Ex-NFL Player Defends Malik Willis' Wild Pitch With Old Patrick Mahomes Clip

The Kansas City Chiefs drafted quarterback Patrick Mahomes with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Mahomes became the starting quarterback in 2018, and the Chiefs shot to the moon.

Mahomes is a two-time NFL MVP and three-time Super Bowl MVP. The Chiefs reached five of the past seven Super Bowls, winning three, including back-to-back in the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

Before any of that happened, Mahomes’ claim to fame was throwing a terrible first pitch as the Texas Tech quarterback at the Texas Rangers game on May 13, 2016.

Mahomes’ first pitch to forget was resurfaced Saturday, almost exactly a decade later, by former NFL defensive back Darius Butler in response to Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis throwing a wild one of his own at the Marlins game on Friday night.

Willis’ pitch is currently going viral because he threw it into a separate zip code from home plate. Many people used it as evidence that Willis will fail in his first year as QB1 for the Dolphins next season. Butler quote-tweeted it with Mahomes’ old clip, writing, “He’ll be alright! #FinsUp baby!”

Honestly, that’s a pretty great rebuttal. But Mahomes was not amused. “Chill chill chill,” he wrote back to Butler. “Thought we deleted all footage of this [three laughing-crying emojis].”

Mahomes isn’t the only collateral damage. Tom Brady’s unfortunate first pitch for the Boston Red Sox in April 2015 and Joe Burrow’s struggle to throw a baseball at Fanatics Fest last June are also making the rounds.

You are not alone, Malik.

Besides, the Dolphins didn’t sign Willis to throw a baseball. The Dolphins committed a three-year, $67.5 million contract to Willis in free agency in March because of what he showed while throwing the football last season.

Willis resurrected his career as the Green Bay Packers’ backup quarterback for the past two seasons. He only started three games, but he showed flashes whenever he was called on to fill in for Jordan Love.

Last December, Willis dazzled as the Packers’ starter against the Baltimore Ravens. Before exiting with a shoulder injury, he threw for 288 yards and one touchdown on 18-of-21 passing and rushed for 60 yards and two touchdowns. Green Bay lost, but Willis won the Dolphins’ 2026 starting job.

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This story was originally published May 2, 2026 at 4:08 PM.