Patrick Mahomes is the ultimate Red Raider – and it was at Texas Tech he showcased the two-way skills that forced him into a big decision.The Chiefs superstar, owner of three Super Bowl rings and three Super Bowl MVPs was just as at home on the mounds in baseball.Patrick Mahomes could have been an MLB star if it wasn’t for footballGettyMahomes shone for the Red Raiders and was selected by the Kansas City ChiefsGettyAs he returns to Texas Tech to be the celebrity picker on ESPN’s College GameDay, the memories of his time in college have come flooding back.No look passes, horizontal flea flicker and electric side arm throws have helped elevated Mahomes into the conversation as one of the greatest passers of a football of all time.However he once threw a brilliant no-hitter and struck out 16 batters in a baseball game.It is no surprise that Mahomes did more that flash in the sport, in fact it’s easy to imagine him following in his father’s footsteps into MLB and starring on the diamond instead of the NFL field. But Mahomes was so good at baseball that he hit 95 mph on a radar gun while pitching on the mound, and also went 3-for-4 with a home run, double and three RBIs at the plate.A baseball signed by Mahomes during his high school days in Texas could fetch $10,000 at an auction.Factor in that Mahomes’ father, Pat, played in MLB for 11 years as a pitcher, and it’s easy to understand why baseball and Mahomes are often attached on social media. Baseball now has it’s bone fide two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and football is obviously Mahomes’ true professional calling but he was also three-sport star in high school, balancing football, baseball and basketball.He was so talented on the diamond that he was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 37th round of the 2014 MLB First-Year Player Draft, despite barely playing the sport at Texas Tech.That slot could have climbed to the first round if Mahomes had solely focused on baseball in college – instead, he was eventually surrounded by Andy Reid, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift.Mahomes was around baseball from a very young age, and could have played MLBx@PMahomesHis father Pat Mahomes was a veteran pitcher who taught him a lot about being a proGetty“He grew up in the clubhouse, he was always around the game, and he was always the best player on his baseball team,” Mahomes’ father told the Los Angeles Times. “He was an unbelievable shortstop, he always led his team in hitting, and he threw 97 mph on the mound, so I always thought he was gonna be a baseball player.”Mahomes also excelled on the hardwood, leading his high school basketball team to a 28-7 record while averaging 19 points and eight rebounds a game.He once scored 49 points in the playoffs, while being named All-East Texas Most Valuable Player.But it was hardball where Mahomes really could have made a mark in the pros.He was so close to the game as a child that he took a photo with New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter on the field.Mahomes had to decide between baseball and football while in collegeGettyMahomes is already a three-time Super Bowl champion with the ChiefsGettyVideo also exists of a polished teenage Mahomes striking out batter after batter on the mound.Hi father Pat was 42-39 with six teams, posting an unimpressive 5.47 career ERA but also striking out 452 batters.Pat’s major league talent shined in 1999 with the New York Mets, when he went 8-0 with a 3.68 ERA in 39 games (no starts) while posting a sharp 1.27 WHIP.Mahomes’ dad also played for the Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs after being drafted by the Twins in the sixth round in 1988. The NFL star’s cannon of an arm and tendency to throw a football sideways like a shortstop can be traced to his younger baseball days.By the time that he was starring at Texas Tech on the gridiron, the football and baseball prospect was forced to make a career choice.He loved MLB and had real pro talent, but the native of Tyler, Texas had generational talent on the football field.So Mahomes cut out one sport and left baseball behind following his sophomore year, where he spent some time as a relief pitcher for the Red Raiders.“Not many college athletes have the privilege to play multiple sports at this level,” Mahomes said in a 2016 statement. “Moving forward, after speaking with my family following the bowl game, I feel it is in my best interest to concentrate solely on football and academics this spring.“I know great things await the baseball program this season and I will be rooting them on every chance I get.”As a football junior, he passed for a stunning 5,052 yards and threw 41 touchdowns and his rose onto Reid‘s radar, the Chiefs traded up to take the Texas Tech QB at No. 10 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft.Indeed, he was good at baseball and could have made The Show but his football decision has been more than vindicated with a stellar resume by the time he turned 30 in September.He is a six-time Pro Bowler, has won two league MVPs, and has already won three Super Bowls guided the Kansas City Chiefs to a modern dynasty, even if they did fall short of a historic three-peat in 2024.Stay up to date with the latest from the NFL across all platforms – follow our NFL Facebook page, subscribe to our talkSPORT End Zone YouTube channel for all the offseason news, interviews and more