Patrick Mahomes has spent years battling the Cincinnati Bengals on the field. Still, after his season-ending injury, support for the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback is coming from an unexpected corner of the NFL world. In a moment that cut through years of rivalry trash talk, Bengals fans have stepped up in a meaningful way following Mahomes’ devastating knee injury, proving that some moments go beyond team allegiances.
Bengals Fans Rally Around Patrick Mahomes After Injury
The Chiefs and Bengals have built one of the NFL’s most heated rivalries over the past several seasons. The teams faced off in two high-stakes AFC Championship Games earlier this decade, and tensions have spilled onto social media more than once.
Cincinnati wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase previously made headlines when he said he was rooting for “anyone but the Chiefs” during a postseason race.
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce added fuel to the fire when he famously called Cincinnati’s mayor a “jabroni” after a playoff win.
Still, moments of goodwill have emerged amid the rivalry. When Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury in 2023, Chiefs fans responded by donating to Burrow’s charity in $9 increments, a nod to his jersey number.
Now, Bengals fans are returning that same gesture.
After Mahomes suffered a torn ACL late in the Dec. 14 game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Bengals supporters began donating $15 at a time to the 15 and Mahomies Foundation, a reference to Mahomes’ jersey number.
The X account Sleeper Bengals encouraged fans to participate, writing, “When Joe Burrow injured his wrist in 2023, Chiefs fans rallied together to donate money to both his foundation and his hunger relief, using $9 donations. With Patrick Mahomes now having to battle through an injury as well, I think #Bengals fans should look to donate to his own foundation, 15 and the Mahomies. Get well soon, Pat!”
One Bengals fan echoed the sentiment, commenting, “In. Was cool when they did it. Let’s send some back.”
Chiefs fans noticed. One responded directly to the post, writing, “I’ve seen some stuff in the last 24 hours that made me question NFL fans as a whole so 🥹 Thank you for this.”
What the 15 and Mahomies Foundation Supports
The 15 and Mahomies Foundation, founded by Mahomes and his wife, Brittany, in 2019, focuses on helping children and families in underserved communities. The organization focuses on health, wellness, education, and providing basic resources to kids who need them most.
Rather than spreading itself thin, the foundation concentrates on hands-on programs. Those include “Read for 15,” which encourages daily reading; “Volunteer for 15,” which promotes community service; and “15 for 15,” a program that awards grants to 15 youth-focused charities each year.
The foundation has continued to expand its reach. At its sixth annual gala, more than $1.5 million was distributed to 27 Kansas City-area charities. The organization has also partnered with Food Allergy Research & Education through the “15 and FARE” initiative, helping raise awareness and provide resources for families managing food allergies.
Additional efforts include working with the HALO Foundation to provide new wardrobes for homeless children, launching a scholarship program for students in Kansas City, Tyler County, Texas, and Lubbock County, Texas, and opening the “15 and the Mahomies Field” at High Point Village in Lubbock.
Fans can donate to 15 and the Mahomies here.
Travis Kelce Calls Patrick Mahomes a ‘Fearless Warrior’
While fans across the league have shown support, Mahomes’ teammates have been vocal as well. Kelce addressed the injury on the Dec. 17 episode of the “New Heights” podcast, which he co-hosts with his brother Jason Kelce.
“Obviously, we lost our quarterback, man. Patty Mahomes, our guy, our brother, our fearless leader, our face of the franchise, and, to an ACL,” Kelce said. “It’s never easy seeing your guys go down. We had a bunch of guys get hurt this past game, and we fought, man. We fought.”
Kelce described the moment Mahomes went down as hard to process.
“And on a freakish play to see one five go down like that, man, it (expletive), it was almost like it wasn’t real. And (expletive) just sucks, man,” he said.
After confirming that the surgery “went well,” Kelce praised Mahomes’ mindset.
“He’s a warrior, man. I’m telling you. This guy’s played through everything, battled through everything, has been crowned champion because he’s battled through everything, and he’s gonna battle through this,” Kelce said. “He’s a fearless, fearless warrior when it comes to this football thing, and he’s gonna make sure that he comes back stronger than ever.”
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