ql.Cowboys RB Javonte Williams is second in the NFL in rushing (447 yards) and has a career-high five rushing touchdowns, and there’s still 12 games left.He said outside of the locker room today that this is as confident as he’s been in his entire career:“I feel like I’m understanding the plays and things a lot better. I’m not just out there running. I actually understand what’s going on.
.🔥 Hypothetical thesis: Mahomes is depressed
- Extreme pressure, “Super Bowl or lose” expectations
Mahomes is put in the position of savior, must-win — every season without a championship is a failure; there is little room for “brilliantness.”
When the team plays poorly, Mahomes’ complaints (like “we let ourselves down with penalties, mistakes”) start to surface publicly.
Having to constantly cope with criticism, public opinion, and pressure from leadership can be mentally exhausting and depressing.
- Financial — paying the price of “other roster strength”
Mahomes once signed a huge contract (~$503 million) to become one of the highest-paid QBs. The Times of India
But when a large portion of the team’s budget is “freed up” for Mahomes, the team will have difficulty paying for other essential positions (defensive line, wide receiver, offensive line, etc.).
There have been times when the Chiefs “restructured Mahomes’ contract” to create budget space to sign other important players.
If Mahomes gets tired of being a financial burden (even though he is still a “star”), then frustration can definitely set in.
- Internal tensions, responsibility beyond authority
When the key QB expresses dissatisfaction publicly, it leads to chaos in the locker room, affecting team spirit and tactical stability.
If Mahomes feels “burdened” with managing, leading, even having to fix shortcomings in many places, he can “get tired” — especially when lessons from failure keep happening.
When players like Chris Jones get “shot” for lack of effort and Mahomes also publicly criticizes the team’s shortcomings — the more heat, the more pressure.
- Performance drops, confidence shakes
When the team starts the season too poorly (like 2-3), skepticism from fans increases. Mahomes once said: “We’ve lost too many games already.”
The Sun
If individual or team performance drops, Mahomes may ask himself: “What’s the point if I’m doing it alone?”
Being compared to new QBs with higher contracts, or seeing his contract “devalued” compared to the market, can also trigger
⚖️ Counterarguments: Reasons to doubt the “Mahomes is bored” argument is real
Long-term commitment
Mahomes has signed a long-term contract with the Chiefs, showing a deep commitment. If he is truly bored, he can find a way to leave or negotiate a different path.
Strong competitive personality
Mahomes is a person with a high competitive spirit, it is hard to believe that he will “give up” when there is still time to compete for a championship.
Opportunities and status are still very high
At the Chiefs, Mahomes has power, reputation, influence in the organization – things that are not easy to give up just because of fatigue.
The team is not (probably) in a state of complete exhaustion
Even if the start is bad, there is still a chance to correct mistakes during the season. Complete depression often arises when the organization “fails” for many seasons.
