Mahomes Pregame Mystery Shot: Vodka Swig or Just a Sports Drink? See Video of Substance Consumed and Fans Reactions

A live locker-room camera shot of Patrick Mahomes knocking back a small bottle of yellowish liquid just before kickoff against the Indianapolis Colts sent social media into overdrive on Sunday night. Fans immediately began debating whether the Kansas City quarterback had taken a vodka shot or was simply following an old sports ritual.

totalprosports.com

The clip, captured during NBC’s pregame coverage of the Week 2 Sunday night game, shows Mahomes sitting in the Chiefs locker room in full uniform and red headband. He unscrews a small plastic bottle, tilts his head back, and drinks the contents in one go. The liquid appears pale yellow on camera. The footage quickly circulated, with one widely shared post asking whether fans thought it was vodka or a regular sports drink.

hitc.com

Theories ranged from vodka and limoncello to energy drinks. Some joked that Mahomes needed “a little shot of courage.” Others immediately called it pickle juice, a substance many NFL players use to help prevent muscle cramps. One reply noted the practice has been around for years and that Mahomes himself has discussed it before.

hitc.com

Reports after the game confirmed the liquid was pickle juice. The Chiefs have used it as part of their pregame and sideline routine for years because of its high sodium content and the way the acetic acid can trigger a neural response that helps stop cramps. Mahomes has said he started taking “little shots” of pickle juice in high school and still uses the same method: knock it back quickly so you do not taste it much.

hitc.com

The vodka rumours never had supporting evidence. NFL locker rooms do not allow alcohol, and Mahomes’ performance afterwards made the idea even less plausible. He completed 32 of 47 passes for 382 yards and three touchdowns as the Chiefs won 33-30 in overtime.

ibtimes.co.uk

Fan reactions mixed humour with quick corrections. Some posts mocked the jump to conclusions: “The internet saw a tiny bottle and immediately went: ‘VODKA?!’” Others simply said whatever was in the bottle, Mahomes should keep drinking it after the strong outing. A few compared the clip to earlier viral moments involving Chiefs players and pickle juice on the sideline.

@Jacksonmilbi

The episode is a reminder of how quickly a short, context-free video can create a story. What looked like a mystery shot on live television was, in the end, just another part of Mahomes’ long-running anti-cramp routine.