Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes II is a new part-owner of MLB’s Kansas City Royals.
Mahomes has been a busy man this off season. He follows up signing the richest contract in sports history by enhancing his financial portfolio with today’s move. In an era in sports where players have to think about their future while in the prime of their present, this move is not a surprise.
The world is more connected now than ever. Camaraderie among athletes is no exception. This move has the advice of stars like LeBron James and Magic Johnson written all over it. Professional athletes, particularly faces of leagues, are in a unique position. The financial incentives associated with their contracts are excellent. Sustainability after those contracts expire, however, is suspect.
Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan understood this early on in basketball. Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James learned from their predecessors and began building their brand early in their careers. The NBA offers a much easier path for doing this than other major sports.
The MLB does a terrible job of promoting its stars. The NFL does not do much better. Patrick Mahomes is taking it upon himself to ensure that his prominence is not temporary. While he will certainly continue to perform on the field for the next decade, Mahomes is off to a great start when it comes to securing the decades after that.
Patrick Mahomes started the 2020 offseason by securing his present. He is now on his way to securing the rest of his life.
