Patrick MahomesBefore he became a three-time Super Bowl champion and one of the most electrifying quarterbacks in NFL history, Patrick Mahomes was just a 10-year-old kid hanging around baseball diamonds — and getting career advice from one of the sport’s biggest stars.

But as Alex Rodriguez hilariously admitted on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon this weekend, that advice… didn’t exactly age well.

“I told Patrick Mahomes to stick with baseball — because that’s where the money is,” Rodriguez confessed, laughing. “Let’s just say I’m really glad he didn’t listen to me!”

 “Baseball’s Where the Money Is…”

The story takes fans back to 2001, when Rodriguez — then the highest-paid player in baseball — was teammates with Pat Mahomes Sr., Patrick’s father, during their time with the Texas Rangers.

Rodriguez recalled meeting a wide-eyed Patrick Jr., who would spend his days hanging around the batting cage and shagging baseballs during practice.

“He was about ten years old — polite, focused, those piercing blue eyes,” A-Rod remembered. “Every day he’d ask me for advice. So finally, after about a month, I pulled him aside and said, ‘Alright, listen up — baseball is where the money is. Football’s just for fun.’”

The crowd erupted in laughter as Rodriguez grinned and added:

“Yeah… I’m glad he didn’t take my advice!”

 The Rest Is Football History

Fast forward twenty years — and Patrick Mahomes has become a generational talent. Drafted 10th overall in 2017, he’s now a three-time Super Bowl winner, a two-time league MVP, and the face of the Kansas City Chiefs dynasty.

His record-breaking contract, endorsement deals, and cultural influence have made him one of the most recognizable athletes on the planet — proof that sometimes, ignoring the advice of legends pays off.

“I thought he’d be a shortstop like his dad,” A-Rod said, still laughing. “But he ended up being the Michael Jordan of football instead.”

 “He Was Born in the Clubhouse”

Mahomes’ father, Pat Mahomes Sr., has long said that baseball shaped the way his son plays football.

“He grew up in the clubhouse,” the former pitcher told The Los Angeles Times. “He had an arm that could throw 97 mph, and he was always the best hitter on the team. I really thought he’d go pro in baseball.”

But Mahomes’ athletic gifts extended far beyond the diamond. His no-look passes, sidearm throws, and jaw-dropping improvisations on the field are all skills borrowed from his multi-sport childhood.

“You can see the baseball in everything he does,” his dad added. “The angles, the precision — that’s just how he was built.”

 Fans React: “Best Bad Advice Ever!”

After the interview aired, fans flooded social media with memes and playful reactions:

“Alex Rodriguez telling Patrick Mahomes to play baseball might be the funniest alternate universe ever,” one fan posted.
“Imagine Mahomes in the MLB — 60 home runs, 0 Super Bowls. No thanks!” joked another.

Even sports analysts joined in:

“A-Rod wasn’t wrong about baseball money,” one ESPN host tweeted. “But Mahomes? He is the money.”

 A-Rod’s Full-Circle Moment

Rodriguez couldn’t help but end the story on a heartfelt note.

“He made the right call. Patrick’s doing things no one’s ever seen before — on or off the field,” he said. “And I couldn’t be prouder of him… even if I gave him the worst career advice ever.”

From the clubhouse to the Hall of Fame conversation, Mahomes’ journey proves that greatness often defies expectation — and that even a superstar like Alex Rodriguez can’t predict the kind of magic that happens when talent meets destiny.

 Moral of the story:
Always trust your gut — even when a baseball legend tells you otherwise.