To absolutely nobody’s surprise, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes won the ESPY (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly) award for “Best NFL Player.” The fact that ESPN announced the award on the red carpet show rather than the main broadcast was kind of a surprise.
2018 NFL MVP ➡️ @ESPYS Best NFL Player
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) July 10, 2019
Congratulations, @PatrickMahomes! pic.twitter.com/L42l8fb6uO
Mahomes won the league’s 2018 AP MVP award after a season in which he compiled 50 touchdowns and more than 5,000 yards through the air. He beat out the Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald, running back Todd Gurley and Saints quarterback Drew Brees to win the ESPY.
The shoes Mahomes is currently wearing somehow have not won any ESPY awards... yet.
Pat Mahomes' shoe game #ESPYS
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 10, 2019
( @CapitalOne) pic.twitter.com/SqxKUF7nD1
Later in the evening, Chiefs-Rams was awarded the ESPY for “Best Game,” beating out the LSU-Texas A&M college football game and the Notre Dame-UConn women’s basketball game. Mahomes and Rams quarterback Jared Goff accepted the trophy on behalf of the game, then announced they were dedicating it to the Los Angeles Fire Department, which responded to wildfires during the week of the game.
First responders are recognized by the Rams and Chiefs while receiving the Best Game award #ESPYS pic.twitter.com/62vhRCIHW9
— ABC (@ABCNetwork) July 11, 2019
Mahomes was also up for the “Best Male Athlete” award, but that honor went to Milwaukee Bucks guard/forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.