In just his second game back from a torn ACL, Patrick Mahomes looked like Patrick Mahomes again.
The Chiefs quarterback diced up the Colts for 382 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday night, leading Kansas City to a 33-30 win in overtime. Before Mahomes had one of the best performances of his career, however, he went viral for his pregame preparations.
A clip of Mahomes drinking what appeared to some fans as a shot of alcohol made the rounds, but it wasn’t what it may have seemed.
Here’s what Mahomes was actually drinking before Chiefs vs. Colts.
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Patrick Mahomes pregame ‘vodka shot’
Sitting in the Chiefs locker room pregame, Mahomes was caught by broadcast cameras taking a swig of a yellow liquid in a small glass.
Fans online questioned whether it was alcohol.
Mahomes downing some vodka before the game?😭😭 pic.twitter.com/hkh78hFCke
— ²³𝙻𝚎𝙱𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚜🏀☄️🌎💞 (@BronGotGame) September 21, 2026
It wasn’t vodka or any other kind of alcohol that Mahomes was drinking, in all likelihood. Not only is alcohol in the locker room prohibited by the NFL, but the yellow-green color of Mahomes’ drink makes it likely he was drinking pickle juice.
Plenty of NFL players drink pickle juice to help prevent or manage cramps. Mahomes has been doing it himself since high school.
It appears Mahomes was simply taking the shot of pickle juice pregame to keep his body ready for “Sunday Night Football.”
MORE: Patrick Mahomes puts on a show in overtime win
