How Alex Smith helped Patrick Mahomes succeed despite knowing he would eventually take his Chiefs job(Getty)Patrick Mahomes’ NFL journey is filled with spectacular throws, championships and individual records, but his rise began with a veteran quarterback who had every reason to protect his own position. When the Kansas City Chiefs traded up to select Mahomes with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Alex Smith was still their established starter. The young quarterback was not drafted simply to sit behind Smith forever. Kansas City viewed him as the future, which meant Smith knew his time with the franchise could eventually come to an end.Instead of treating Mahomes as a rival, Smith decided to help him. He reached out shortly after the draft, welcomed him into the organization and offered to teach him everything he could. That decision eventually became one of the most important parts of Mahomes’ development. Years later, Chiefs coach Andy Reid summed up the value of that relationship perfectly: “Patrick couldn't pay Alex enough for what he gave him with that experience.”How Alex Smith welcomed the quarterback who was supposed to replace himThe circumstances surrounding Patrick Mahomes’ arrival made Smith’s approach particularly impressive. The Chiefs had just finished a 12-4 season, while Smith was coming off one of the best statistical seasons of his career. He threw for 4,042 yards, 26 touchdowns and only five interceptions, and Kansas City reached the playoffs again. Even with that success, the organization decided to invest heavily in its future by trading up 17 spots to select Mahomes.Smith understood the situation immediately. Mahomes was not just another young quarterback joining the room. He was the player the Chiefs hoped would eventually become their franchise quarterback.Smith could have kept his distance, but he chose a different approach. Soon after the draft, he contacted Mahomes and tried to remove some of the awkwardness surrounding the situation. Smith later explained that he wanted to be honest with the rookie rather than allow the circumstances to create unnecessary tension.“Sometimes it can be awkward,” Smith said. “You just kind of embrace that and be real.” He told Mahomes that he wanted him to enjoy the experience of being drafted and assured him they would have plenty of time to get to know each other.Mahomes immediately appreciated the gesture. He said Smith told him to work as hard as possible and promised that he would be in his corner and try to teach him along the way.That set the tone for their entire season together. Mahomes was competing every day, but Smith never treated his presence as something that needed to be feared. Instead, he gave the rookie access to the experience he had built over more than a decade in the NFL.Andy Reid later explained that Smith was never instructed to become Mahomes’ mentor. He simply chose to do it.“He wasn't asked to do this,” Reid said. “Alex kind of let him tag along on and off the field and showed him how to be a pro.”What Patrick Mahomes learned from Alex SmithSmith’s influence went much deeper than helping Mahomes understand the Chiefs’ playbook. He showed the young quarterback how much preparation was required to become a reliable NFL starter.Mahomes spent his rookie season watching Smith prepare for games and studying how the veteran approached each week. Smith helped him understand how to break down film, what details to look for in opposing defenses and how to organize his preparation before Sunday.Mahomes later explained that Smith gave him a blueprint for approaching the week. He learned which film to watch on different days, how to prepare properly for practice and how to build a game plan instead of simply relying on his natural ability. Smith also taught him how to recognize subtle details in defensive fronts that could reveal where pressure was coming from.Those lessons were particularly valuable for Mahomes because he arrived in Kansas City with extraordinary physical talent but needed time to adjust to the professional game. At Texas Tech, he had operated in a spread offense and had not taken many of the traditional NFL snaps that quarterbacks were expected to handle. The Chiefs knew he needed development, which was one reason having Smith around became so important.Smith also showed Mahomes what being a professional looked like away from the field. Reid said the veteran helped the rookie understand his diet, workout routine and how to balance family life with the demands of an NFL career. Those were lessons Mahomes could carry with him long after his time as Smith’s backup ended.Mahomes understood how unusual that opportunity was.“It was stuff that takes your full career to learn, and he taught me that in my first year,” Mahomes said.He also described the smaller details Smith taught him as invaluable, particularly when it came to reading defenses and understanding what opponents were trying to do before the snap.Alex Smith helped Patrick Mahomes prepare for the opportunity that ended his own Chiefs careerThe beauty of their relationship was that Smith was not teaching Mahomes in some distant future when there was no personal risk involved. He was helping him while the Chiefs were actively preparing for a transition at quarterback.Smith continued to perform well during Mahomes’ rookie season, but the young quarterback was developing rapidly behind him. By the end of the year, Kansas City had enough confidence in Mahomes to make him the starter and trade Smith to Washington.The progress could easily have created resentment. However, Smith had already done his part. He had given Mahomes the knowledge and habits needed to take over.ESPN described Smith as someone who viewed Mahomes as a teammate rather than a rival. He helped the rookie understand how to study opponents, prepare every day and approach the position like a professional.Andy Reid later recalled that Smith never allowed the situation to become a distraction.“I don't think he flinched; he was great with Patrick,” Reid said. “He wasn't afraid to share with Patrick. He didn't have to be and he wasn't asked to do that, but that's just the person he is.”That generosity became even more remarkable when Mahomes immediately delivered at a historic level.In his first season as Kansas City’s full-time starter, Mahomes threw for 5,097 yards and 50 touchdowns. He won the NFL MVP award and led the Chiefs to the AFC Championship Game. The player who had spent an entire season learning from Smith was suddenly one of the league’s biggest stars.The success did not make Mahomes forget where part of his foundation came from. He continued to speak about Smith with enormous respect and acknowledged how fortunate he was to have had such a veteran around him during his first year.“I knew I was blessed to be in a situation where I was behind him in this organization,” Mahomes said.How Alex Smith’s generosity became part of Patrick Mahomes’ storySmith’s time with the Chiefs eventually ended, but his relationship with Mahomes did not disappear. When Mahomes reached the Super Bowl with Kansas City, Smith reached out to congratulate his former understudy. Their connection had moved beyond the normal relationship between a starter and a backup.That is what makes this story so meaningful. Smith did not know exactly how quickly Mahomes would take over, but he understood that the young quarterback represented the future. Rather than allowing that reality to make him bitter, Smith chose to make Mahomes better.His influence also extended beyond football technique. He showed Mahomes how to prepare, how to study, how to take care of his body and how to conduct himself around teammates and fans. Mahomes was given an opportunity to watch an established NFL quarterback handle responsibilities that can take young players years to understand.Smith helped develop the quarterback who would eventually take his starting position, and Mahomes went on to build one of the most successful careers of his generation. Yet Smith’s contribution should not be reduced to helping a future superstar improve his game. His decision revealed something about his character. He understood that another player’s success did not have to diminish his own career, even when that player was eventually going to replace him.Mahomes brought extraordinary talent to Kansas City, but talent alone does not explain how quickly he adapted to the NFL. He had an entire rookie season to watch Smith prepare and learn the details of professional quarterback play. He absorbed those lessons before receiving the keys to the Chiefs’ offense.Hence, Reid’s words remain so fitting. “Patrick couldn't pay Alex enough for what he gave him with that experience.”What started as a mentorship eventually became a genuine friendship that lasted beyond their time together in Kansas City. Smith continued to support Mahomes after leaving the Chiefs, including reaching out to congratulate him when he reached the Super Bowl. For Mahomes, Smith was no longer simply the veteran who had taught him how to prepare for an NFL game. He had become a trusted friend and someone he continued to respect deeply. Their story shows how a friendship can grow from one person simply choosing to help another, even when there was nothing obvious to gain in return.