Kansas City’s Own St. Patrick? How Mahomes Became the Face of St. Paddy’s Day Celebrations

Kansas City’s connection to St. Patrick’s Day runs deep, rooted in the city’s Irish heritage that dates back to the mid-1800s when Irish immigrants helped shape local communities like Westport and Independence. This long-standing connection is celebrated annually through one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the United States. Since its inception in 1974, the parade has attracted around 200,000 spectators, making it one of the top 10 parades in the nation. It’s a vibrant celebration that fills the streets with floats, music, and plenty of green, reflecting the city’s Celtic pride. The Kansas City Irish Center and various community organizations continue to preserve and promote this Irish legacy, cementing St. Patrick’s Day as a key cultural event in the city’s calendar.

But in recent years, there’s been a new twist to Kansas City’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations — one that involves a local hero whose name is almost as synonymous with the holiday as the saint himself: Patrick Mahomes, quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Mahomes Effect: Kansas City’s Own St. Patrick

While the Chiefs are not the official organizers of St. Patrick’s Day events, their star quarterback’s name has made him an integral part of the holiday’s celebrations. This connection, although largely coincidental, is embraced by fans and the team alike. In 2024, for example, T-shirts bearing the phrase “Kansas City has our own St. Patrick,” featuring a playful image of Mahomes, were sold in honor of the holiday, tapping into the synergy between Mahomes’ first name and the Irish icon.

This clever marketing is not an isolated effort. On March 17, 2024, the Kansas City Chiefs celebrated the holiday by sharing a video of Mahomes’ top 10 plays from the 2023 Super Bowl campaign. The video highlighted his critical role in the team’s championship run, cleverly tying his on-field success with the festive spirit of St. Patrick’s Day. Fans also flocked to local stores and online retailers to purchase Mahomes-themed St. Patrick’s Day merchandise, such as green T-shirts that capitalize on his name, selling for around $25 to $28. These shirts have become a popular way for fans to combine their loyalty to the Chiefs with their celebration of Irish culture.

The Chiefs have also embraced the playful side of this connection through social media. In 2021, they posted a humorous mashup video of Mahomes and the beloved character Patrick from SpongeBob SquarePants, correcting the pronunciation of Mahomes’ name in the context of St. Patrick’s Day. This lighthearted engagement with fans has become a regular part of the team’s social media strategy, further solidifying Mahomes as the face of Kansas City’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities.

A Historical Coincidence

Though the connection between Mahomes and the holiday is largely based on his name, there is an intriguing historical coincidence. On March 17, 1997 — St. Patrick’s Day — the Chiefs signed free-agent quarterback Elvis Grbac. While this is a noteworthy event in the team’s history, it’s unlikely that the signing was motivated by any particular association with the holiday. Still, the timing of the transaction adds an extra layer of coincidence to the Chiefs’ ties to St. Patrick’s Day, even if it doesn’t hold the same significance as Mahomes’ connection.

Exploring Other Irish Connections

Despite the playful links between Mahomes and St. Patrick’s Day, further investigation reveals no substantial Irish ties within the team’s ownership or player roster. The Chiefs’ ownership, led by Clark Hunt, has no clear Irish heritage, and players like Bobby Hunt or Mike Livingston, though possibly bearing names of Celtic origin, are more likely of English or Scottish descent. Additionally, no special Irish-themed promotions or jerseys are associated with the team for St. Patrick’s Day, and the official Chiefs website makes little to no reference to the holiday.

The city’s Irish festival, the Kansas City Irish Fest, held annually over Labor Day weekend, celebrates Irish culture but does not have an official connection with the Chiefs. The event focuses on Irish music, culture, and history, without a direct tie to the team’s fanbase or activities. While this points to Kansas City’s embracing of its Irish identity, it also underscores that the Chiefs’ role in St. Patrick’s Day celebrations is mostly driven by Mahomes’ name and his popularity, rather than any deep-rooted institutional connection.

A Symbol of Kansas City’s Community Spirit

So, while Patrick Mahomes may not have direct Irish ancestry, he has become an unofficial symbol of St. Patrick’s Day in Kansas City. His name and association with one of the city’s most beloved institutions — the Chiefs — have made him the face of local celebrations. Whether through festive T-shirts, social media posts, or simply his status as Kansas City’s favorite athlete, Mahomes has seamlessly blended his athletic achievements with the city’s Irish heritage, making him an integral part of the community’s St. Patrick’s Day traditions. It’s a celebration that unites sports and culture in a way only Kansas City can, and one that continues to grow stronger each year.