Mahomes: 'l needed to show my support' in players' Black Lives Matter video
Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes explained Wednesday how he and several star black players collaborated to create a video calling for the NFL to condemn racism and proclaim that black lives matter.
"Michael Thomas actually sent me the video and the script and I loved the idea and I wanted to get every piece of information that I could on it," the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback said during a virtual press conference.
"I called everybody that I really trust and talked to them about it and decided that I really felt like I needed to be in this video and I needed to show my support to unite with the players and show that we care."
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell responded to the video the day after it was published, repeating much of the message the players asked him to declare. One league executive believes Mahomes' appearance in the video prompted the swift response, according to ESPN's Jason Reid
"Let's put it this way: The second I saw him in that video, I knew Roger had to act quickly. Everyone, including all the owners, knows he's the guy," the executive told Reid.
Mahomes called the league's response "the first step" that will lead to action.
"I've been given this platform and I want to make sure I can do whatever I can to make the world a better place in whichever way that is," he said.