Patrick Mahomes faces heartbreaking family news ahead of Chiefs AFC title game

Patrick Mahomes will play one of the most important games of his career on Sunday when the Kansas City Chiefs face the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game. However, the Chiefs quarterback, who is looking to win the first-ever Super Bowl three-peat in NFL history, will play with a heavy heart.

Mahomes' grandfather has been moved to hospice care in the week leading up to the game. The news was shared by the quarterback's mother, Randi Mahomes, in a post on her Instagram stories, asking for prayers due to her father's situation.

"My dad is in hospice, and I'm lost for words," Randi wrote.

This is not the first time Randi has shared updates on her father's health. She did so multiple times during the season, including when she attended one of Patrick's Kansas City games while sitting next to him in the hospital.

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Mahomes, Chiefs two games away from making NFL history

Not many teams have won back-to-back championships in the league, and none have won the Super Bowl three straight times. The 2025 Chiefs are two games away from becoming the first team to achieve that feat.

Only the 1990 San Francisco 49ers came as close in NFL history. After winning championships in 1988 and 1989, they made it to the NFC Championship Game in the 1990 season but lost to the future Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

According to the odds, the Chiefs are 2.5-point favorites against the Bills.

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Details of AFC Championship Game between Chiefs and Bills

The game will take place at 6:30 p.m. ET at Arrowhead Stadium, shortly after the end of the NFC Championship Game between the Washington Commanders and the Philadelphia Eagles, who play at 3 p.m. ET.

The Chiefs and Eagles met in the Super Bowl two seasons ago, with Kansas City winning 38-35 on a game-winning field goal by Harrison Butker.

Since Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen became their respective quarterbacks, Kansas City and Buffalo have met in the postseason three times, with the Chiefs winning all three contests. They also played in the 2024 regular season in Buffalo, where the Bills won 30-21.