Stop Judging Mahomes' Bod! He's a Champion, Not a Cover Model

By Marc Lobliner, IFBB Pro 

So a radio host just blasted Patrick Mahomes for having a "dadbod." Let me get this straight: the guy who’s won two Super Bowl MVPs, thrown over 28,000 yards in just six seasons, and redefined what it means to be a quarterback in the modern NFL—is being criticized for not having abs?

Let me explain this as clearly as I can: this take is absolute garbage. Mahomes isn’t training for a men’s physique competition—he’s training to win football games, break records, and lead dynasties.

And he’s doing exactly that.

What’s a “Dadbod” Worth When You’re the Best?

The term “dadbod” is being thrown around like it means something. But here are the facts:

• Mahomes ran a 4.8-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. Not blazing, but plenty fast for a QB with elite pocket movement.

• He ranked top 3 in Total QBR in 4 of the last 5 seasons.

• He played through a high ankle sprain during the 2022 playoffs—and still won a Super Bowl MVP.

• He leads the NFL in total touchdowns and yards per game since entering the league.

So if that’s what a “dadbod” gets you, maybe we should all stop chasing six-packs and start chasing rings.

Why You Don’t Want Your Quarterback Shredded

I’m an IFBB Pro. I know what it takes to be lean, down to 5% body fat. But I also know that being that lean wrecks performance. You lose strength. Your hormones drop. Recovery tanks.

Studies have shown that athletes in high-impact sports perform best at 10–15% body fat, depending on their position. For quarterbacks? Mobility, resilience, and energy reserve are key, not paper-thin skin and visible veins.

In fact, a study published in the Journal of Sports Sciences (2017) found that football players with slightly higher body fat percentages had fewer injuries and faster recovery over the course of a season.

Mahomes’ job isn’t to flex on Instagram. It’s to read blitzes, extend plays, and throw dimes. And he’s the best in the world at it.

Critics Sit. Athletes Execute.

Most of these radio hosts and Twitter warriors haven’t played a down of football in their lives. They sit in chairs, eat chips, and comment on the bodies of people who train and bleed for their teams.

These guys are viewers, not doers. And they’re projecting their insecurities onto athletes they don’t understand.

Let me be blunt: abs don’t win championships. Execution does. Mahomes isn’t built for photoshoots. He’s built for Sundays.

The NFL Isn't Bodybuilding

Let’s stop pretending every athlete needs to look like they’re stepping on stage at the Mr. Olympia.

Take Tom Brady—lean, yes, but not jacked. Aaron Rodgers? Doesn’t have abs. Big Ben? He looked more like a beer league softball player half the time—but he got the job done.

Athletic performance isn’t determined by aesthetics. It’s built on:

• VO2 max and oxygen efficiency

• Power-to-weight ratio

• Joint integrity and recovery capacity

• Decision-making speed and reaction time

None of those things show up in a mirror selfie. They show up when the game is on the line. And Mahomes delivers every time.

You Don’t Have to Look Like a Beast to Be One

There’s this false idea that you have to look the part to play the part. But you know what’s better than a six-pack?

Clutch playoff drives.
Leadership under pressure.
Championship banners.

That’s what Mahomes brings. And that’s why he’s worth half a billion dollars.

Final Word: Respect the Results

You can keep your “dadbod” jokes. The only number that matters is two Super Bowl MVPs, and counting. Mahomes is a generational talent, and he’s dominating in a body that works for him—not for your standards.

So unless you’re putting in the work, taking the hits, and leading a team of 300-pound monsters every week—maybe stay in your lane.

This isn’t about being ripped. It’s about being resilient, elite, and effective.

Mahomes is all three.

And until someone else steps up and does it better, I’d say his body is doing just fine.