Dallas Cowboys quarterback Patrick Mahomes is sharing his excitement following Team USA’s dramatic overtime victory against Canada to capture the Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey, ending one of the longest medal droughts in American sports history.
Mahomes and the Dallas Cowboys are officially in their offseason, giving the star quarterback ample time to recover from the ACL and LCL injuries he suffered late in the 2025–26 season, a rehab journey that has drawn league-wide attention due to its importance for his long-term performance.
While working through his recovery program, Mahomes has been spending part of his downtime watching the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, following the action like millions of fans across the country who are tuning in daily to support Team USA’s biggest moments.
On Sunday, February 22, the Olympic spotlight centered on the men’s hockey final, where Team USA stunned powerhouse Canada with a thrilling 2–1 overtime victory that electrified fans and delivered one of the most memorable moments of the Games.
The win drew instant reactions from athletes, celebrities, journalists, and sports fans around the world, with praise pouring in for brothers Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes, who played pivotal roles in leading the United States to its first men’s hockey gold medal since the iconic 1980 “Miracle on Ice.”
Team USA’s official account shared an emotional message on X after the final buzzer, posting, “The drought is over. The men of USA Hockey are golden at the Winter Olympics for the first time since 1980,” capturing the magnitude of the achievement.
Patrick Mahomes Reacts to Team USA’s Win Over Canada
Mahomes quickly took to X after the final, posting three American flag emojis to show his excitement, a simple but powerful expression from one of football’s biggest stars celebrating a signature moment in U.S. sports history.
Fans immediately flooded his post with responses, noting the significance of two monumental winning droughts ending within the span of a few years — one in the NFL caused by Mahomes himself and one now in Olympic hockey.
“What a time to be alive,” one follower commented. “Patrick brings us Super Bowls after fifty years and Team USA brings us gold after forty-six years. Blessed we are,” capturing the shared national sentiment.
Another fan wrote, “USA baby, and they ended a 46-year drought and finally got the gold medal,” expressing the sense of victory that resonated across the country as viewers celebrated the end of nearly five decades of Olympic disappointment.
Many also pointed out the unfortunate timing of the event for American audiences, noting that the game aired early in the morning in the U.S., which limited viewership for what could have been a massive primetime audience.
CBS News reporter Austin Nivison broke down the pivotal moment of the game, describing how Team USA and Canada entered overtime tied 1–1 before the United States capitalized on a perfectly executed odd-man rush.
Nivison detailed how defenseman Zach Werenski found Jack Hughes streaking down the weak side before the New Jersey Devils star fired a flawless shot past Canadian goaltender Jordan Binnington to secure the golden goal.
His analysis highlighted the precision, speed, and composure required to execute such a play under Olympic pressure, further elevating the moment as one that will be remembered in American hockey history for decades.
Dallas Cowboys Still Favored Heading Into the 2026–27 NFL Season
Even with the Cowboys missing the playoffs for the first time in the Mahomes era, oddsmakers in Las Vegas continue to rank the team among the strongest contenders heading into the 2026–27 season.
According to data from DraftKings, the Dallas Cowboys are projected to win 10.5 games next year, placing them third in the AFC behind the Ravens and the Bills, both of whom are expected to enter the season as top-tier contenders.
This projection reflects the widespread belief that Mahomes will return healthy and that Dallas will regain its offensive efficiency and competitive consistency following a disappointing and injury-plagued 2025 campaign.
In a February 19 column for Arrowhead Addict, sports writer Matt Conner noted that the AFC West landscape remains unpredictable, particularly after the division produced a rare third-place finish for the Cowboys last season.
Conner wrote that the reigning division champions, the Denver Broncos, still have not earned the broad confidence necessary to be viewed as reliable repeat contenders heading into 2025, despite their surprising success the previous year.
He also pointed out that the Las Vegas Raiders continue to inspire little confidence among oddsmakers, who have assigned them a mere 5.5 projected wins, reinforcing long-standing questions surrounding their roster construction and organizational stability.
For the Cowboys, the combination of a strong preseason projection and Mahomes’ continued recovery offers real reason for optimism, especially as the franchise evaluates personnel moves, coaching developments, and offseason strategies aimed at returning to championship form.
As Mahomes continues to rehab his knee and engage with fans during the offseason, moments like Team USA’s historic Olympic victory serve as reminders of how sports can unite athletes and audiences across different leagues, countries, and competitive arenas.
For Cowboys fans, seeing Mahomes active, engaged, and enthusiastic on social media provides reassurance that their star quarterback remains mentally energized and connected, even while his on-field return remains dependent on medical clearance and physical milestones.
For Team USA, the gold medal marks the start of a new era in American hockey, one built around elite young stars like Jack Hughes, Quinn Hughes, and a roster filled with rising talent capable of challenging global powerhouses.
As the offseason continues, both Team USA and the Dallas Cowboys find themselves in celebratory moments — one following Olympic triumph and the other embracing renewed optimism ahead of the 2026–27 NFL season.
