Patrick Mahomes burst into tears after his daughter asked him: If you could go back, would you choose me or football?

Above the cloudy skies of Kansas City, Patrick Mahomes found himself facing the greatest dilemma of his life when his daughter Sterling looked at him and asked softly, “If you could go back in time, would you choose football or me?” In this deeply moving moment, Patrick faced not his opponents on the field, but a profound choice between his passion and the love of his life—his family.

The sun gently set over the Kansas City skyline, painting the sky shades of orange and purple, as Patrick sat with his daughter Sterling, who at three years old was curious and wise beyond her years. They had spent a rare, uninterrupted day together—no practice, no media obligations, just father and daughter exploring their favorite spots around town.

Sterling’s small fingers nervously tugged at the tiny necklace she wore, a gift from Patrick on her last birthday. She was quieter than usual, and Patrick noticed the thoughtful expression on her little face. He knew something important was on her mind.

“Daddy?” Sterling finally broke the silence, her voice tender yet hesitant.

“Yes, sweetheart?” Patrick replied gently, sensing her apprehension.

Sterling took a deep breath, looking up at her father with large, sincere eyes. “If you could go back in time, would you choose football or me?”

The smile faded from Patrick’s face. A powerful silence enveloped them, and memories flashed through his mind—the birthdays he’d missed because of NFL playoffs, the bedtime stories he had to tell via FaceTime, the first steps Sterling took while he was traveling for a game. The simplicity and weight of her question struck him deeply.

Patrick collected his thoughts, then took Sterling’s small hands into his own, turning fully to face her.

“Sterling, let me tell you a story,” Patrick began, gazing thoughtfully at the twilight horizon. “When I was young, just a little older than you, I had a big dream. Do you know what that was?”

Sterling shook her head, eyes wide with curiosity.

“I dreamed of becoming a great football player, just like your grandpa. People said it would be hard, that I might not make it. But do you know who always believed in me, no matter what? Your grandma and grandpa. They sacrificed so much to help me follow my dreams.”

“What’s sacrifice?” Sterling asked softly.

Patrick smiled warmly, pulling her closer. “Sacrifice is giving up something you love for something—or someone—you love even more. Grandma and Grandpa gave up time and comfort because they loved me, and I made sacrifices too, missing events and fun with friends because I was working hard to achieve my dreams.”

Sterling listened intently, her eyes reflecting the fading sunlight.

“But you know,” Patrick continued, his voice growing tender, “the greatest moment of my life wasn’t on a football field—it was the day you were born. Everything changed that day, Sterling. Suddenly, football wasn’t my entire world anymore. You were. Every touchdown, every victory—it’s all for you.”

Patrick pulled out a small charm from beneath his shirt, showing Sterling the initials ‘SM,’ engraved next to his heart. “See this? I wear this every game. It’s to remind me why I’m there, even when we’re apart. You’re always with me.”

Sterling stared at the charm, her small face thoughtful. “But do you regret football?” she asked softly.

Patrick paused, carefully choosing his words. “I don’t regret playing football, but I do regret every moment I missed with you. There were important times I can never get back, and that’s something I think about every day.”

Sterling looked concerned, sensing her father’s deep reflection.

“But you know what I’ve learned?” Patrick said, lifting Sterling onto his lap, looking deeply into her eyes. “It’s not about choosing between football and you. It’s about finding the right balance. Football gave me the chance to inspire others, to help people who needed hope. But you gave me purpose.”

“Purpose?” Sterling echoed, trying to understand.

“Yes,” Patrick nodded. “Purpose is why we do something important. Football is my passion, but you and our family are my purpose. Every time I’m away, every time I play, it’s because I want to build a better world for you.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small journal, showing Sterling the pages filled with dates and notes. “Look, sweetheart. These are all the important moments of your life—recitals, birthdays, your first words—that I missed or attended. I promised myself never to forget any of them.”

Sterling looked up, tears shimmering in her eyes. “Daddy, you don’t need to do this. I understand.”

Patrick smiled tenderly. “I need you to know how much you mean to me. You’re my greatest joy. Everything I do, I do for you. And from now on, I’ll make sure football never comes before the moments that matter most with you.”

Sterling wrapped her arms tightly around her father, burying her face in his shoulder. “I just wanted to be sure you loved me more than football,” she whispered.

Patrick hugged her close, his heart swelling with emotion. “Football is what I do, Sterling, but being your dad—that’s who I am. Every day, I choose you.”

As the sky darkened, stars beginning to twinkle overhead, father and daughter sat quietly together, wrapped in the warmth of their bond. Below them, the city lights sparkled like jewels, a reflection of the future they were building together—one in which passion and family would coexist, harmoniously balanced.

Hand in hand, Patrick and Sterling walked back toward home, ready to embrace a new chapter in their lives, defined not by sacrifices alone, but by the unwavering love that connected them.

Patrick Mahomes’ Daughter Sterling, 3, Sweetly Cheers for Him During Chiefs-Texans Game

Sterling joined her mom and brother Bronze to watch the game at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21

Patrick Mahomes and Sterling Mahomes. Photo: Getty;Brittany Mahomes/Instagram

Patrick Mahomes’ biggest fan just might be his daughter!

The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, 29, played against the Houston Texans on Saturday, Dec. 21, and his wife, Brittany Mahomes, brought the whole family to Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., to cheer on Patrick.

Brittany, also 29, shared several real-time videos and photos from the game on her Instagram Stories. The first featured a clip of the couple’s 3-year-old daughter, Sterling Skye, wearing a cozy white hat and a Chiefs red long-sleeved shirt while excitedly clapping her hands as her dad’s face appeared on the Jumbotron. Sterling could also be seen cutely clutching her mom’s hand in the moments beforehand as they sat inside a stadium suite.

Sterling Mahomes at Arrowhead Stadium on Dec. 21, 2024.Brittany Mahomes/Instagram

Brittany also shared an adorable photo of their 2-year-old son, Bronze, adorned in red and resting his head on his mom’s chest.

Bronze and Brittany Mahomes.Brittany Mahomes/Instagram

The former soccer player regularly brings her kids to games to show support for Patrick, with her little ones often spotted in ear-protecting headphones.

Patrick and Brittany Mahomes with their kids Bronze and Sterling in November 2024.Jamie Squire/Getty

And the Mahomes family fan club is about to get a little bigger: Brittany is pregnant and expecting the couple’s third baby. On Dec. 2, the expectant mom shared black-and-white maternity photos with her followers on Instagram. In the images, she could be seen cradling her belly in a long black maxi skirt and matching long-sleeved black shirt.

“Baby girl🥹🤍,” she captioned the post.

Patrick wasn’t the only player getting next-level support at the game. Taylor Swift was spotted entering Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday to cheer on her boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. The pop star bundled up in a stylish red coat and a black fur hat.

Patrick Mahomes. Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

The Chiefs were expected to face a tough opponent in their matchup against the Texans and already experienced an unexpected setback earlier this week when Patrick was sidelined due to an ankle injury during his team’s Dec. 15 game against the Cleveland Browns. It was unclear whether the quarterback would be able to play in Saturday’s game, but Chiefs coach Andy Reid confirmed that Patrick would be starting in a Thursday, Dec. 19 statement, according to ESPN.

“I’ve been through it with him before,” Reid said, referring to Patrick overcoming previous injuries. “And he amazed me every time he does it. The guy, he’s been so mentally tough and just puts it into a mindset that he has going into it [from] where he was a few days ago.”

And it seems betting on Patrick paid off: The Chiefs came out victorious in their Dec. 21 game, beating the Texans 27-19. This puts their record for the 2024-2025 NFL season at 14 wins and just one loss.