After the 2023–24 Kansas City Chiefs season is over, everyone may consider what went into winning another championship. As of right now, the defending champions have won two straight and have the chance to go on and win three in a row. Big performances from everyone, but especially from stars, are required.
The Chiefs will be in good hands if quarterback Patrick Mahomes and wide receiver Rashee Rice perform as well as they did last season. Mahomes was awarded the club MVP by Kansas City on Thursday, while Rice was named the Rookie of the Year. The Chiefs players cast their votes for awards, demonstrating how significant they are to the club.
The players vote on the recipients for both the Mack Lee Hill ROTY and Derrick Thomas MVP awards 📝
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) February 29, 2024
This is Mahomes’ third overall Derrick Thomas Award win and his third in a row. Paradoxically, he just finished what was probably his most difficult regular season to date. During the regular season, he passed for 4,183 yards and 27 touchdowns, but he also had his lowest passer rating and the highest interception % of his career as a full-time starter. When the playoffs rolled around, he bounced back really well. Mahomes amassed 1,192 yards and six touchdowns in four postseason games in winning the Super Bowl.
It’s safe to argue that without Mahomes and Rice, the Chiefs would not have reached their current position. Rice assisted in keeping the offense afloat in the latter stages, and Mahomes is the most valuable player in the entire sport.