NFL News: Andy Reid’s Chiefs reveal incredible ‘movie-like’ sequence to trade up and draft Patrick Mahomes

Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs hit the jackpot when, in the 2017 Draft, they were able to trade up with the Buffalo Bills to select Patrick Mahomes with the 10th overall pick.

Now, following the release of the series The Kingdom, Brett Veach, who worked as co-director of player personnel at the time, revealed that the process of recruiting Mahomes was literally like a famous sequence in the movie Draft Day, starring Kevin Costner. That decision, made alongside Reid and general manager John Dorsey, changed the history of the franchise, giving the team three Super Bowl victories.

“My daughter, she was always asking me at a younger age about my job and what do you do. I think her vision of the job was to write people’s names down and just pull them out of a hat. I wasn’t a football movie guy, but I think everybody watched Draft Day. We had watched that movie weeks prior to the draft. So, she did see that one part where Costner’s character had the name written down. I was just getting ready to leave and she hands me the card. It said: ‘Pat no matter what.’ There’s nothing more special than your daughter writing that.”

What is the Draft Day movie about?

Draft Day is a sports drama film released in 2014 centered around the NFL Draft. It stars Kevin Costner as Sonny Weaver Jr., the general manager of the Cleveland Browns. The movie follows Sonny over the course of a single day as he navigates high-pressure decisions, trades, and negotiations to rebuild his team.

The film highlights the behind-the-scenes drama, strategy, and personal stakes involved in selecting players, showing both the business and emotional sides of running an NFL franchise. A situation very similar to what Veach experienced with the Chiefs in 2017.

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Was the movie Draft Day based on a true story?

No. The movie Draft Day wasn’t based on a true story, but considering Veach’s revelation, the film served as inspiration for Brett’s daughter to recommend selecting Patrick Mahomes regardless of the cost.

In the movie, Weaver also has a card with the player he wants to select in the Draft above any other option. The famous quote is: “Vontae Mack, no matter what.”

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