Rodriguez's first-career interception was off of the three-time Super Bowl champion in Week 3 of the NFL season
LUBBOCK -- The third week of the NFL season brought about a clash between two of the best players to come from Texas Tech: Miami Dolphins rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
In the second quarter, Mahomes' pass over the middle was tipped and intercepted by Rodriguez for the rookie's first-career pick.
At this week's media availability Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire said Mahomes himself was one of the first people to tell him about the moment.
"The first text - I mean it had to be really early whenever he got into the locker room - was from Mahomes saying, 'If I'm gonna throw one, at least I'm throwing one to our guy,'" McGuire said.
Rodriguez finished the game with six tackles (three for a loss) and a pass breakup to go with his interception.
The former walk-on at Texas Tech and eventual second-round pick of Miami won every individual defensive award in his All-American season with the Red Raiders in 2025.
So, it shouldn't be a surprise to hear that he's being named among the best rookies in the NFL this season and is a favorite to win AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Rodriguez is the defensive play-caller on the Dolphins this season, a rare feat for any young defensive player, let alone a rookie drafted No. 43 overall.
For Texas Tech fans, and McGuire, his passion is far from being a surprising trait.
"Listening to him, he's so focused on winning and playing better," McGuire said about Rodriguez, whose Dolphins lost 24-10 to the Chiefs, falling to 0-3.
"I'm pleased with the effort, I'm pleased with the intensity. I'm pleased with the physicality of this defense and this team," Rodriguez said in a spirited postgame press conference. "Now, we have to get better at the football part of it. We have to get better at the X's and O's, and that's with us."
As was the case last year in Lubbock, when J-Rod spoke, his words carried weight.
That becomes even more the case when he intercepts one of the best players in the world.
