Patrick Mahomes' helmet breaks after hard hit in freezing Chiefs vs. Dolphins playoff game

Emily Dozier

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Patrick Mahomes' helmet breaks after hard hit in freezing Chiefs vs. Dolphins playoff game image

Shivering fans. Andy Reid's frozen mustache. The sub-zero game in Kansas City was everything that fans expected from the fourth-coldest game in NFL history.

But a broken helmet might not have been on your BINGO card for the game.

The broken helmet occurred when Patrick Mahomes took a helmet-to-helmet hit from Miami's DeShon Elliot. It wasn't enough to phase the Chiefs' QB, but it was enough to knock a piece of his headgear away in the minus-4 weather.

The image of Mahomes' helmet cracking naturally captured the attention of NFL fans, and some timely photo snapshots only further highlighted the amazing nature of the play.

Patrick Mahomes' helmet type

Mahomes wore a helmet manufactured by VICIS, a helmet noted for its flexible panel at the front that absorbs a hit, and thus decreases the impact on the player. It has extra padding on the inside, making it one of the safest helmets on the market with its "local deformation technology." It sits noticeably higher on Mahomes' head than other helmets.

So, it's no surprise that he's a little particular with his headgear. When a piece of it chipped away, the Chiefs staff had no choice but to replace it with the first helmet available. It was immediately clear Mahomes didn't like it, as he tried to make quick adjustments while Kansas City avoided taking a timeout.

He played through the drive, which ended in a field goal.

MORE: Top 10 coldest games played in NFL history

While Mahomes was on the bench afterward, NBC's Kaylee Hartung reported the QB used his now-broken helmet to try to make his replacement more comfortable. He tried to stuff the new one with his old inside padding, which didn't work. He even tried changing out the face mask but didn't have time to complete the modifications before it was time to get back on the field.

Despite his obvious irritation, he led the Chiefs to their second touchdown of the night on that drive. That was enough to give Kansas City a lead it wouldn't relinquish.

Emily Dozier

Emily Dozier Photo

Emily Dozier is a live events and lifestyle writer at The Sporting News, covering everything from sporting events and music festivals to broadway shows and stand-up comedy. Based out of New York, she graduated from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. When not covering the SN tickets beat, Emily enjoys playing volleyball and cooking. Prior to joining The Sporting News in 2023, Emily covered the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup for the Associated Press.