The Kansas City Chiefs’ locker room celebration after their thrilling 32-29 AFC Championship win over the Buffalo Bills took an unexpected turn when a Patrick Mahomes lookalike caused momentary confusion.
Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola found himself in the middle of the party, and for a split second, some fans believed security had mistaken him for the Chiefs’ superstar QB.
Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco went live on Instagram during the postgame festivities, and when Raiola appeared on camera, Pacheco jokingly exclaimed, “That ain’t Pat!” The resemblance was uncanny enough to send social media into a frenzy.
Related:
- Super Bowl 2025: date, time, halftime show and everything you need to know
- Where to watch the 2025 Super Bowl? TV channel and streaming where you can watch the game
- Super Bowl 2025 Halftime Show: Everything you need to know about Kendrick Lamar’s show
- Super Bowl Winners List: All the teams that have won the Super Bowl by year
- Gatorade Color Super Bowl: Odds, history and more about the traditional Gatorade bath
Like two drops of water
“That’s just his body double,” one fan quipped. “I can’t believe security let this dude in because they mistook him for Patrick Mahomes,” another joked. Some fans even suggested that Kansas City should consider draftingRaiola, given how well he fit in with the team.
But how did Raiola get past security and into the Chiefs’ locker room in the first place? It turns out he had an inside connection. Chiefs assistant coach Dave Merritt granted Raiola access, allowing him to join his Nebraska teammate, linebacker Dawson Merritt, whose father is on the Chiefs’ staff.
Even Nebraska’s defensive line coach Terry Bradden Jr. got in on the fun, posing for a photo with Raiola and other Cornhuskers inside the celebration.
Who is Dylan Raiola?
Raiola, a five-star recruit, was a major addition to Nebraska in the 2024 recruiting cycle. He threw for 2,819 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in his college debut season while helping the Cornhuskers end a seven-year bowl drought with a 20-15 victory over Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Despite the initial mix-up, the Chiefs were more than happy to welcome the young QB into their championship celebration. But for a brief moment, fans couldn’t help but wonder-was that Mahomes or his long-lost twin?
Read the full article here
