While Patrick Mahomes embraces his “Dad Bod,” his quarterback rivals Lamar Jackson and Tua Tagovailoa are focusing on slimming down and increasing their agility for the upcoming 2024 NFL season.
Mahomes, who led the Kansas City Chiefs to their second consecutive Super Bowl win in February, responded to comments about his physique after a shirtless photo went viral following a victory over Jackson’s Baltimore Ravens in January. Speaking to TIME, the 28-year-old quipped, “I definitely have the dad bod a little bit. I’ll also say I have a great body for a quarterback. You’ve got to have some padding in there to take the hits we take.”
Despite Mahomes’ bulkier frame contributing to his success—evidenced by his third Super Bowl win—Jackson and Tagovailoa are reportedly shedding pounds to enhance their performance. Both quarterbacks faced defeats to Mahomes in last season’s playoffs and seem intent on returning lighter and more agile.
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Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported that Jackson has dropped down to 205 pounds, a significant decrease from his previous seasons’ weights, aiming to increase his speed which has previously peaked at 21 mph. “The word in Baltimore is this slim Lamar could be even faster than the one we’ve seen in years past,” Russini noted.
NFL insider Cameron Wolfe mentioned that Tagovailoa has reached his ‘ideal’ playing weight at 220 pounds after losing 10 to 15 pounds, with hopes of being more elusive in the pocket. Addressing concerns about potential injury risks with a lighter build, Wolfe explained, “No concern from the Dolphins. They saw him play 17 games last year… They don’t think that this is going to necessarily make him more fragile, because the injuries often happen from him falling backwards, not from him being too small.”
Last March, the Dolphins exercised Tagovailoa’s fifth-year option valued at $23.171 million for the 2024 season, though he has yet to sign a new contract with the team. Last season, he threw for 4,624 yards with 29 touchdowns before being eliminated by Mahomes and the Chiefs in the Wild Card Round.
Jackson claimed the NFL’s MVP award for the regular season after throwing for 3,678 yards with 24 touchdowns, leading a dynamic Baltimore team that fell to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game.
Meanwhile, fans continue to comment on Mahomes’ physique, with one noting on X, “Dad bod in full flow.” Another added, “Mahomes still has his dad bod. I love it. The man has won 75% of the Super Bowls that this organization has won in its history. He can do whatever he wants.”
