Patrick Mahomes has established himself as one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks in recent years, leading the Kansas City Chiefs to a Super Bowl victory in 2020 and returning to the big game in 2023.

Off the field, Mahomes has expressed his love and appreciation for rock music on several occasions. While he hasn’t explicitly stated his top three favorite rock bands, based on his comments and behaviors over the years, some of the rock acts Mahomes seems to enjoy most include AC/DC, Metallica, and Led Zeppelin

Australian hard rock legends AC/DC are arguably the band Mahomes has shown the strongest affinity for. He has been spotted wearing an AC/DC t-shirt on multiple occasions, including during practices and workouts in the offseason.

Additionally, Mahomes has chosen AC/DC’s iconic song “Thunderstruck” as his entrance music when taking the field for Chiefs home games at Arrowhead Stadium.

The use of “Thunderstruck” as his intro song is a bold choice that gets the raucous Kansas City crowd amped up before each game. Its high-energy riffs and lyrics about feeling the power of nature perfectly capture Mahomes’ electric playing style and ability to will his team to victory through sheer force of will. It’s no surprise that a quarterback with Mahomes’ swagger and confidence would choose one of rock’s most badass anthems to accompany his walk through the tunnel.

Beyond wearing their merch and selecting their music, Mahomes has also expressed direct praise and admiration for AC/DC. In a 2021 interview, when asked about his favorite bands, Mahomes immediately responded “AC/DC, for sure.” He went on to say how much he enjoys their classic sound and timeless rock hits. It’s clear from his consistent repping of the band that AC/DC’s brand of no-frills hard rock really speaks to Mahomes on a personal level.

Another legendary rock act Mahomes has professed fandom for is the almighty Metallica. In the same 2021 interview where he named AC/DC, Mahomes also shouted out Metallica amongst his favorite bands. He elaborated that he enjoys “their old stuff, like Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets, those early albums.” Those albums from Metallica’s 1980s heyday are considered metal masterpieces and go-to albums for many lifelong fans, so Mahomes showing love for that era shows he’s a student of the genre.

To further demonstrate his Metallica fandom, Mahomes attended one of their concerts in Kansas City in 2020. He shared photos and video from the show on his social media, clearly enthralled by the experience of seeing one of his favorite bands perform live. His attendance at that Metallica concert, coupled with his praise of their classic albums, cements them as an act Mahomes genuinely enjoys on a musical level beyond just wearing a t-shirt or using a song. Getting to experience their legendary live show in person was obviously meaningful for the QB and lifelong rock music aficionado.

Rounding out Mahomes’ “big three” of rock bands seems to be English rock legends Led Zeppelin. While he hasn’t worn their merch or chosen a song of theirs for his entrance, Mahomes has name dropped Led Zeppelin in interviews as another band in his regular rotation. Specifically, in a GQ profile from 2021, Mahomes mentioned Led Zeppelin among the artists like AC/DC, Metallica and others that he enjoys listening to work out to and get pumped up.

Led Zeppelin’s expansive catalog spans blues rock, folk rock and everything in between. So their diverse sound undoubtedly keeps Mahomes engaged through various moods and activities. Their epic songs are perfect for getting in the zone before big games or intense workouts. It’s no surprise a multi-talented athlete like Mahomes would find inspiration in Led Zeppelin’s boundless creativity and talent. Their blend of virtuosity, aggression and soulfulness likely resonates with Mahomes on many levels.

While those three bands seem to be at the top of Mahomes’ rock playlist, he has demonstrated appreciation for several other iconic artists over the years as well. For example, during the 2023 Chiefs Super Bowl parade, videos emerged of Mahomes belting out the opening lyrics to Guns N’ Roses’ classic “Welcome to the Jungle” while riding on a bus with teammates.

His ability to sing along word-for-word to such an enduring rock anthem showed not only his familiarity with GNR’s discography, but also his willingness to cut loose and have fun celebrating with his team. It served as another example of how rock music is deeply ingrained in Mahomes’ personality and means a lot to him, even in joyous championship moments.