There are plenty of ways Patrick Mahomes stands out on the football field.
It could be his curly locks that poke out of the back of his helmet. It could be the sensational, no-look completions he makes. It could be his ability to come through in the clutch week in and week out.
However, one that stands out the most is his finger wiggling. The three-time Super Bowl champion has a habit of motioning his fingers at a rapid pace, leaving plenty of fans questioning what the act is for.
So why does Mahomes wiggle his fingers? The Sporting News explains.
MORE: Week 4 NFL Power Rankings | Week 4 NFL picks | Week 4 NFL picks against the spread
Why does Patrick Mahomes wiggle his fingers?
Chiefs players notice when their quarterback is motioning his fingers with his hands high up in the air. A number of them discussed the wiggling of the digits in a recent video for the 2024 season.
Kansas City head coach Andy Reid said that Mahomes "doesn't even know he's doing it." It's such a frequent occurrence on the field that at this point in his career, it has become reactionary for the star QB.
The simple answer? Mahomes is in the proverbial "zone." The fingers are a reaction to Mahomes wanting to keep the momentum on the Kansas City side.
"When he gets in his super competitive mood, he's locked in," Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said. "Because it's almost like he's [wiggling fingers] to try and get the next play in fast enough so he can register it."
This is how you know Pat Mahomes is in the Zone. pic.twitter.com/TTbEH6Fd1b
— Coach Dan Casey (@CoachDanCasey) September 5, 2024
SN's NFL HQ: Live NFL scores | Updated NFL standings | Full NFL schedule
Mahomes backed up Kelce's claim about wanting to get the plays in at a higher speed. The quarterback compared it to the sport of basketball, where certain teams can go on runs and force an opponent to call a timeout when they are on their heels.
The same applies to football, where an offense wants to stay up-tempo, prohibiting the defense from getting a breather.
"When the momentum is going in our favor, I want them to call the plays fast," Mahomes said. "I just want to put pressure on them and that’s when things start going in your direction."
With two league MVPs, three Super Bowl MVPs and three championship rings, Mahomes can do whatever he wants on the field, as long as the results stay the same. It may be unique. It may be strange. But one thing for certain is that it works.
