“We couldn’t be prouder”: How Patrick Mahomes and Brittany Mahomes’ $5 million act of kindness turned their Texas roots into a lasting legacy
Patrick Mahomes has built a remarkable football legacy, but some of his most meaningful moments have come away from the field. On Aug. 22, 2024, the Kansas City Chiefs star and his wife, Brittany Mahomes, made a $5 million contribution to Texas Tech’s South End Zone and Dustin R. Womble Football Center project. The gift helped push fundraising to $115 million and gave Mahomes another lasting connection to the university where his college football story began.
Patrick Mahomes and Brittany Mahomes turned their Texas connection into a lasting gift with their heartwarming effort
Texas Tech announced the $5 million contribution on Aug. 22, 2024, as the final gift for its Campaign for Fearless Champions. The campaign began in 2014, when Mahomes was only a freshman at the university.The $242 million project includes the South End Zone and Dustin R. Womble Football Center. Texas Tech originally set a $100 million fundraising goal for the project, but Mahomes’ contribution pushed the total to $115 million.The university also gave Patrick Mahomes and Brittany Mahomes a permanent place inside the new facilities. The walkthrough area in the Dustin R. Womble Football Center will carry his name. His name will also appear on the quarterback meeting room and the offensive coordinator’s office in the new South End Zone Building connected to Jones AT&T Stadium.Kirby Hocutt, Texas Tech’s director of athletics, spoke about the contribution in the university’s announcement.“When we first launched this campaign, Patrick was only a freshman and now it is fitting that we approach the end of the campaign with a gift of his own,” Hocutt said. “We couldn’t be prouder to announce this gift from Patrick and Brittany Mahomes.”The donation also connected with a much more personal part of Mahomes story. Patrick Mahomes was born in Tyler, Texas, and grew up in Whitehouse. Brittany Mahomes also attended Whitehouse High School, where the two met and began dating in 2012.Patrick Mahomes later took his football career to Texas Tech, playing for the Red Raiders from 2014 through 2016. That made the university an important part of his rise before Kansas City selected him 10th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Patrick Mahomes continued supporting Texas Tech after becoming an NFL star
Patrick Mahomes did not leave his connection to the Red Raiders behind when his NFL career took off. He returned to Texas Tech in 2022 for his induction into the school’s Hall of Fame and Ring of Honor during the Baylor game.He also continued making appearances at Red Raiders events when his Chiefs schedule allowed. Texas Tech noted that Mahomes attended road games at Houston in 2021 and Kansas in 2023. He has also supported the school’s basketball and baseball programs during the NFL offseason.Joey McGuire, Texas Tech’s head football coach, spoke about Mahomes’ support in the university’s August 22, 2024 announcement.“There isn’t a greater ambassador for Texas Tech Athletics than Patrick Mahomes,” McGuire said. He praised Mahomes for his success on the field and for what he and his family have done away from football.By August 2024, Mahomes had already won three Super Bowls with the Chiefs. He also earned Super Bowl MVP honors in each of those victories. Yet his connection to Texas Tech remained strong.The $5 million gift now gives that connection a permanent place on campus. The facilities will carry Mahomes’ name while supporting future Red Raiders, giving the university something that will remain long after his playing career ends.For Patrick and Brittany Mahomes, the contribution was a way to support a school that played a major role in Patrick’s development. Their Texas roots began in Whitehouse, his college story continued in Lubbock, and the $5 million gift brought those two parts of his life together in a lasting way.
