Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is once again a nominee for a prestigious NFL award and it’s one that he’s never won before.
The NFL announced all 32 nominees for the 2024 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award on Monday, with Mahomes set to represent Kansas City. The Chiefs nominated Mahomes. The award annually recognizes individuals around the league who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship, both on the field and off of it, including fair play, respect for the game, respect for opponents, and respect for the integrity of the competition. The award was established in 2015 after the founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers owner, Art Rooney.
“Sportsmanship is at the very core of the game, the foundation of our values that are shared across all levels of the sport,” said Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice president of football operations, via press release. “These Rooney Sportsmanship Award nominees demonstrate to the world how the game is played with respect and integrity at the highest level of competition.”
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes has been nominated for this award three times before (2019, 2020, and 2021), but he’s never won the award, let alone made it to the finalist round. In 2019, it was awarded to Washington RB Adrian Peterson. In 2020, it was awarded to Panthers QB Teddy Bridgewater. In 2021, it was awarded to Patriots special teams ace Matthew Slater. Last season, Chiefs CB Trent McDuffie was nominated for the award. The season prior, LB Nick Bolton was the nominee for Kansas City.
A panel of former players from the NFL Legends Community will select eight finalists, with an even split between AFC and NFC conferences from the 32 nominees. The eight finalists will be listed on the Pro Bowl ballot under the NFL Sportsmanship Award category when players vote on annual awards in December. That group of NFL Legends includes Warrick Dunn, Larry Fitzgerald, Pro Football Hall of Famer Curtis Martin, and Leonard Wheeler.
Mahomes garners a ton of respect from his peers around the league, especially on the gridiron, but also for the way he conducts himself and competes any given week. While he’s solely focused on competing for a third consecutive Super Bowl title, perhaps this is the year he’s finally recognized for the award.
