Patrick Mahomes Will Be the Chiefs’ Backup Punter on Sunday: ‘He Can Do It All’

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Kansas City's special teams coordinator revealed to reporters on Thursday that the quarterback is the team's emergency punter

<p>Kyle Rivas/Getty</p> Patrick Mahomes photographed in Kansas City, Missouri on June 15, 2023

Kyle Rivas/Getty

Patrick Mahomes photographed in Kansas City, Missouri on June 15, 2023

Kansas City Chiefs fans are used to Patrick Mahomes’ improvisatory style, but last week, the team nearly called an audible on using the quarterback himself as their backup punter.

With punter Tommy Townsend's participation questionable for the game against the Denver Broncos after suffering a left knee injury during practice, Chiefs coaches deliberated whether to sign a free-agent punter to the team.

Townsend ended up playing in the game — which the Chiefs won 19-8 — but special teams coordinator Dave Toub later revealed to reporters the surprising identity of the team’s emergency kicker.

"The backup punter? Yeah, we had a plan," Toub said in a press release shared on the Chiefs' official website. "We had a plan, and believe it or not, [Patrick Mahomes] is our backup punter."

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On Thursday, when Toub’s comments were reported, Mahomes, 28, added his own kicker.

“I been trying to tell yall!!!” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Mahomes has been honing his skills since high school in Texas.

<p>Christian Petersen/Getty</p> Patrick Mahomes photographed in Glendale, Arizona on Feb. 12, 2023

Christian Petersen/Getty

Patrick Mahomes photographed in Glendale, Arizona on Feb. 12, 2023

While attending Whitehouse High School, he was a three-sport star who averaged 37.8 yards per punt, and even had a long kick of 71 yards, according to MaxPreps.

“I still got it,” Mahomes said on the NFL's SiriusXM show with Alex Marvez and Charles Davis last year. “I still work on it probably about twice a week, you know, just in case.”

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As far as this week’s game goes, Mahomes’ feet-first heroics will likely continue to live in the shadows of Arrowhead Stadium.

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Townsend is on the injury report, but Toub is confident he will play when the Chiefs take on the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, according to ESPN.

But in a pinch, Mahomes has his coach’s endorsement.

“He can do it,” Toub said. “He shows me all the time. He’s out there going on Saturday hitting punts. He can do it all, that guy."

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