Patrick Mahomes' helmet cracks, piece falls off after hefty collision with DeShon Elliott

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs were likely expecting plenty going into a sub-zero temperature wildcard game at home on Saturday evening. But they probably weren’t expecting a fractured helmet for their star quarterback.

Be it the cold making the plastic brittle or the hit from DeShon Elliott being that much harder in the playoffs, Mahomes’ lid cracked and a piece detached and fell off on the field of play in the middle of the third quarter. Mahomes had to go to the sideline and get a backup helmet before coming back out for the goal-to-go series and setting up a score.

NBC — make that Peacock — cameras caught a clear shot of the damage done to the helmet, and fortunately not the quarterback’s head.

A piece of Patrick Mahomes' helmet came flying off. 😮 pic.twitter.com/m2bFObIhnq

— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) January 14, 2024

As the game came back from commercial for the next drive with the Dolphins on offense, a new problem had arisen for Mahomes: His backup lid wasn’t fitting quite right. Just another problem to solve for the Chiefs in the wildcard matchup.

Mahomes’ helmet wasn’t the only notable piece of gear on Saturday in Kansas City

Taylor Swift cheered on boyfriend Travis Kelce Saturday night, wearing a Chiefs puffer jacket featuring the No. 87. And she has the wife of a 49er to thank.

Kristin Juszczyk, who is married to San Franciso fullback Kyle Juszczyk, designed and made her outerwear. She also created a similar jacket for Brittany Mahomes, wife of Patrick Mahomes to wear to the Chiefs-Dolphins playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium.

Kristin Juszczyk shared a video with her Instagram followers showing her process working from the Chiefs’ uniforms of Kelce and Mahomes to the jackets. She wrote: “An honor of a lifetime!!!!!” and thanked both Swift and Brittany Mahomes.

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A post shared by Kristin Juszczyk (@kristinjuszczyk)

Kate Rooney, a reporter for KRON4 in San Francisco, shared that the connection between Taylor Swift and Juszczyk is Brittany Mahomes.

“Back story: Kristin designed a piece for Brittany Mahomes in the past,” Rooney posted on X. “This week she sent one of her original-design puffers for Brittany to wear. She decided to “shoot her shot” and send one for Brittany to give to Taylor Swift, too, in hopes Taylor would wear it. She did!”

Taylor Swift is one of several high-profilers to wear a Juszczyk design. She likes to incorporate the uniform number in her outfits. Simone Biles, the world’s best gymnast, showed her love for husband Jonathan Owens, who plays for the Packers, with a custom-made vest.