A picture is worth a thousand words — and so is a Super Bowl screengrab.
NFL Films captured Patrick Mahomes’ reaction to the 49ers’ decision to receive the ball first in overtime of Super Bowl 2024, a fateful move that would eventually help seal the Chiefs’ fate as repeat champions.
Appearing at midfield for the overtime coin toss with San Francisco linebacker Fred Warner, the star Kansas City quarterback conveyed subtle shock as the 49ers elected to receive the ball first.
“There aren’t many things that can happen on a football field that catch Patrick Mahomes by surprise, but this — this surprised him,” the narrator said.
Though overtime rules in the playoffs have evolved in recent years, allowing both teams to have possession of the ball and therefore, a chance to score, the 49ers were held to a field goal during their opportunity.
The Chiefs then orchestrated a game-winning touchdown drive with Mahomes tossing a three-yard pass to wide receiver Mecole Hardman in the endzone that put Kansas City on top, 25-22.
As for the 49ers, their offseason began with much discussion about the controversial overtime move, with some San Francisco players remarking they were unaware that both teams got at least one opportunity in extra minutes.
“You know what? I didn’t even realize the playoff rules were different in overtime,” 49ers full back Kyle Juszczyk told reporters postgame, according to ESPN. “I assume you just want the ball to score a touchdown and win. I guess that’s not the case. I don’t totally know the strategy there. We hadn’t talked about it, no.”
Defensive lineman Arik Armstead told the media he wasn’t privy to the rules until seeing it on the scoreboard at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
“I didn’t even know about the new playoff overtime rule, so it was a surprise to me,” Armstead said.
The overtime rules were changed after a 2021 divisional round game between the Chiefs and Bills, in which Kansas City won the coin toss in overtime and scored, with Buffalo’s offensive never touching the ball again.
Though Mahomes, 28, kept something of a poker face when digesting the 49ers’ decision, teammate Travis Kelce was more blunt in his assessment following the game.
“You win the coin toss, that’s what you get,” the Chiefs tight end said on last week’s installment of his “New Heights” podcast. “You get the opportunity to have the advantage and they handed it right over to us.
The Chiefs, who have won three championships in five seasons — including Super Bowl 2020 against the 49ers — are now setting their sights on a three-peat.
