It’s Super Bowl LIX weekend, with a mentoring relationship that illustrates going from the role of the hunter to the role of guide.
The Kansas City Chiefs are going up against the Philadelphia Eagles in hopes of a three-peat, pretty impressive. But from 1964 through 1975, legendary Coach John Wooden won 10 national basketball championships at UCLA, including 7 in a row. His mission was mentoring: “Everything in the world has been passed down. Every piece of knowledge is something that has been shared by someone else. If you understand it as I do, mentoring becomes your true legacy.”
Fast forward to the 2017 NFL Draft where the Chiefs selected Patrick Mahomes as their first-round pick. The selection created a stir, as the Chiefs passed over higher-ranked prospects. Even more surprising, Alex Smith was in place as starting QB, and although Smith never won a Super Bowl, he led them to the playoffs. Side note: Smith was so popular, Taylor Swift’s buddy, KC tight end Travis Kelce, would appear in a 2018 TV interview criticizing the decision to replace Smith with Mahomes.
But once Mahomes arrived, from training camp thru his entire first year, Smith took the rookie under his arm. Mahomes said about Smith’s influence, “I really praise him, he prepped me, he showed me what it takes to perform in this league.” And the ultimate comment from the 2-time Super Bowl MVP, “I came in, and I was just relying on my talent, then I watched Alex work… I’m still doing the exact same process that he was doing that first year.”
Alex Smith recognized the potential, saying every morning at camp in 2017, he was there early, but so was the rookie. Smith’s key reason for mentoring was his own experience as the 1st pick of the 49ers in 2005, “It was turbulent, there was no plan, I didn’t get to look up to watch anybody.”
Even though Smith would have his best NFL numbers, he continued to mentor. Smith knew his fate after Mahomes went 22-of-35 with a bunch of backups in a meaningless season-ending game. A week later, Smith lost in the playoff game, and noted, ‘It was apparent what was about to happen.”
Before the start of the next season Smith was traded, but is still held in high esteem. Coach Andy Reid brought attention to Smith’s mentoring of Mahomes in 2020, prior to winning Super Bowl LIV, “He wasn’t asked to do this, but he let Patrick into his world, I joke about it, but it’s true: Patrick couldn’t pay Alex enough for what he gave him with that experience.” In the seven years since Mahomes took over the QB reins, the Chiefs have made it to the Super Bowl five times.
Mentor your teammates, show them how far they can go. As they say about rookie car salespeople, the journey could be from green pea to greatness!
Now who will get to shout, “I’m going to Disneyworld!”? I love a Cinderella story, but my MVP bet is Saquon Barkley…and the Eagles to win!