Patrick Mahomes says he’d like to play in Kansas City his entire career

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has become somewhat of a hot topic over the past few days in Miami — beginning on Tuesday when team owner Clark Hunt told media members that the quarterback’s new contract doesn’t have to be signed this offseason.

Mahomes is on the third year of his rookie contract. With the regular season over, he is now eligible to negotiate an extension.

Hunt clarified his statement Wednesday with the help of Chiefs general manager Brett Veach and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Veach told Rapoport that what Hunt meant is that the Chiefs don’t necessarily have a timeline; the next priority for the team (after Sunday’s championship game) will be figuring out a new contract for their star quarterback.

Mahomes calmed the masses early Wednesday morning with his comments in response to a question about why Kansas City is such a fit.

“It was the people,” said Mahomes. “The people are what really drew me to Kansas City and I hope I get to play there the rest of my career now. I mean — just the people and how they accept you, how they care about you more as a person than they do as a player and how much passion they have for the Kansas City Chiefs — it’s special, and it’s somewhere I want to be for the rest of my career.”

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell discussed Mahomes being in Kansas City during his annual state of the league address.

“Patrick Mahomes anywhere in the NFL is good for me,” said Goodell — likely briefly forgetting the Chargers exist. “I got to tell you — not only is he an incredible player, but he is an incredible young man. Wherever he plays in the NFL, he’s going to have an impact, and I’m proud to have him as a Kansas City Chief. I would guess there is 31 other teams that wouldn’t mind having him either. The reality is he’s just made us better and he’s made the Chiefs better as evidenced by the fact that they’re here in the Super Bowl.”