Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes didn’t run out of bounds on his 33-yard run against the San Francisco 49ers last weekend, and that’s caused something of a stir.

During an interview with sportscaster Kay Adams, Hall of Fame defensive end Dwight Freeney said Mahomes was “taking advantage of soft … rules” that protect quarterbacks

Former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce indicated on the New Heights podcast — which he hosts with his brother Travis, the Chiefs tight end — that Mahomes, “if we are being honest, used his ‘quarterbackness’ to his advantage.”

Meaning NFL rules that protect quarterbacks from taking big hits anywhere on the field — and especially along the sideline, if the player appears to be running out of bounds.

Travis Kelce shot back at his brother, defending Mahomes.

“He’s not trying to trick a guy going out of bounds,” the Chiefs superstar said. “I just don’t see Pat doing it.”

Let’s set up the moment. The Chiefs led 14-12 late in the third quarter when, after taking a shotgun snap on the 49ers’ 37-yard line, Mahomes was pressured and took off to his left.

Mahomes eluded linebacker Fred Warner and reached the sideline. As he neared the first-down marker, however, Niners linebacker Dee Winter approached for the tackle. Did Winter hesitate because he believed Mahomes was stepping out of bounds?

Or was Mahomes’ hesitation — then acceleration down the sideline — a solid football move that resulted in the longest run of his career and set up KC a touchdown?

When asked about the play, Mahomes said Wednesday that he wasn’t trying to fake going out of bounds to gain an advantage.

“I don’t believe on that play I was really showing like I was going out of bounds,” Mahomes said. “I don’t want to ever put a defender in a bad spot.

“When I go out of bounds I’m going out of bounds. I’m not try to fake a guy by using use a loophole in the rule.”

Mahomes said after the cutback the sideline opened up. He eventually ran out of bounds at the San Francisco 4-yard line.

“Once I cut back.” he said,” I was going to do one of those dives for the first down, but I cut back and realized I had a lane to run. So I went down the sideline and I literally ran out of bounds on that play.”

Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt also had a big impact as a blocker on the play, preventing a clean shot on Mahomes. Hunt initially screened Warner, got a push on Winter and blocked tackle Kevin Givens.

Said Travis Kelce: ‘He never looked like he was going out of bounds. I hear what everybody is saying, though. I get it.

“Sometimes quarterbacks are protected on the sideline and it can get guys to play cautious and not try to take his head off.”