Vahe Gregorian: Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes, Raiders' Maxx Crosby share a rivalry -- and friendship

Vahe Gregorian, The Kansas City Star on Oct 3, 2026

Published in Football

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — When it comes to the compelling clashes between Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby, we’ve seen it animated by verbal jousting between them and Crosby jostling Mahomes.

We’ve witnessed gamesmanship and even rage — as Mahomes displayed while almost tangibly seeing red as documented in an episode of the Netflix documentary “Quarterback.”

Throw in Crosby’s bombastic words earlier this week on his “The Rush With Maxx” podcast, calling it “war” when they play, and all the drama tends to obscure something substantial that underpins it all.

Their relationship off the field.

Mahomes spoke of Crosby on Wednesday with so much admiration, at one point likening going against him to playing against friends for bragging rights when he was young, that it begged the question:

Are you … actually friends who text each other and all?

As Mahomes acknowledged just that, he added that Crosby had touched base when Mahomes was cleared to return this season from a season-ending knee injury that required major surgery.

Referring to his own return from a torn meniscus that kept him out of the last two games and also required surgery, Mahomes said Crosby wrote, “Hey, we’re both back.”

To which Mahomes responded, “Let’s show the world who we are.”

And there’s no time like against each other, the latest edition of which will be Sunday in Las Vegas when the forever rivalry will feature an unprecedented dimension:

It’s the first time in its storied history that the teams will meet with each undefeated through at least three games.

The dynamic between them essentially embodies the traditional animosity between the clubs.

At least a modern version of it.

Because, among other episodes, Ben Davidson and Len Dawson weren’t gushing about mutual respect after the 1970 spearing incident.

For his part, Crosby said on the podcast that he “respects the (heck) out of Mahomes.”

And Mahomes, a great sportsman who also has joked in the past that there’s no reason to rile up the opposition, echoed the thought as he framed this matchup as what it’s all about.

“He’s one of the best competitors in the league,” Mahomes said. “That’s where the respect comes from. … We kind of have that mutual want to be the best on the field when we’re out there. And so when you go against those guys, it brings out the best in you.

“But there’s a ton of respect for how he plays the game of football, how he competes and the man that he is.”

It looked like anything but such reverence for each other during those mic’d up parts of “Quarterback,” as it drilled into a 2022 Week 5 matchup in Vegas in which the Chiefs fell behind 17-0 before rallying to win 30-29.

As the Raiders were building their lead, Crosby sacked Mahomes twice and repeatedly took extra jabs at him. Mahomes complained to a nearby official about “98” (Crosby) diving at him after every play to no avail.

Mahomes grew increasingly exasperated when Crosby thumped him on the arm after he released a pass.

“Come on, dawg,” Mahomes said as he patted Crosby on his arm and walked away. “I know what you’re doing, but just chill out a little bit, you know what I’m saying? Don’t just punch me for no reason, dawg.”

When Crosby seemed to question that it was a punch, Mahomes said, “Come on, now, I understand you touching me, but don’t punch me, bro.”

As Mahomes went from simmering to boiling, after he connected with Travis Kelce for what would be the first of his four touchdown passes, he turned toward Crosby yelling “I’m here all day!” six times, knocked heads with him and added “you woke up the wrong (expletive).”

Still berserk on the sideline, he hollered “I’m here” before coach Andy Reid pulled him aside and cooled him down.

All in all, it was a fascinating glimpse at Mahomes’ ability to harness his fury ... and what it’s like between Crosby and him.

Asked Wednesday what exchange he’d remembered most with Crosby, Mahomes laughed and referred back to the “I’m here.”

But at the end of that game, Mahomes went directly to Crosby, hugged him and said, “Hey, you know I love you, dawg. Hell of a game.”

With another one coming.

“For me, I just know when I step on that football field I’m going to need to be my best,” he said. “Because he’s going to bring his best — and I think that’s when you get the best games out there. …

“It’s what the pure football is.”