Patrick Mahomes has gone back to his roots, teaming up with Rob Gronkowski to help small-town schools across America through T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights campaign.
Speaking to People Sports, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback reflected on his own days as a student at Whitehouse High School in Texas.
“I just really loved sports,” Mahomes said. “Definitely competitive, and always working to get better. I think a lot of students can relate to just wanting to work hard and have fun.”
Mahomes met his now-wife Brittany while at Whitehouse. He graduated in 2014 before moving on to Texas Tech and then the NFL in 2017.
He recalled the atmosphere of Texas high school football and why those memories still stand out. “I know a lot of my memories were on Friday nights under the lights. There’s no feeling like it, especially in Texas high school football.”
T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights campaign offers small-town high schools the chance to win major facility upgrades. These can range from sports equipment to classroom technology.
“Growing up in a small town, you know every dollar of support helps. I’m grateful to be a part of this incredible program with T-Mobile where we can support some deserving schools across the country.”
The three-time Super Bowl winner, Patrick Mahomes, will work alongside Rob Gronkowski, who claimed four NFL titles with the New England Patriots. Mahomes said teaming up with the former tight end brought a new energy to the project.
“He’s got so much energy and just loves the game. Gronk’s all about supporting athletes and having fun, so it really matched the spirit of Friday Night 5G Lights.”
Beyond the campaign, Mahomes is preparing for another NFL season. This comes after the Chiefs’ 2025 Super Bowl disappointment against the Philadelphia Eagles.
He isn’t interested in branding it as a revenge mission. “Whenever you lose, you kind of have this taste in your mouth that you want to go out there and revenge that, or whatever you want to say,” he told Up & Adams last month.
“I feel like I’ve had to sit back and just listen to people talk and talk, and I’m like, ‘Let’s just play football and just handle it all out there.’”
For now, Mahomes is combining football with giving back. For the towns set to benefit from Friday Night 5G Lights, the boost could be game-changing.
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