Urinalysis and tracking ankle monitor: Patrick Mahomes' father begs the judge for permission to watch his son play

P atrick Mahomes Sr. has spent much of his son's football career watching from the sidelines, but this season, getting there will require considerably more planning.

The former Major League Baseball pitcher has asked a Texas judge for permission to leave the state and attend seven Kansas City Chiefs games during the 2026 NFL season. The request comes while Mahomes Sr. remains on probation and subject to alcohol monitoring following his DWI case.

According to court records obtained by KTRE, Mahomes Sr. filed a motion Friday in the 7th District Court in Tyler seeking authorization to travel to games in Kansas City, Missouri, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Cincinnati, Ohio.

The filing specifically acknowledges that he will be required to submit to urinalysis testing before and after each trip whenever requested by his supervision officer.

His travel would also take place while he remains continuously monitored through an ankle device.

The court filing says Mahomes Sr. has completed 160 hours of community service and a 16-week outpatient treatment program at Cenikor, a nonprofit organization focused on substance-use treatment and behavioral health.

His community supervision officer has also verified his compliance with his current probation requirements, according to the filing.

For Mahomes Sr. , the request is about more than simply attending football games. His son is approaching one of the most important seasons of his career, having spent the offseason working his way back from a major knee injury.

Patrick Mahomes' return makes the request especially significant

Patrick Mahomes suffered torn ACL and LCL ligaments in his left knee during Kansas City's December 14, 2025, loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The injury ended his season and forced him into an extensive rehabilitation program.

The quarterback has made substantial progress since then. He returned to offseason work and participated in organized team activities before being fully cleared to participate in training camp in July.

Head coach Andy Reid said Mahomes was cleared to take part in all of the team's practice periods, although the coach stopped short of guaranteeing that he would play in Week 1.

Mahomes himself has consistently targeted the season opener against the Denver Broncos on September 14 as his desired return date. As of late August, however, Reid was still taking the situation day by day rather than officially naming Mahomes the starter.

That uncertainty makes Mahomes Sr. 's list of requested games particularly interesting, although it would be speculative to treat the requested dates as a prediction of exactly when his son will play.

The court filing reportedly includes seven games across Kansas City, Las Vegas and Cincinnati. Mahomes Sr. previously received permission for an out-of-state trip when he traveled to Missouri in June to attend his granddaughter Sterling's dance recital.

That earlier authorization came with conditions, including reporting to his probation officer before leaving and submitting to urinalysis testing.

His current request comes after a difficult period in his probation. Mahomes Sr. pleaded guilty to a felony DWI in 2024 and was sentenced to five years of probation. His probation was later extended following an alleged violation involving alcohol.

TMZ reported in March that prosecutors had pointed to a high reading from his SCRAM alcohol-monitoring device on January 1, although a hair-follicle test subsequently came back clean.

The monitoring requirements have also presented physical problems. In July, Mahomes Sr. asked the court about replacing his ankle monitor, saying it had caused swelling, irritation and tissue damage.

Despite those complications, his latest filing emphasizes the steps he has taken to satisfy the conditions imposed on him.

For the Mahomes family, there is also an emotional reason for wanting him in the stands. Patrick grew up watching his father prepare for his own professional baseball career, and Mahomes Sr. later became one of the most recognizable supporters at his son's games.

Now the roles have reversed again, with Patrick trying to return to the NFL after reconstructive knee surgery and his father attempting to make sure he can be there to watch it happen.

Mahomes ' rehabilitation has been particularly demanding. During the offseason, he remained heavily involved in the process, and his determination was highlighted by a recent report from The Kansas City Star.

The quarterback reportedly set himself an immediate recovery target after the injury: “He wanted to walk before his baby daughter, 11-month-old Golden.”

The Chiefs have also carefully managed his return. Mahomes did not play during the preseason, while the team monitored his progress in practice.

Tom Pelissero has suggested that the quarterback remains on track for Week 1, saying: “At this point Andy Reid has not even confirmed that Patrick Mahomes is starting in week one,” Pelissero said to Rich Eisen. “I would say all signs are pointing toward Patrick Mahomes being out there.”

Ultimately, the decision over Mahomes Sr. 's travel request belongs to the court. If permission is granted, however, his trips will come with strict requirements, including testing and continued electronic monitoring.

For a father who has spent years cheering for his son from the stands, that may be a small price to pay for the opportunity to watch Patrick Mahomes attempt to lead the Chiefs back to the top of the NFL.