Patrick Mahomes is facing a personal heartbreak just days before the Kansas City Chiefs’ playoff game, as his grandfather has been moved to hospice care. This devastating news comes as the 29-year-old quarterback prepares to lead his team in a high-stakes match with a Super Bowl spot on the line.

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For Patrick Mahomes, this personal challenge arrives on the heels of joyous news: the birth of his third child, a daughter named Golden Raye, just over a week ago.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Faces Family Tragedy

The devastating news about Mahomes’ grandfather was shared by his mother, Randi, on Instagram, where she expressed her grief.

“My dad is in a hospice and I’m lost for words,” she wrote in an emotional post on Friday. Randi has frequently spoken about her father’s health struggles on social media, though the specifics of his condition remain private.

It is unclear whether Mahomes will miss any practice sessions on Friday due to the news. The Chiefs are scheduled to hold a press conference later in the day to preview their crucial game against the Buffalo Bills.

The Mahomes Family Is Asking For Prayers

Randi Mahomes has previously asked for prayers for her father, Randy, sharing updates about his health. In September, she posted a photo of herself watching a Chiefs game from her dad’s hospital bed, captioning it: “Prayer warriors please pray for my daddy. He is in the hospital and is not well.”

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She later shared a heartwarming photo of her father at home during Thanksgiving, celebrating his recovery at the time.

Patrick Mahomes Looks For A ‘Three-Peat’

Despite the emotional weight, Mahomes and the Chiefs remain focused on their quest for a historic “three-peat,” aiming to secure a third consecutive Super Bowl title.

Last Saturday, Mahomes led the Chiefs to a 23-14 victory over the Houston Texans at Arrowhead Stadium, a win that coincided with his mother’s 49th birthday. Randi marked the occasion with a family photo featuring Patrick, his wife Brittany, and his brother Jackson, captioned, “Winning on and off the field! I am so proud of you, son. Grateful for the moments with family that mean the most.”

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The quarterback also spoke out about the win and what’s next for the team. “It’s the AFC championship game. You’ve got to put it all on the line in order to win and try to get to the Super Bowl,” Mahomes said of his upcoming playoff game against the Buffalo Bills. “This is a great football team we’re going up against, so I think all of us are going to go out there and give it everything we have.”

“Whenever you go up against the best, it brings the best out of you,” he added. “To go up against someone that you have a friendship with off the field as well. It’s just like a brother or anything else, when you compete, you’re going to compete, but when you’re off the field, you’re going to joke around and have fun, too.”

The Kansas City Chiefs Face Backlash

Mahomes has also faced criticism this week for controversial officiating during the game against the Texans. Several calls during the AFC Divisional Round sparked debate among fans and analysts.

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One contentious moment occurred in the first quarter when Houston’s Will Anderson Jr. was flagged for roughing the passer after what appeared to be minimal contact with Mahomes. Another incident in the third quarter saw Texans linebacker Henry To’oTo’o penalized for unnecessary roughness after making contact with Mahomes during a slide, advancing the Chiefs’ drive and leading to a touchdown.

Patrick Mahomes Addresses Backlash

Mahomes addressed the cheating allegations and the backlash, telling NFL fans, “I‘ve kind of learned that no matter what happens during the game, that something’s going to come out about it if you win and you continue to win, so I don’t really pay attention to it.”

He added, “I mean, obviously I’ve been on both sides of it as far as how I felt the calls were made, but at the end of the day, man, those guys are doing their best to make the best calls and keep it to where the players are making the plays in the game. And that’s what decides the outcome. And obviously there was a call here or there that people didn’t agree with, but at the same time, I think there was a lot of other plays that really decided the outcome of that football game.”