The Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the second-year quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the 2018 season. That game started brutal for the then Ben Roethlisberger-led Steelers. Quickly, Pittsburgh found itself down 21-0 after the first quarter. The Steelers clawed their way back into the contest and made it competitive, but ultimately lost at home 42-37 to the Kansas City Chiefs. In that shootout, Mahomes delivered a performance that stunned everyone in attendance.
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Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes finds a target against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The young quarterback shredded the Steelers’ defense, throwing for 326 passing yards and six touchdowns without committing a single turnover. Even more impressive, Mahomes completed 23 of his 28 attempts, showing not only arm strength and accuracy, but also poise far beyond his years. Pittsburgh’s defense looked overwhelmed, while Roethlisberger and the offense kept pushing to keep pace in what turned into one of the most memorable games of the 2018 season. For the Chiefs, it was more than just a big win on the road. It was a clear message to the NFL that Mahomes was special.
Chiefs Owner Clark Hunt shares when he realized Patrick Mahomes was something special:
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) October 1, 2025
“When Patrick wasn’t playing… Periodically, Veach would send me a clip from practice of Patrick doing special stuff. And he sent me this one and the headline was ‘no-look pass’.” pic.twitter.com/9chnoPOwOK
Chiefs Owner Clark Hunt joined First Things First on Wednesday and revealed that very game in Pittsburgh was the moment he realized Kansas City had struck gold. Hunt admitted that watching Mahomes dismantle a respected Steelers team in their own stadium made him fully understand the quarterback’s ceiling. From that point on, there was no doubt in his mind that Mahomes had the ability to lead the franchise into a new era of success, a belief that has since been validated by multiple MVP awards and Super Bowl titles.
"We went to Pittsburgh, and that was a place we had a lot of difficulty getting a victory," Hunt said while speaking with Nick Wright. "That game was effectively over by halftime. He and [Travis] Kelce connected for three or so touchdowns. We could not believe it. It was just so special."
In that game, Roethlisberger was forced to throw the ball 60 times just to keep the Steelers competitive. He passed for 452 yards and threw three touchdowns, but the veteran future Hall of Famer was outplayed by Mahomes that day. That illustrates how dominant and effective Mahomes was at such an early stage of his career. It was in that very contest that Hunt realized his franchise was already built around the quarterback of the future.
Steelers Soon To Be Trying To Find Their Next Franchise Quarterback
Many Steelers fans hold out hope that their sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Will Howard, could develop into the franchise quarterback someday. However, counting on that seems like a long shot. NFL history shows that you can never fully count out a quarterback taken in the sixth round, but the odds are certainly stacked against him. Even so, the Steelers will likely be looking to the 2026 NFL Draft to find their next potential franchise quarterback.
Matt Freed / Post-Gazette
Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett, along with his close friends and family, eagerly awaited the moment he would hear his name called in the 2022 NFL Draft, filled with anticipation and excitement for the next chapter of his football career.
Since Roethlisberger’s retirement, Pittsburgh has been stuck in quarterback limbo, searching for stability at the position. Now they will try once again to strike gold, hoping to replicate the success the Chiefs found when they selected Mahomes. Turning a draft pick into a superstar quarterback is never easy, and the Steelers know it will take careful evaluation, patience, and a bit of luck.
What were your memories of watching Patrick Mahomes throw for six touchdowns against the Steelers in that 2018 game? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me.
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