. But Mahomes, never one to dodge responsibility, stepped to the podium and made his position clear.
“That one’s on me. I had a chance to make a play and I didn’t,” Mahomes said. “On that 4th-and-4, we had a look we liked — I saw the coverage and tried to wait for Rashee to break open, but I held it too long. That’s not on Coach Reid. He’s trusted me with bigger decisions than that. He’s taken risks for this team time and time again, and built everything we’ve accomplished. If you’re looking to blame someone, don’t start with him — I’ve got to be better, period.”
The fourth-down punts—one from the Dallas 49-yard line, the other from the 44—have drawn the ire of Chiefs Kingdom, with many questioning whether the team has lost its aggressive edge. Reid, for his part, owned the decisions postgame.
“At that time, we were doing OK,” Reid said. “I thought we’d be able to hold them to field position. It didn’t work out. That’s on me. But I’ll always make the call I believe gives our team the best chance to win.”
Despite Reid’s accountability, Mahomes’ defense of his coach spoke volumes. In a locker room reportedly shaken but unified, sources say Mahomes addressed the team and reinforced that the culture in Kansas City is built on trust, not blame.
Now 6–6 and in the thick of the AFC playoff hunt, the Chiefs face a pivotal stretch. But Mahomes’ loyalty and leadership continue to define this era in Kansas City.
“We’ve been through too much together to let one game divide us,” Mahomes added after the game. “We’re still that team. And I still believe in every single person in this building.”
As the season tightens, the bond between quarterback and coach remains unshaken—and that may prove more important than any fourth-down call.
