Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has built a reputation for reading defenses and making adjustments on the fly. His ability to process what he sees and make quick decisions is a big part of what makes him an elite quarterback, so even the smallest details of his game tend to attract attention.
ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky recently pointed out one such detail, breaking down how Mahomes appeared to use subtle hand gestures to relay the Chiefs’ run-game calls to running back Kenneth Walker III.
Dan Orlovsky Reveals Patrick Mahomes’ Secret Signals to Kenneth Walker III
Speaking on ESPN’s “NFL Live,” Orlovsky suggested that Mahomes was discreetly communicating the Chiefs’ run-game instructions to Walker through hand signals.
“There’s definitely some communication, non-verbally, that Patrick’s giving Kenneth Walker when it comes to the run game. And just for Chiefs fans, this isn’t something that’s going to make you predictable, or teams are going to be able to steal it,” the analyst began.
In his breakdown of the footage, Orlovsky focused on Mahomes’ hand movements against different defensive fronts. Against a four-man front, Mahomes appeared to keep his left hand clenched in a fist. Orlovsky interpreted the gesture as a signal for the offense to run front-side with a double-team block.
In another sequence, Mahomes appeared to hold up one finger against a five-man front. Orlovsky believed the gesture was a way for Mahomes to indicate “five guys.”
Of course, Orlovsky’s breakdown doesn’t confirm what the gestures mean in the Chiefs’ actual playbook. Still, the possibility of Mahomes using subtle signals to communicate run-game adjustments caught the attention of many NFL fans and analysts, with several praising the quarterback’s football IQ.
“This is so cool,” ESPN’s Laura Rutledge wrote.
“What Patrick Mahomes is doing this year is even wilder than what his numbers already suggest,” a fan wrote.
“Very interesting. Curious what it means, but may be just letting him know what the front is. Which again allows him to see where the stressors are. Good find, Dano,” former center AQ Shipley said.
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Some fans, however, questioned Orlovsky’s take, with one X user taking an unexpected shot at Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
“Dan snitching on Mahomes because (Josh) Allen isn’t smart enough to do this. No need to signal to (James) Cook that he’s about to snake another touchdown,” they wrote.
Meanwhile, ex-NFL offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz pushed back on the idea that Walker needed Mahomes to explain defensive fronts to him, arguing that Orlovsky’s interpretation sold the running back short.
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“This feels incredibly demeaning to Kenneth Walker that you think he needs to be told what a simple 4-down front is and how that’s going to be blocked. And what a Bear front is, etc. Like he doesn’t know how to read basic defensive fronts and find the DL he’s supposed to key,” Schwartz wrote.
Walker’s production this season also adds context to Schwartz’s argument. He has rushed for 665 yards and scored eight total touchdowns through five games, ranking among the league’s most productive backs.
Through Week 6, Walker ranks No. 1 in the league with a PFN RB Impact Score of 96.5.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.