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Travis Kelce rejected teammate Patrick Mahomes’ ESPYs request because he didn’t want to be ‘a sucker for attention’
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid gave a gracious speech full of praise of his quarterback
TRAVIS Kelce rejected a request from Patrick Mahomes to collect his Best Male Athlete award at the 2024 ESPYs.
The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback won the show's biggest honor for the second successive year on Thursday evening.
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But Mahomes was not present at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, California, to collect the award.
Instead Chiefs head coach Andy Reid went up on stage to receive the trophy on Mahomes' behalf.
The U.S. Sun can reveal that Mahomes asked Kelce if he would do the honors.
But the Chiefs tight end politely turned down the request.
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"Mahomes asked Kelce, after he told him that he couldn’t make it, to go in case he wins the Athlete of the Year award, to get the award in the stage for him in case he won," according to a well-placed insider.
"Kelce didn’t feel like doing it, to not look like a 'sucker for attention'."
Instead, Reid gave a very gracious speech on stage.
“Listen, I am honored to be here, to pick up this award for Patrick,” he said.
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“I’ve around this kid for a few years now and to watch him grow as a football player, as a teammate and as a leader has been phenomenal.
"But really more than that to watch him grow as a father and as a husband. That’s been probably the best part of that.”
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Mahomes also won the Best NFL Player award in recognition of his Super Bowl heroics.
Reid continued his praise for his superstar QB in a heartfelt two-minute speech.
“[This award] is a real tribute to him. We’re very lucky to have him in Kansas City," he added.
"All of us are in the National Football League really, but in Kansas City we appreciate all he does for the city in itself and obviously for the organization.”
Reid added that Mahomes wanted to make it known that his trophy was a "team award."
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"He wanted me to make sure that I say that," Reid said.
"He is all about the team."
The Chiefs will start their training camp next week.
Kansas City's rookies are scheduled to report on Tuesday, July 16.
The team's veterans will join them four days later.
Mahomes seems excited to see the Chiefs prospects in action.
He recently predicted that running back and ex-rugby player Louis Rees-Zammit could take the league by storm.
"He's been playing at running back, plus a lot of special teams," the quarterback revealed.
Patrick Mahomes' endorsements
Patrick Mahomes earns over $50 million per season from his Kansas City Chiefs contract.
But the superstar quarterback also cashes in on his brand off the field.
Mahomes has a reported net worth of $70 million.
And that's in no small part down to some of the brand he endorses.
The Chiefs star is the face of Adidas in the United States and appears in State Farm commercials.
He also pops up on adverts for Subway and Head and Shoulders.
Mahomes also became the face of energy drink Prime, which is owned by Logan Paul and KSI.
"He can catch - it looks different, he catches it like a rugby ball. But he just never drops it.
"The best part about it is he works his tail off. He understands he needs to get better.
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"The athletic ability is unreal, he runs 24mph. My boy is fast.
"Give him some space and he'll make stuff happen."