Patrick Mahomes’ helmet shatters during Chiefs-Dolphins playoff game

Associated Press | Saturday, January 13, 2024 10:44 p.m.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid (left) and quarterback Patrick Mahomes react toward officials during the first half Saturday.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had his helmet shattered on a hit from Miami Dolphins safety DeShon Elliott during Saturday night’s frigid AFC wild-card playoff game.

With a game-time temperature of minus-4 degrees Fahrenheit, the game was the fourth-coldest in NFL history, and it was unclear whether the temperature made the shell of Mahomes’ helmet more brittle than usual. Regardless, the reigning league MVP was left with a fist-sized chunk of plastic missing from just above his left eye after the clash of helmets on a 13-yard scramble deep in Dolphins territory.

Rarely do helmets fail in such a manner. But then again, rarely is it below zero at kickoff of a football game.

Mahomes ran two more plays before officials made him get a backup helmet from the sideline. He threw another incomplete pass and Kansas City kicked a field goal on fourth down to take a 19-7 lead, and Mahomes spent the ensuing Miami possession fiddling with the replacement helmet on the sideline in an effort to make it comfortable.