Cris Collinsworth Praises Patrick Mahomes After Fumble Against The Seattle Seahawks

Patrick Mahomes is back in action as the Chiefs quarterback.© X/@NFL

After winning all five games, the Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes had a difficult night against the Seattle Seahawks, but NBC commentator Cris Collinsworth praised the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback when he lost the ball. Trailing by 13 points in the third quarter, Mahomes took a hit from behind and fumbled during a scramble. Collinsworth admired the quarterback's determination, but his reaction became a target for fans who felt the broadcaster was giving Mahomes credit for cleaning up his own mistake.

Why Cris Collinsworth praised Patrick Mahomes after fumble

The play of  Kansas City tried to find a way back into the game at Lumen Field on Sunday night. Mahomes scrambled on third down, only for Seattle Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall to hit him from behind and knock the football loose.

The ball bounced between players as Mahomes tried to grab it. He failed to secure it on his first attempt, got back into the scramble and finally came away with possession at the bottom of the pile.

Watching the replay, Collinsworth focused on the quarterback's effort rather than the fumble itself. “What other quarterback is getting up twice to go get this football?” the NBC analyst said.

Cris Collinsworth waxing poetic for Patrick Mahomes recovering his own fumble. ????

— Ryan Talbot (@RyanTalbotBills) October 26, 2026

That comment did not sit well with many viewers. Syracuse.com reporter Ryan Talbot mocked the praise, while Chat Sports called the play a “boneheaded” mistake that Collinsworth had somehow turned into a compliment.

Fans on X made similar points, arguing that recovering a fumble was something any quarterback would try to do. Some even suggested that Collinsworth's admiration for Mahomes had gone too far.

The criticism was not entirely new. During a 2025 game against the New York Giants, Mahomes recovered a loose ball after a backward pass, prompting Collinsworth to praise the play as a turnover prevented by the quarterback. 

Patrick Mahomes struggled against the Seattle Seahawks

The debate over Collinsworth's commentary came on a night when Mahomes had little to celebrate. The Chiefs struggled to move the ball against Seattle's defense and finished with just three points. According to Heavy, it was the first game in which Kansas City had no red-zone drives with Mahomes playing.

He completed 19 of 33 passes for 165 yards and threw one interception. The offense never found the rhythm needed to make the game competitive, leaving the quarterback's fumble recovery as one of the few plays that attracted attention.

Not every fan dismissed the effort. Some praised Mahomes for fighting to regain possession even after taking a heavy hit, with one supporter suggesting the recovery showed his competitiveness. Others pointed out that the play may have prevented Seattle from gaining an even better scoring opportunity.