Football
Since his injury and fall in production last season, Patrick Mahomes has faced more doubt than at any point in his tenure with the Kansas City Chiefs. However, veteran analyst Colin Cowherd may have taken it a step too far.
With left tackle Josh Simmons likely missing the Week 1 game against the Denver Broncos, there has been speculation about how it could affect the two-time MVP. But when the radio Hall of Famer picked Justin Herbert over him, fans were left aghast at the disrespect.
Football Fans Incensed About Colin Cowherd’s Patrick Mahomes Comments
Returning from a torn ACL that had his status for Week 1 in question throughout the offseason has already been a miraculous turnaround for Mahomes. But coming into the game against a team that had 68 sacks last season without its starting left tackle complicates matters even further.
However, Cowherd took it a step too far on the latest episode of “The Herd.” He tried to use the missing left tackle as an argument for Herbert over Mahomes, citing the Los Angeles Chargers’ injuries to the offensive line last season.
“When Justin Herbert is missing a left tackle, he makes the playoffs. When Mahomes doesn’t have a left tackle, he doesn’t,” Cowherd claimed. “That’s his kryptonite.”
START PREPARING: PFN’s Free Fantasy Draft Simulator
Unfortunately, fans found his take to be revisionist of the actual NFL history.
Matt Verderame of SI Now was stunned by the claim, arguing, “This has to be one of the most disingenuous things I’ve ever seen. Mahomes won three SBs with three different LTs, including spare parts all over the line around them. What are we doing? I feel like I don’t cover the same sport as other people.”
This has to be one of the most disingenuous things I’ve ever seen.
Mahomes won three SBs with three different LTs including spare parts all over the line around them.
What are we doing? I feel like I don’t cover the same sport as other people https://t.co/ErTJYTQQDG
— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) September 9, 2026
But rather than go back and cover the length and breadth of Mahomes’ career to include all three Super Bowl victories, Chase Snyder pointed to the most recent time the Chiefs reached the Super Bowl.
BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM: PFN’s Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator
“The Chiefs had four starting left tackles the year he went 15-1 and went to their third consecutive Super Bowl after winning back-to-back titles. What are we doing?” Snyder asked.
The Chiefs had four starting left tackles the year he went 15-1 and went to their third consecutive Super Bowl after winning back to back titles. What are we doing. https://t.co/ZioKTL8Lif
— Chase Snyder (@ChasingSnyder) September 9, 2026
The claim felt so bizarre for those who had followed the Chiefs regularly that Joshua Brisco admitted to being “ashamed” to even acknowledge Cowherd’s comments. He wrote, “This is obviously so factually incorrect that I’m almost ashamed to even acknowledge it.”
this is obviously so factually incorrect that i’m almost ashamed to even acknowledge it https://t.co/Krf1OKwQS1 pic.twitter.com/G4sXv1imjk
— Joshua Brisco (@jbbrisco) September 9, 2026
Bleacher Report’s Daniel Harms, too, was aghast at the comments from Cowherd, directly calling him out, “*checks the Chiefs LT history since the Eric Fisher days*. I suggest you check your facts on that one, Colin. Dumbest thing I’ve seen from this account in a while, which is saying something.”
As one fan called his comments “bafflingly stupid,” others referred to them as “ very shameless.”
All across social media, it was hard to find any defense for Cowherd’s premise, given the history of Mahomes and his offensive line concerns.
PREDICT THE NFL SEASON: PFN’s Free NFL Playoff Predictor
One fan pointed to the timeline of the last four years, where the three-time Super Bowl champion also lacked a true superstar wide receiver talent after the Chiefs traded away Tyreek Hill.
“He’s had 10 different starting left tackles since 2022 and won 2 Super Bowls, along with 3 AFC Championships. Stop the nonsense, Colin!”
He’s had 10 different starting left tackles since 2022 and won 2 Superbowls along with 3 AFC Championships. Stop the nonsense, Colin! 🤣
— 🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@makinithappin) September 9, 2026
Rather than argue the facts, though, one fan turned sarcastic against the veteran analyst: “Yeah, watch me just make up a bunch of [expletive] when I could check the facts and see I’m completely wrong.”
Others followed a similar train of thought as well, as one fan called out, “I honestly don’t think @colincowherd watches any games, he just says dumb [expletive] for clicks.”
According to PFN’s Team OL Impact Metric, the Chiefs’ offensive line posted an impact score of 74.1 last season, ranking 20th in the league.
It remains to be seen whether the comments from Cowherd line up with the post-injury version of Mahomes we are going to see this season. But before this year, it felt impossible to argue that the circumstances surrounding the roster had affected his ability to lead the team in any significant way.
Read More Priyanshu Choudhary