Before he ever took a snap at the college level, the comparisons were unavoidable for Dylan Raiola.
Between his position, No. 15 jersey number, his hair and, at times, his playing style, the Nebraska quarterback has been frequently linked to Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes.
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It’s not a connection that Raiola shies away from. If anything, he embraces it — so much so that he has a historical comparison for it.
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In an interview with the Cover 3 Podcast on July 22 at Big Ten media days in Las Vegas, Raiola likened the way he views and tries to emulate Mahomes to Kobe Bryant’s relationship with Michael Jordan.
“I’m not comparing myself to Kobe or anything, but like Kobe did to Mike, that’s kind of what it is for me to Patrick,” Raiola said. “He’s one of the best quarterbacks in the league right now, if not the best. Just for me to be able to have someone to look up to, talk, call, whatever…the comparisons are kind of everything outside. I can’t control that god made me look like this, play the same sport. It’s all love.”
Over the course of his legendary NBA career, Bryant became perhaps the closest thing the sport had seen to Jordan since his retirement, emulating his game, mannerisms, trademark intensity and even hairstyle, trading in his baby afro for a shaved head.
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One year into his college career, Raiola has taken the same kind of approach with Mahomes, opting for a similar haircut and wearing a headband during games. Before a win last season against Colorado, Raiola generated widespread attention on social media for mimicking Mahomes’ pregame routine. Raiola trains with quarterbacks coach Jeff Christensen and trainer Bobby Stroupe, both of whom worked with Mahomes on his rise to NFL stardom.
The comparison, of course, has its limits. Beyond their follicle choices, the two don’t look all that much alike (Mahomes is mixed, with a white mother and Black father, while Raiola is of Polynesian descent). More glaringly, one of the quarterbacks is a three-time Super Bowl champion and a two-time NFL MVP while the other is a 20 year old who threw 13 touchdowns to 11 interceptions for a team that went 3-6 in the Big Ten last season.
The tie between the two is more than superficial, though. Mahomes and Raiola have struck up a relationship, with Raiola noting the two call and text one another. Last year, Mahomes shouted out Raiola on social media, referring to him as “Lil cuzzo.”
In about a month, there will be one more data point between the two — Raiola and Nebraska will open their 2025 season at Arrowhead Stadium against Cincinnati on August 28.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Raiola likens link to Patrick Mahomes to Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan
