Former MLB pitchers Pat Mahomes and John Rocker made headlines for all the wrong reasons during Super Bowl week in New Orleans. A heated verbal exchange between the two was caught on camera outside a restaurant on Bourbon Street, quickly going viral on social media.
The footage shows Rocker approaching Mahomes Sr. with a handshake, only for Mahomes to shove his hand away. That was all it took for things to escalate. The two began trading insults, with Mahomes calling Rocker a “menace to society.” Bystanders eventually stepped in before things turned physical, but the tension didn’t end there.
The drama spilled onto social media, where the two continued their war of words. Rocker fired the first shot, posting, “This f****** loser can’t take a d*** joke.” Mahomes wasted no time clapping back: “You really haven’t changed one bit in the last 25 years. Keep my name out your loud mouth.”
Rocker responded, “You wouldn’t have had the balls to say that to my face the other night. Lanky a** clown.” Mahomes doubled down, repeating his stance: “John Rocker is a menace to society.” Rocker’s final jab? “F*** PATRICK MAHOMES.”
John Rocker and Pat Mahomes Sr. nearly come to blows in New Orleans
Their heated exchange led to speculation about whether the confrontation was real or just publicity for a potential boxing match. Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy fueled the rumors, claiming Mahomes and Rocker had signed contracts to fight at a “Rough ‘N’ Rowdy” event. “I think it’s 100 percent, but I haven’t seen the signed paperwork yet,” Portnoy said in an interview.
Both former pitchers have had their share of controversy over the years. Rocker, who pitched from 1998 to 2003, is infamous for a 1999 Sports Illustrated interview in which he made racist and homophobic remarks. Mahomes, who played in the majors from 1992 to 2003, has also been in the spotlight recently. In August, he pleaded guilty to his third DWI charge and is currently serving five years of probation, including one year of “intense supervision.”
Despite playing in the MLB during the same era, the two were never teammates and had no known history of bad blood-until now. While it’s unclear what sparked their feud, it seems neither side is ready to back down. Whether it was a genuine argument or a setup for a boxing showdown, one thing is certain: the Mahomes-Rocker saga isn’t over yet.