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It was supposed to be a flashy offseason storyline. A high-end steakhouse. Two franchise icons. A brand built around numbers that mean everything in Kansas City.
Instead, it has turned into a legal problem.
Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes are now dealing with a trademark lawsuit tied to their restaurant venture, 1587 Prime. The suit has nothing to do with football, but it adds another layer of stress to an offseason that already feels unusually heavy for the Kansas City Chiefs.
After finishing 6-11 in 2025 and missing the playoffs for the first time in the Mahomes era, this franchise is trying to reset. Instead, its two biggest stars are answering questions about a steakhouse name.
How a steakhouse turned into a lawsuit
The idea behind 1587 Prime was simple and clever. Combine Mahomes’ No. 15 and Kelce’s No. 87. Lean into their status as one of the most recognizable duos in the league. Build a premium restaurant around that identity.
In Kansas City, those numbers are instantly recognizable. To Chiefs fans, 15 and 87 are practically shorthand for the modern glory years.
But a sneaker company called 1587 Sneakers claims it used the number first and has filed suit, arguing trademark infringement and potential consumer confusion. The company is reportedly seeking to stop the restaurant from using the name and selling branded merchandise, along with financial damages.
On the surface, it sounds unusual. A shoe brand and a steakhouse operate in very different lanes. That distinction may ultimately matter in court. But when two NFL superstars are attached to a business, nothing stays quiet for long.
Bad timing for Kansas City’s biggest names
If this were happening after a Super Bowl parade, it would feel like a footnote. Instead, it lands at a moment when both players are already under the microscope.
Mahomes is rehabbing a torn ACL suffered late in the season. His recovery timeline will define much of the 2026 outlook in Kansas City. The organization cannot afford uncertainty at quarterback.
Kelce, meanwhile, just completed his 13th season. He still earned a Pro Bowl nod with 76 catches for 851 yards and five touchdowns, but there were stretches where he did not look quite like the unstoppable force fans grew used to. Now he faces a decision about whether to return for a 14th year or step away.
The Chiefs are heading into free agency with real questions for the first time in years. Roster depth. Defensive consistency. Offensive line stability. The margin for error suddenly feels thinner.
Adding a legal dispute to that backdrop only complicates the narrative.
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A reminder that the spotlight never turns off
For Kelce and Mahomes, this is the tradeoff that comes with being the faces of a dynasty. Every move, even a restaurant opening, becomes national news.
The lawsuit may ultimately amount to little more than legal back-and-forth over filings and branding rights. It could be settled quietly. It could drag on. Either way, it is another reminder that success on the field creates pressure everywhere else.
Kansas City is used to seeing 15 and 87 linked in box scores and highlight reels. This time, the numbers are connected in a courtroom filing.
That is not how anyone drew it up.
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