The star quarterback gutted through a right ankle injury to lead Kansas City to its second Lombardi Trophy in four years.
After a gutsy performance in the Chiefs’ 38–35 victory over the Eagles, quarterback Patrick Mahomes was crowned as the MVP of Super Bowl LVII on Sunday night.
Mahomes, the 2022 Most Valuable Player, claimed his second career Super Bowl MVP after finishing the contest 21-of-27 for 182 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. The 27-year-old QB led Kansas City, which trailed for most of the contest, to a comeback victory despite appearing to re-aggravate a right ankle injury he previously sustained in the divisional round.
With the win, Mahomes is now just seventh player in NFL history, and the first since 1999, to win NFL MVP the Super Bowl in the same season. Rams QB Kurt Warner was the last to achieve the feat after leading St. Louis to a Super Bowl XXXIV win to cap the 1999 season.
The Chiefs responded to a game-opening Eagles touchdown with a six-play, 75-yard scoring drive capped by an 18-yard Mahomes pass to tight end Travis Kelce. Kansas City ended its next two series with a missed field goal and punt after a three-and-out while the Eagles scored again to take a 14–7 lead.
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A lost fumble by Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts led to a recovery by Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton, who took it 36 yards to the endzone to tie the game. The Chiefs looked to respond after a four-yard Hurts TD run on Philadelphia’s next drive, but disaster would seemingly strike with 1:22 to play in the second quarter after Eagles linebacker T.J. Edwards tackled Mahomes from behind as he scrambled on third-and-15.
Mahomes hobbled off to the Chiefs’ sideline in noticeable pain and grimaced as he sat on the bench and spoke to the training staff. Fortunately for K.C., the veteran signal-caller didn’t re-take the field for the rest of the first half as the Eagles utilized the remainder of the clock and converted a field goal to take a 24–14 halftime lead.
Following a thrilling halftime performance by Rihanna, the Chiefs offense re-took the field to begin the third quarter, with their all-world signal-caller in tow. From there, K.C. outscored Philly, 24–11, following scores on all four of their second-half drives.
Mahomes helped set up the first—a one-yard plunge from running back Isiah Pacheco—with a huge 14-yard scamper on the bad ankle on second-and-3. The two-time MVP then tossed two more down the stretch to keep even with the Eagles before kicker Harrison Butker, with the game tied 35–35, followed a big Eagles holding penalty with a 27-yard field goal with eight seconds left to secure the win.
