WhenĀ Patrick MahomesĀ lets one fly, youād better be ready to catch it ā or get out of the way. š¬
During Sundayās heated showdown between theĀ Kansas City ChiefsĀ andĀ Buffalo Bills, the two-time MVPās signature cannon arm made headlines for an unexpected reason: hisĀ 62-mph rocket of a pass accidentally struck a cameraman square in the chestĀ in the end zone.
The moment instantly went viral ā and thankfully, the cameraman lived to tell the tale (and even joke about it).
š„ The Hit Heard Around the Stadium
It happened in the second quarter atĀ Highmark StadiumĀ in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Chiefs were trailing, and Mahomes ā ever the competitor ā tried to connect withĀ Travis KelceĀ in the end zone for a crucial touchdown.
But instead of landing in Kelceās hands⦠itĀ landed right onĀ NFL cameramanĀ Justin Schwab, who was filming just a few yards behind the play.
The throw was so powerful that the impactĀ knocked Schwab to the ground, his equipment tumbling with him.
āConfirmed ā heās okay š ,ā the NFL wrote in a now-viral Instagram post that quickly exploded across social media.
The clip has since racked up millions of views, with fans commenting everything fromĀ āMahomes really said, āYouāre part of the play nowāāĀ toĀ āThat cameraman deserves a Super Bowl ring!āĀ š
šø The Cameraman Speaks Out
It didnāt take long for the mystery man behind the camera to step forward.
āHey, thatās me!ā Schwab commented under the NFLās post, later sharing his own POV clip of the throw comingĀ directly toward his lensĀ ā a heart-stopping moment that ended in a perfect, painful thud.
āCan you really blame me for jumping?ā he joked in the caption, showing the ball colliding with his camera mid-shot.
According to his bio, Schwab ā who goes byĀ @vidsbyschwabĀ on social media ā is aĀ Live Content Correspondent for the NFL, based in Buffalo. Letās just say heās earned his hazard pay after this one. š
š Mahomes Reacts to the Chaos
Despite the unexpected hit, Mahomes handled the aftermath with his usual calm and accountability. After the ChiefsāĀ 21ā28 lossĀ to the Bills, he addressed reporters with humility.
āWeāve had great moments. Weāve had bad moments. Iāve got to be more consistent as a quarterback,ā Mahomes said. āYou learn from it fast. Itās going to be an uphill battle, but I think our guys are up for it.ā
On the night, Mahomes completed justĀ 15 of 34 passes for 250 yards, while adding pressure-filled scrambles that kept the game close until the very end. Still, it wasnāt enough to overcome Josh Allen and the Billsā home-field advantage.
š Fans Canāt Stop Laughing
The internet, of course, did what it does best ā turning the moment into pure comedy gold.
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āThat cameraman just got an MVP souvenir!ā
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āMahomes throwing dimes⦠even to the wrong team!ā
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āGive that man a helmet and a contract!ā
Even rival fans couldnāt help but respect the sheer force behind the throw. āImagine getting hit by a Mahomes pass ā thatās like getting tackled by destiny,ā one post read.
š„ Whatās Next for the Chiefs
Sundayās defeat dropped Kansas City toĀ 5ā4Ā on the season ā a tough spot for the defending AFC champs. Mahomesā chemistry with Kelce remains strong, but the offense has struggled with inconsistency in recent weeks.
The Chiefs now turn their focus toĀ the Denver BroncosĀ onĀ November 16, where theyāll look to bounce back ā hopefully without any more surprise ātargetsā on the sidelines. š
š¬ The Final Take
Patrick Mahomesā throw may have missed its intended receiver, but it hit something even rarer ā a viral moment that perfectly captured the chaos, power, and unpredictability of the NFL.
And while the Chiefs may have lost the game, one thingās for sure:Ā that cameraman won the internet.Ā šøš„
