ss It took just one viral video for the debate to explode. After third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun pulled off a series of jaw-dropping plays against the Broncos, fans began slapping a shocking label on Patrick Mahomes: “system QB.” If a little-known backup can shine this brightly in the same offense, some are asking what really drives Mahomes’ greatness
What was supposed to be a quiet Christmas night game suddenly turned into a viral NFL moment — and it didn’t even involve Patrick Mahomes being on the field.
With Mahomes and backup Gardner Minshew both sidelined by season-ending injuries, the Kansas City Chiefs were forced to turn to third-string quarterback Chris Oladokun for Thursday night’s Christmas matchup against the Denver Broncos.
Few expected much. Oladokun had received virtually no first-team reps in four years and entered the night as an afterthought. Instead, he delivered a performance that stunned viewers — and ignited a familiar online debate.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 26, 2025
Midway through the fourth quarter, with the score tied 13–13, Oladokun kept Kansas City competitive against one of the league’s most formidable defenses. Early in the third quarter, he produced the play that set social media ablaze: after dropping the football, Oladokun recovered, escaped pressure, and still completed an improbable pass — a sequence that looked eerily similar to something Mahomes has made routine over the years.
Clips of the play immediately went viral, with fans joking — and arguing — that the moment “proved” Mahomes is merely a product of the system.
“If an FCS QB can do the same thing, it shows Mahomes is a system QB,” one viral comment read.
Others echoed the sentiment, declaring “Mahomes system QB confirmed,” while some took a more measured tone, noting that Oladokun was simply performing far better than expected.
The surprises didn’t stop there. In the fourth quarter, Oladokun escaped two Broncos defenders and found JuJu Smith-Schuster downfield in another play that drew instant comparisons to Mahomes’ signature improvisational style.
NFL highlights circulated rapidly, with commentators praising Oladokun’s poise and playmaking under pressure. While no one seriously expects the Chiefs’ franchise quarterback narrative to change overnight, the optics were impossible to ignore.
On a night when Kansas City needed someone — anyone — to step up, Chris Oladokun delivered moments that will be replayed long after Christmas Day. Whether it fuels the “system QB” discourse or simply adds another chapter to the Chiefs’ offensive mystique, one thing is clear: Oladokun did his reputation no harm at all.
