Patrick Mahomes and Henry Winkler's incredible pregame exchange was pure, heartwarming beauty
Mahomes: "I'm gonna take you up on that dinner, though." Winkler: "There is always a seat at my table for you."
Henry Winkler and Patrick Mahomes are both living their best lives in the 2020s. Mahomes, already an NFL MVP and Super Bowl champion, was the recipient of the biggest contract in league history when he signed a 10-year, $450 million extension with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020. Winkler, perpetually great as a comedic actor, has been phenomenal in a dramatic turn as acting coach Gene Cousineau in the HBO genre-shedding series Barry.
It wasn’t entirely surprising to see greatness recognize greatness when Winkler took to the Rich Eisen Show last summer and was more interested in talking about his love for Mahomes than the season three finale of Barry. That’s where he excitedly asked the longtime broadcaster if he’d met Mahomes and called the young signal caller “one of my heroes.”
This got back to the Chiefs, who granted the veteran actor sideline access for Kansas City’s Week 11 game in Los Angeles. Mahomes came ready with a customized jersey with Winkler’s last name and the QB’s number 15. And Winkler came ready with a standing invitation to come over for dinner any dang time.
Our new favorite friendship is @PatrickMahomes and @hwinkler4real.
(via @NFLFilms) pic.twitter.com/cXkoY2JeN3
— NFL (@NFL) November 23, 2022
A relationship that began with Winkler gushing over his favorite football player like an awed elementary school student has progressed to Mahomes eagerly telling a man five decades older he’s “gonna take [Winkler] up on that dinner offer.”
At a time where most celebrity interactions ring hollow and beg to be viewed through the most cynical of lenses, Winkler and Mahomes appear to have a true appreciation for each other. That’s awesome. Now we wait until the offseason to hear Winkler describe his dinner with Patrick while radio hosts ask him to talk about next year’s Barry finale.