Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce invited a retired teachers’ club to dine in their restaurant for free
Alongside the meal, each teacher received a framed photo — but one card contained a message that honored a teacher’s past student in a way no one expected.
Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce Celebrate Retired Teachers with a Heartfelt Surprise at 1587 Prime
Kansas City, MO — On a warm afternoon on August 16, 2025, Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick MahomesQuestions and Travis Kelce welcomed a retired teachers’ club to their soon-to-open steakhouse, 1587 Prime, for a complimentary dining experience filled with gratitude and nostalgia. Held at the Loews Kansas City Hotel, the event was a tribute to educators who shaped generations of Kansas City students. While each teacher received a framed photo capturing a moment from their teaching career, one card tucked among the gifts contained a message that paid tribute to a teacher’s past student in a way that left the room in awe and tears.
A Community Hub with Heart
1587 Prime, set to open its doors on September 17, 2025, is a modern American steakhouse named after Mahomes’ jersey number (15) and Kelce’s (87). In partnership with Noble 33, the 10,000-square-foot, two-story venue blends Kansas City’s love for food and football with a stadium-inspired tunnel entrance, a striking meat display, and private dining rooms featuring red marble tabletops and brass inlay tick markers evoking a football field. The menu, teased in a viral taste-test video, includes luxurious dishes like A5 Wagyu carpaccio, truffle ponzu tuna tartare, and flavored butters such as bone marrow and hibiscus, promising a dining experience as dynamic as the Chiefs’ on-field energy.
Mahomes and Kelce have envisioned 1587 Prime as more than a restaurant—it’s a celebration of Kansas City’s spirit. Their decision to honor the retired teachers’ club, a group of educators who dedicated decades to the city’s schools, reflects their commitment to recognizing those who built the community’s foundation.
A Heartfelt Afternoon of Appreciation
The event welcomed 25 members of the Kansas City Retired Teachers’ Club, a group of educators who taught across public and private schools, from elementary classrooms to high school lecture halls. Held in one of 1587 Prime’s private dining rooms, the afternoon was a warm, intimate affair. Mahomes and Kelce greeted each teacher personally, sharing stories of their own educators who influenced their paths and listening to the retirees’ memories of their teaching years.
The teachers enjoyed a curated menu featuring 1587 Prime’s signature offerings, including Wagyu smash burgers, togarashi fried chicken, and a steak flight showcasing premium cuts like Black Angus ribeye and Wagyu filet. The ambiance, enhanced by soft jazz and the restaurant’s football-inspired decor, created a nostalgic yet celebratory atmosphere. “It felt like we were being thanked for every lesson we ever taught,” said Margaret Evans, a retired English teacher. “Patrick and Travis made us feel like our work still matters.”
A Framed Photo and an Unexpected Tribute
As the meal concluded, Mahomes and Kelce took the stage to express their gratitude, emphasizing the lifelong impact of teachers. Each retiree was then presented with a framed photo, sourced from school archives or family collections, capturing a moment from their teaching career—classroom snapshots, yearbook photos, or award ceremonies. The personalized gifts, embossed with the 1587 Prime logo, brought smiles and tears as teachers reminisced about their years in education.
But the moment that stole the room’s breath came when retired history teacher Robert Thompson opened a card accompanying his framed photo. The photo showed him in his classroom in 1998, standing beside a young student at a history fair. The card, signed by Mahomes and Kelce, contained a message that read: “Mr. Thompson, your student in this photo was Dr. James Carter, who became a trauma surgeon and saved countless lives, including one of our own family members. Your lessons shaped a hero. We’re honoring you both with a scholarship in your names at Lincoln Prep High School.”
The revelation that Thompson’s former student, Dr. Carter, had gone on to become a renowned surgeon—and that Mahomes and Kelce’s foundations, 15 and the Mahomies and Eighty-Seven & Running, were establishing a scholarship to support future students at Lincoln Prep—left the room in stunned silence, followed by applause and tears. Thompson, visibly moved, shared that he remembered Carter as a curious, driven student. “I had no idea he’d gone so far,” he said, his voice breaking. “To be honored like this, alongside him—it’s more than I could ever imagine.”
A Scholarship to Shape the Future
The scholarship, funded by the players’ foundations, will provide financial support for Lincoln Prep students pursuing careers in education or medicine, a tribute to both Thompson’s teaching legacy and Carter’s lifesaving work. Details are still emerging, but the initiative is set to begin in the 2026-27 school year, with applications opening in early 2026. The announcement has sparked excitement across Kansas City, with posts on X praising the duo’s thoughtfulness. “Mahomes and Kelce honoring a teacher and his student like this? That’s Kansas City heart,” one user wrote. Another posted, “A scholarship from a single photo and a card? That’s the kind of impact that lasts forever.”
The gesture aligns with Mahomes and Kelce’s ongoing commitment to their community. Mahomes’ foundation supports youth programs and charitable initiatives, while Kelce’s focuses on empowering underserved youth. By recognizing retired teachers, they’re celebrating the unsung heroes who shaped their city while investing in its future.
“Teachers don’t just teach—they build lives,” Mahomes said during the event. “We’re here to say thank you and to keep that legacy going.” Kelce added, “Kansas City is about stories like Mr. Thompson’s and Dr. Carter’s. We’re proud to be part of it.”
A Legacy Beyond the Classroom
As 1587 Prime prepares for its grand opening, with reservations opening on August 20, 2025, at noon CST, the restaurant is already cementing its role as a cornerstone of Kansas City’s cultural landscape. The event for the retired teachers’ club has added to the buzz, with fans eager to visit a venue that embodies the Chiefs’ spirit of gratitude and community.
For the retired teachers, the framed photos are cherished keepsakes, but the scholarship announcement—particularly the tribute to Thompson and Carter—has left a lasting impact. “I taught for 35 years, and this is the first time I’ve felt truly seen,” Evans said. “That card for Robert—it reminded us all why we became teachers.”
With 1587 Prime, Mahomes and Kelce are serving more than prime cuts—they’re serving hope, connection, and a celebration of Kansas City’s past and future. The scholarship in Thompson’s and Carter’s names ensures that their legacy, like the restaurant itself, will inspire generations to come.
