​How Patrick Mahomes stood by Brittany Mahomes through grief, criticism and some of her toughest times(Image via Imago)Patrick Mahomes and Brittany Mahomes have spent much of their relationship growing up together in the public eye. But fame has also brought difficult moments that had nothing to do with football. In November 2018, Brittany suffered a sudden family loss at Arrowhead Stadium. Years later, she faced relentless online criticism as Patrick became one of the NFL's biggest stars. In both situations, Brittany has described Patrick as someone who helped her handle moments that could have easily overwhelmed her.Patrick Mahomes stepped away from the spotlight when Brittany faced a family tragedyThe most painful moment came on Nov. 11, 2018, when the Kansas City Chiefs hosted the Arizona Cardinals at Arrowhead Stadium. Patrick was in only his second NFL season, but he had already become the center of Kansas City's high-powered offense. Brittany was also at the stadium that afternoon with her family, including her stepfather, Paul Massey.Before kickoff, Massey collapsed outside Arrowhead Stadium. Emergency responders arrived and attempted to revive him, but he later died. Brittany rushed toward the entrance after learning that something had happened to her stepfather. She later shared an emotional Instagram post about the tragedy, remembering Massey and promising to take care of her mother.Patrick, meanwhile, had no idea what was happening while the game was underway. The Chiefs went on to beat Arizona 26-14, with Mahomes throwing two touchdown passes. His second scoring pass gave him 31 touchdowns for the season, setting a Chiefs single-season record at the time.The achievement, however, was quickly overshadowed by devastating news.After the game, Chiefs coach Andy Reid told Mahomes about Massey's death in the tunnel. Mahomes later explained that the news was shocking because he had not known about the situation during the game. He also remembered Massey warmly, calling him “a great man” and “a great stepdad for Brittany.”That was when Mahomes' priorities changed. He skipped his usual postgame news conference and left the stadium instead of staying behind to discuss another impressive performance.The following day, November 12, Reid addressed the situation during his press conference. The longtime Chiefs coach offered his condolences to Brittany's family and confirmed that he had spoken with Mahomes.“We’re sorry to hear about what took place yesterday,” Reid said. “Our prayers and blessings are with the family. I’ve talked to Patrick and they’re doing well for the circumstance that took place.”Reid also made it clear that Mahomes could step away from football if he needed to. When asked whether the tragedy could affect his preparation for the Chiefs' upcoming game against the Los Angeles Rams, Reid said, “If he has to, that’s not a big deal.”That response captured something important about the situation. Mahomes had just completed one of the biggest games of his young career, but the record and the victory no longer mattered as much as what Brittany and her family were facing. He had learned about the loss only after the final whistle, and once he knew, he chose not to remain in front of the cameras.For Brittany, the loss was far more than a difficult day around a football game. It was the sudden death of someone she loved. Patrick could not change what had happened, but his decision to step away from the normal postgame routine showed where his attention was once the news reached him.Brittany Mahomes revealed how Patrick Mahomes helped her handle life under the NFL spotlightThat was not the only difficult period Brittany experienced alongside Patrick Mahomes. As his career grew, so did the attention surrounding their relationship. Mahomes became a two-time Super Bowl champion and one of the most recognizable athletes in the country, while Brittany also became a familiar face to NFL fans.With that attention came criticism. Brittany has spoken about how difficult social media could be, particularly when strangers formed opinions about her without knowing her personally.During an August 2024 appearance on the WHOOP podcast, Brittany explained how Patrick helped her develop a tougher approach to the criticism.“He is very good at blocking people out so having him beside me has helped,” Brittany said during the podcast.She then shared the advice Patrick had given her repeatedly: “The main thing he always told me is to stop caring what people think, especially the people that don’t even know you.”The advice was simple, but Brittany said it changed her outlook. She acknowledged that social media used to affect her much more. Eventually, she became more comfortable ignoring comments from people outside her life and focusing on the people who actually know her.Brittany also spoke about becoming more confident in herself, her relationship with Patrick and the life they had created together. That confidence mattered because Patrick's NFL success meant their private lives rarely stayed completely private.Their relationship had started long before that level of attention. They began dating as teenagers, years before Patrick entered the NFL. When the Chiefs selected him in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, their lives began changing quickly. His success brought championships, endorsements and a huge following, and Brittany experienced much of that attention alongside him.That shared history helps put her later comments into perspective. Patrick was not simply someone who appeared in her life after he became famous. He had already been there through a deeply painful family moment in 2018, and years later, he became someone she could rely on while learning how to handle the less visible pressures that came with NFL fame.The two moments were completely different. One involved sudden grief and the loss of a family member. The other involved the emotional toll of being constantly judged online. Yet Brittany's message remained consistent: having Patrick beside her made those difficult periods easier to face.For Mahomes who spends most Sundays carrying the weight of an entire franchise, Patrick's most meaningful role for Brittany has often come away from the football field. His support did not erase her hardest moments, but, by Brittany's own account, it helped her get through them.