Dylan Raiola invokes Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan while summing up Patrick Mahomes relationship

Much has been made of the relationship between Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola and Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes. But as much as people like to poke fun at Raiola for it, he realizes what a unique opportunity it is.

Mahomes has taken the Chiefs to seven straight AFC Championship appearances and won the Super Bowl three of those times. He is considered by many to already be one of the greatest quarterbacks to play despite still being in the midst of his career.

For Raiola, who is preparing to enter his second season as the Cornhuskers starter after a solid true freshman season, there couldn’t be anyone better to learn from. He spoke on the importance of his relationship with Mahomes at Big Ten media days in Las Vegas, comparing to the way people look up to a couple of NBA legends.

“I kind of use it like Kobe (Bryant) and (Michael Jordan),” he said. “You look up to a guy like that. One of the best to ever do it, and he’s still playing. So I think it would be not wise of me to not do that. Just see it as an opportunity and enjoy it. It’s a cool guy to learn from and a cool person to experience it with.”

Dylan Raiola 🤝 Patrick Mahomes

The @HuskerFootball QB shares how he’s inspired by the @Chiefs QB and 3x Super Bowl champion 🤩#B1GFootball pic.twitter.com/dHZZjC1w5Y

— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) July 22, 2025

Last year in his first seaso with the program, Raiola helped Nebraska to snap a seven-year bowl game drought as it finished the regular season 6-6. He then led the Cornhuskers to a 20-15 victory against Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl, throwing for 224 yards and one touchdown to one interceptions.

Raiola arrived at Nebraska with a lot of expectations as the No. 3 quarterback in the 2024 cycle and a five-star recruit. It’s clear that his aspirations are to one day reach the same level as Mahomes, and getting the opportunity to work out with an NFL star can only help him in the long run. Mahomes certainly doesn’t seem to mind either.

“I mean, it’s cool, honestly,” Mahomes said last season, via KCTV. “I was that guy. I grew up watching players. I remember when I (was growing up), I loved Alex Rodriguez, played shortstop, and would try to make plays just like him, and do stuff like that, and it helped me become the athlete that I am … It’s just telling me I’m getting a little old. I think that’s the biggest thing, is that you have these guys that are coming up and doing some of the sidearm stuff and everything like that.

“But I know Dylan. I trained with him in the off-season. Great kid, a great football player, and I think he’s gonna make his own stamp on the game. And you think you’ve seen that early in his career.”