“I Want My Quarterback to Look Like Patrick Mahomes”: Shannon Sharpe Explains Why the ‘Dad Bod’ Works for QBs

Patrick Mahomes is already a five-time AFC champion and three-time Super Bowl champion in just seven years as a starter. However, the Kansas City Chiefs star’s physique still seems to be a topic of contention.

After a Kansas City sports radio host went on a rampage against his “dad bod”, fans and analysts alike jumped in to defend him. The radio host’s comments also caught the attention of Mahomes‘ trainer, Bobby Stroupe, who fired back in a since-deleted series of posts on X.

In the posts, Stroupe exclaimed that “Not everybody quits working out at the age of 30, Ben.” In a previous interview with People Magazine, Stroupe, when asked about Mahomes’ softer appearance, noted that “… There’s just not a lot of quarterbacks in the Hall of Fame that have a six-pack and there’s a reason for that.”

In the same vein, former TE Shannon Sharpe went as far as saying, “I want my quarterback to look like Patrick Mahomes,” before alluding to the fact that several of the best quarterbacks in NFL history do not look particularly good with their shirts off.

“I want my quarterback to look, with his shirt off, look like Tom Brady, look like Peyton Manning. That’s what I want my quarterback to look like. I don’t want no muscles, because I want him to be able to twist. I don’t want him straining no obliques,” elaborated Sharpe.

When Chad Johnson tried to clarify that, “So, you want your quarterback to have a Dad Bod?” Sharpe promptly stated, “Yes. Grandad if possible!”

According to Stroupe, an “NFL quarterback should have at least 14% body fat” if they hope to withstand multiple hits in the pocket.

“It’s not from an unhealthy standpoint, but from a force absorption standpoint. You have to be able to make contact.”

Given the unprecedented quality of Mahomes’ resume, there is no need for him to change his current regimen and routines. His abs may not be clearly defined, and his sides may be a bit doughy, but if a 5-2 record in conference championship games tells us anything, it’s that he is built to win.

The Chiefs are coming off one of the most lopsided losses in Super Bowl history. So there’s ample room for criticism right now, but the radio host’s comments remind us that there is a right way and a wrong way to offer feedback.