Patrick Mahomes became an unexpected talking point before the Kansas City Chiefs' Sunday night meeting with the Indianapolis Colts after television cameras caught the quarterback drinking from a small bottle shortly before kick-off.
The liquid appeared pale yellow on the broadcast, prompting viewers on social media to speculate about what Mahomes was consuming.
Some immediately claimed it was alcohol, with one repost captioned: 'Patrick Mahomes chugging vodka before the game.'
However, there was no evidence from the broadcast to establish that the drink contained alcohol. Reports following the game identified it as pickle juice, a substance that has been used by NFL players to help deal with muscle cramps.
The incident came as Mahomes continues his return from a serious knee injury. He tore his ACL and LCL during Kansas City's Week 15 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers last season before undergoing surgery.
Patrick Mahomes chugging vodka before the game 😭 pic.twitter.com/8Qnns7hjqj
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) September 21, 2026
Fans' Wild Speculations
The short video quickly went viral across social media. Some viewers joking about the apparent pre-game drink while others made more serious claims about Mahomes' family background.
'I would be too if I had to deal with his old lady,' one person wrote.
Another viewer referenced Mahomes' father, former Major League Baseball pitcher Pat Mahomes Sr., and his well-documented struggles with alcohol.
'Oh he'll [sic] no and his father is a alcoholic and he seen what he went through got dam and if this is the case thst [sic] he needs this thst [sic] bad I think his father was giving pat alcohol when he was a kid like beer and a shot of liquor on some occasions and when he got older it was on,' the viewer speculated.
Another fan joked: 'He finna [sic] get MVP while being buzzed in every game.'
The comments reflected the rapid speculation surrounding the footage, although there was no confirmed indication that Mahomes had consumed alcohol before the game.
The Chiefs have previously used pickle juice as part of their approach to dealing with cramps. The practice is familiar in American football, although research has not established pickle juice as a definitive treatment for preventing muscle cramps.
Mahomes Shines in Chiefs Victory
Whatever was in the bottle did not appear to affect Mahomes' performance. The quarterback completed 28 of 39 passes for 382 yards and three touchdowns as Kansas City defeated Indianapolis 33-30 in overtime at Arrowhead Stadium.
Harrison Butker ultimately sealed the victory with a 40-yard field goal as time expired. Travis Kelce was among Mahomes' key targets and scored his first touchdown of the 2026 season on a 13-yard reception. Jalen Royals also caught a touchdown pass, while Xavier Worthy added another score.
The victory moved Kansas City to 2-0 following its 31-10 win over the Denver Broncos in the season opener. That game marked Mahomes' first competitive appearance since his knee injury. He threw for 184 yards and two touchdowns against Denver while also rushing for a score.
Mahomes had spent the off-season working through rehabilitation after surgery and was cleared to play without an injury designation before the season began. His strong start has therefore shifted attention back towards his performances on the field, rather than the brief viral moment before kick-off.
