Patrick Mahomes is one of the most recognizable athletes on the planet. He has risen to prominence as the quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs and has taken the NFL by storm, winning three Super Bowls in his first seven years as the team's starter.
Mahomes' personal life was in the public eye, and it was well known that he had a younger brother. College football fans watched as in 2024, Dylan Raiola debuted at Nebraska. While they obviously don't share the same last name, fans were quick to assume that Mahomes' younger brother was Raiola because he looked extremely similar to him.
Mahomes is known for his Mohawk fade with curls on top, a look Raiola also sported. Both play quarterback, both wear red and white and Raiola even chose No. 15 — Mahomes’ number in Kansas City. The parallels were hard to miss, and they led to the Cornhuskers’ freshman earning the “Baby Mahomes” nickname.
Here is more on why Raiola is known as "Baby Mahomes."
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Is Dylan Raiola related to Patrick Mahomes?
No, the two are not related. They do have a friendship of sorts, but they are not biologically related. The public has called Raiola "Baby Mahomes" and Mahomes himself has referred to the Nebraska quarterback as "Lil Cuzzo."
Raiola is related to a former NFL player, though. His father Dominic Raiola played for the Lions on their offensive line.
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Dylan Raiola-Patrick Mahomes lookalike
While the resemblance may have started as coincidence, Raiola has leaned into it as the comparison gained traction. He has mimicked Mahomes on the field — from his walk to elements of his pregame warmup routine — and he doubled down by choosing No. 15, the same number Mahomes wears for the Chiefs.
Five-star QB Dylan Raiola pulled up to Nebraska camp looking like Patrick Mahomes: pic.twitter.com/imwoJXecvW
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 31, 2024
Dylan Raiola back with the Mahomes pregame ritual pic.twitter.com/J1kxIP8RzY
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 14, 2024
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Dylan Raiola's relationship with Patrick Mahomes
Even though Raiola and Mahomes aren't related, that doesn't mean that they're strangers. The quarterbacks have gone to the same quarterback coach and have trained together in the offseason. Mahomes said in an interview, "I know Dylan, I train with him in the offseason. He's a great kid, a great football player. I think he is going to make his own stamp on the game and I think you've seen that early in his career."
Raiola even found his way into the Chiefs locker room after they won the AFC Championship Game in 2025. Mahomes' teammates were losing it with how much the Nebraska quarterback looked like their own.
"That ain't Pat." 😂
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 27, 2025
Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola was in the Chiefs locker room after their AFC Championship win 😅
(via @isiah_pachecoRB) pic.twitter.com/qmORFMPRfL
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Dylan Raiola stats vs. Patrick Mahomes
Dylan Raiola college stats at Nebraska
| Year | Games | Completions | Attempts | Yards | TDs | INTs |
| 2024 | 13 | 275 | 410 | 2,819 | 13 | 11 |
Patrick Mahomes college stats at Texas Tech
| Year | Games | Completions | Attempts | Yards | TDs | INTs |
| 2014 | 7 | 105 | 185 | 1,547 | 16 | 4 |
| 2015 | 13 | 364 | 573 | 4,653 | 36 | 15 |
| 2016 | 12 | 388 | 591 | 5,052 | 41 | 10 |
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