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Dylan Raiola spotted in Chiefs locker room, Isiah Pacheco makes Patrick Mahomes joke

Chandler Vesselsby:Chandler Vessels•about 19 hours•

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Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola
Dylan Widger | Imagn Images

There was a familiar face in the Kansas City Chiefs locker room after their victory against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship. Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola, who has worked out in the past with Patrick Mahomes, was captured on camera celebrating with the team.

Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco, who was videoing, even cracked a joke about the connection between the two QBs, as it’s no secret the Raiola models his game after Mahomes. You can view the moment below.

Raiola attended the game alongside Cornhuskers linebacker Dawson Merritt, whose father is Chiefs assistant Dennis Merritt. Those three were pictured together in the locker room with Nebraska defensive line coach Terry Bradden.

They all got to see another classic as Kansas City prevailed 32-29 against the Buffalo Bills to reach the Super Bowl for the third straight season. The Chiefs won each of the past two and can become the first team in NFL history to pull off a threepeat with a win against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Mahomes finished 18-of-26 passing for 245 yards and a touchdown in the win, but perhaps his biggest impact came with his legs. He scored two touchdowns on the ground, including one in the fourth quarter that reclaimed the lead for Kansas City, and finished with 43 yards rushing.

Raiola is coming off of his true freshman season at Nebraska after ranking as the No. 3 quarterback in the 2024 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

The QB helped the Cornhuskers snap a seven-year bowl game drought as they defeated Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl. He threw for 2,819 yards and 13 touchdowns to 11 interceptions on the season as a whole.

Patrick Mahomes reacts to Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola mimicking his style

Dylan Raiola went viral a few times when he mimicked the style of Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ quarterback is pretty flattered.

Sure, Raiola was a hyped prospect, but he’s no Mahomes. At least not yet right?

Mahomes opened up on how he did similar things to Raiola when he was growing up. Raiola went viral this past season when a video caught him jumping up and down pregame exactly like Mahomes.

Not to mention how similar the two look based on their haircuts and facial hair.

“I mean, it’s cool, honestly,” Mahomes said, via KCTV. “I was that guy. I grew up watching players. I remember when I (was growing up), I loved Alex Rodriguez, played shortstop, and would try to make plays just like him, and do stuff like that, and it helped me become the athlete that I am … It’s just telling me I’m getting a little old. I think that’s the biggest thing, is that you have these guys that are coming up and doing some of the sidearm stuff and everything like that.

“But I know Dylan. I trained with him in the off-season. Great kid, a great football player, and I think he’s gonna make his own stamp on the game. And I think you’ve seen that early in his career.”

On3’s Nick Kosko contributed to this report.