The Kansas City Chiefs’ stunning defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX shocked fans and players alike, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

During the 40-22 loss on Sunday, February 9, the Chiefs saw their hopes of becoming the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls slip away.

After the game, Patrick Mahomes was visibly defeated and upset inside the depths of Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

Patrick Mahomes Struggles To Process Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIX Loss

“Mahomes was at his stall, a few lockers inside of the Chiefs’ locker room doors,” Sports Illustrated’s Matt Verderame reported on Monday, February 10. “Sitting, facing the wall, Mahomes wasn’t scrolling through his phone. He didn’t touch the two full bottles of water in reach of his left hand. In a daze, Mahomes wasn’t wearing his red shoes or socks. No slides. He wasn’t chatting with teammates.”

Verderame went on to describe a moment that captured Mahomes’ frustration. “Finally, after a quick shake of his towel on his hair, Mahomes abruptly let the wooden lid on his footlocker slam shut with a bang, similar to what had just happened to Kansas City’s three-peat bid moments prior.”

According to Verderame, Mahomes then stood up, shoes in hand, bumped past a few media members and found his way into Andy Reid’s office. The door shut. With it, Mahomes disappeared for the night.”

Patrick Mahomes Takes Responsibility For The Super Bowl Loss

Despite the heartbreak, Mahomes faced the media after the game and took full responsibility for the defeat.

“They played better than us from start to finish,” Mahomes told reporters. “We didn’t start how we wanted to. The turnovers hurt. I take all the blame for that. Those turnovers swing the moment of the game and they capitalized on them. They scored on one and got a touchdown immediately after another. That’s 14 points I gave them. It’s hard to come back from that in the Super Bowl.”

Patrick Mahomes Suffered From Six Sacks

Mahomes struggled under intense pressure from the Eagles’ defense, suffering six sacks and throwing two costly interceptions. One of those turnovers came in the second quarter, when Philadelphia’s cornerback Cooper DeJean picked him off and returned it for a touchdown, putting the Eagles up 17-0.

“There’s things I have to get better at, and they kinda showed today on the biggest stage,” Mahomes told reporters. “I have to find a way this offseason to combat what defenses are doing to me. I can’t make bad plays worse … That’s why I take ownership in this loss more than probably any loss in my entire career, because I put us in the bad spot.”

Despite the rough night, Mahomes still managed to throw for 257 yards, completing 21 of 32 passes with three touchdowns, though two of them came in the game’s final minutes when the outcome was already decided.

“I didn’t play to my standard,” he admitted. “And I have to be better next time.”

A Message To Chiefs Kingdom

In the hours following the loss, Mahomes took to social media to apologize to Chiefs fans.

“Appreciate all the love and support from #ChiefsKingdom,” he wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, on Sunday. “I let y’all down today. I’ll always continue to work and try and learn and be better for it. Want to give thanks to God for every opportunity he has given me. We will be back.”

While the Chiefs fell short of making history this time, Mahomes’ determination suggests that the team will be back in the hunt for another championship soon.

Travis Kelce Could Retire

Travis Kelce, meanwhile, faces an uncertain NFL future. If he returns in the fall, it would mark his 13th season in the league. However, his production has dipped over the last two years.

After seven consecutive seasons of surpassing 1,000 receiving yards, he has fallen short of that mark in back-to-back years. This season, he recorded just 823 yards and three touchdowns, which are his lowest numbers since his rookie year, when he played in only one game.

The day before the game, the tight end told media, “Where will I be in three years? I don’t know. Hopefully, still playing football. I love doing this. I love coming into work every day. I feel like I’ve still got a lot of good football left in me. We’ll see what happens.”

As the offseason unfolds, Kelce has some big decisions ahead, both on and off the field.