Patrick Mahomes did NOT hand fans the real Lombardi trophy in viral Super Bowl parade moment

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes did NOT hand a fan the Lombardi trophy during the team’s Super Bowl parade, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal. 

The Chiefs’ wild celebrations made headlines around the world, and one moment in particular got fans talking – after Mahomes appeared to give a fan in the crowd the trophy.

But, after the footage went viral on Thursday, we can now exclusively reveal that – despite multiple reports – the quarterback was in fact handling a near-perfect replica.

Speaking to DailyMail.com, the trophy’s owner Vinnie Garofalo opened up about his one-on-one interaction with the 27-year-old quarterback. 

‘I own a Chiefs backer bar in Buffalo – Casey’s Black Rock – and am a Chiefs super fan for 30+ years. I decided to go to my second parade in four years and to bring my replica Lombardi trophy along for the ride,’ he said on Thursday. 

Many Chiefs fans thought Patrick Mahomes left the Vince Lombardi trophy behind during the team’s Super Bowl parade on Thursday

Vinnie Garofalo told DailyMail.com that the QB loved his replica of the Vince Lombardi trophy

Garofalo said his talk with Mahomes was ‘pretty awesome’ & said other players liked his replica

‘We secured a good spot, waited it out and were up front for the parade. We showed the players the trophy and it was mayhem after that.’

Mahomes, who won his second Super Bowl in his last five years with the Chiefs, was part of the group of players who wanted to see Garofalo’s replica from up close after being in awe of its similarity to the real piece of silverware.

‘Most of them came up and celebrated with the trophy. Mahomes then joined in, took the trophy, walked around with it for a bit, handed it to Kadarius Toney and then walked it back over and took a selfie with me and then left,’ Garofolo added. 

‘That’s pretty much exactly what happened. It was a pretty awesome fan moment for sure.’  

It wasn’t for other Chiefs fans, however. Most of them thought Mahomes produced a blunder by forgetting the trophy and had their hearts in their mouths. 

The exchange between the Chiefs super fan and the team’s star quarterback came three days after the two-time Super Bowl MVP had 182 yards passing and three touchdowns in a 38-35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. 

Mahomes aggravated an ankle injury late in the Super Bowl’s second quarter, but fought through the injury to lead Andy Reid to his third Super Bowl. 

Garofalo (Chiefs jacket) poses for a snap with his replica of the Lombardi trophy with friends

Mahomes had 182 yards passing and three touchdowns against the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII

For the parade, most schools, many businesses and some government offices in the Kansas City metro area were closed to allow fans to enjoy the festivities. 

Fans were generally happy and in good spirits while waiting in long lines for food trucks, merchandise trucks and, of course, portable toilets. Some people slept overnight to get prime spots across from Union Station.

Officials began planning the parade weeks before the Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 Sunday on a field goal with 8 seconds remaining in the game.

Kansas City police said about 675 law enforcement officers from more than 20 agencies, along with fire departments and transportation leaders, were fanned out along the route for the anticipated crowd.

The City Council Transportation and Infrastructure Committee agreed to earmark $750,000 for parade-related expenses, and Mayor Quinton Lucas estimated overtime costs for police and firefighters would total more than $1.5 million.

The the Kansas City Sports Commission is expected to contribute another $1 million in private donations, and the Jackson County Legislature voted to add $75,000.

The 2020 parade had more than a few frightening moments, as joyriders drove through barricades along the planned route, only to be arrested at gunpoint. Later some fans were injured after falling from a tree when the branches they were standing on snapped.

Otherwise the parade went off as planned, aside from the impromptu bathroom stop for Mahomes, who ran off to one of the 700 portable toilets lining the route. Mahomes re-emerged after a few minutes and high-fived a few fans on his way back to the buses.

Some of the other highlights included actor and Kansas City native Paul Rudd riding along in a golf cart, and an exuberant Kelce thanking fans while wearing a WWE championship belt. At one point Mahomes even poured a beer into Kelce’s mouth from atop a double-decker bus as the All-Pro tight stood on the ground below, twirling underneath the cascading trickle of booze.