KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As the popularity of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes continues to soar, more and more children in the metro are asking for "the Mahomes" haircut.
Just a few years after "the Hosmer" became a popular hairdo during the Royals’ World Series run, now another style has children asking to be like their hero.
Rylan Fortenberry, a seven-year-old first grader from Independence, has a room full of Chiefs gear and posters.
His bed sheets have the team logo on them and he can quickly pull out his jersey for Travis Kelce.
However, this season he is showing his team pride in a new way.
On Thursday night, Rylan was sporting a "Mahomes" hairdo complete with the headband the quarterback normally wears.
“I like his hair because it’s kind of curly,” he said, with his mother looking on. “I want to be like him because he’s a good quarterback.”
This season, Rylan’s love of Patrick Mahomes has taken off.
He now regularly sports official Chiefs eye-black and the "Mahomes" look.
For the non-fans of the Chiefs, the hairdo involves a shaved curly mohawk with no sideburns.
For Rylan, the hairstyle allows him to be like his hero.
“He watches him on YouTube. He’s all about him,” said Rylan’s mother, Danielle. “He actually says, ‘My skin is just like him.’ He just related to him and he wants to be a football player.”
Rylan is far from the only child asking to look like Patrick Mahomes.
At Great Clips in the northland, hair stylist Yolonda Spead said more children have come in this season asking for the hairdo.
“I have quite a few kids that come in and get it,” she said. “It’s pretty popular because when they get a popular player everybody wants it.”
After seeing the rise of ’the Hosmer,’ Spead said it was fun seeing the young fans show their Chiefs pride with their hair.
“I just think everybody wants to know who they love and who they appreciate,” she said. “Everybody is excited. Everybody is happy and excited about the Chiefs.”
With the Chiefs getting set to take on the Patriots this Sunday in the AFC Championship, Rylan looked forward to cheering on his hero.
“My goal is to try hard as I can to play football,” he said. “I want to be a football player.”
Kickoff for the Chiefs-Patriots game is slated for 5:40 p.m. on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.
