Andy Reid warned Chief players not to watch Rihanna or risk being benched during Super Bowl, said Patrick Mahomes

The Kansas City Chiefs’ dramatic comeback win in Super Bowl LVII wasn’t just about talent — it was also about discipline, and head coach Andy Reid made sure of it. As quarterback Patrick Mahomes recently shared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the team wasn’t allowed to get distracted, not even by Rihanna’s star-studded halftime show.

Chiefs were banned from Rihanna’s halftime show by Andy Reid

“I didn’t [see any of it] but I heard it was great,” Mahomes told Kimmel. But what really stood out was the warning they received from Reid: “Coach Reid told us, he said, ‘If you go out to watch the performance, just keep walking ’cause you’re not playing the rest of the game.’” The tone may have been light-hearted, but the message was firm — no distractions, not even for a global icon like Rihanna.Reid’s command seemed to be a direct counter to what happened the previous year when Bengals kicker Evan McPherson made headlines for watching the halftime show at Super Bowl LVI.

Though McPherson managed to kick two field goals that day, the Bengals ultimately lost to the Rams. That may have served as a cautionary tale for Reid, who wasn’t about to let history repeat itself with his team trailing 24-14 at halftime.

That break — extended because of the halftime show — actually worked in Kansas City’s favor. It allowed Mahomes to rest his ankle, which had been bothering him throughout the postseason and appeared aggravated during the second quarter.

The coaching staff also used the time wisely, crafting the adjustments that would change the game’s trajectory.What followed was a near-perfect second half. Mahomes led four scoring drives, with touchdowns from Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore, and Isiah Pacheco, and a clutch game-winning field goal from Harrison Butker. The Chiefs outscored the Eagles 24-11 in the second half, winning 38-35 and clinching their second Super Bowl title in four years.

Mahomes was named Super Bowl MVP for the second time, finishing with 182 passing yards, 44 rushing yards, and three touchdown passes on a 21-of-27 performance.

Though he didn’t watch Rihanna live, Mahomes was well aware of the buzz her performance created. The nine-time Grammy winner delivered a high-energy set and used it to reveal her second pregnancy — a “special guest” she had teased before the big night. Kimmel even joked about her naming the baby after Mahomes.

The quarterback laughed, saying, “My name is taken by my son Patrick Lavon Mahomes III so I don’t know if that name is still allowed.

She has to think of another one.”Reid’s no-nonsense approach paid off, and the Chiefs’ halftime focus became a defining moment of their victory. While millions around the world enjoyed Rihanna’s set, the Chiefs stayed locked in — and walked away with the Lombardi Trophy.Also Read: Saquon Barkley’s babysitting days included losing at Madden to a 12-year-old—before NFL stardom