12:11 PM PT -- Patrick Mahomes Sr.'s attorney, Joseph D. Murphy, just released a statement to TMZ Sports ... saying, "Today, Mr. Mahomes entered a guilty plea in his case pursuant to a written plea agreement. Our client is now living a sober life, and we believe that the steps he has taken to better his life have helped us negotiate a plea recommendation for probation."

"However," Murphy added, "our client is set for sentencing on September 23rd, and it would be inappropriate for us to comment on this matter further until after the court has assessed the sentence in the case."

Patrick Mahomes Sr. -- the father of NFL superstar Patrick Mahomes -- has just pleaded guilty to a felony driving while intoxicated charge.

Court records show the 54-year-old -- a former MLB pitcher -- entered the plea on Tuesday morning ... just before he was slated to go to trial in the case in Smith County, Texas. The charge was officially DWI third or more.

Details surrounding the agreement Mahomes Sr. cut with prosecutors in the case were not made immediately available -- we reached out to the Smith County prosecutors, but they declined to comment. A message to Mahomes Sr.'s attorney, meanwhile, has not yet been returned.

Mahomes Sr. is now facing up to 10 years behind bars ... as well as a fine of up to $10,000. Although, presumably, prosecutors will recommend a more lenient sentence given his plea Tuesday.

Mahomes Sr. is currently slated to be sentenced on Sept. 23.

Mahomes Sr. was first hit with the felony count in April -- after he was arrested back in February following allegations that he showed signs of being drunk during a routine traffic stop.

Cops wrote in court documents Mahomes Sr. told them he had been drinking prior to getting behind the wheel ... and also had an open 16-ounce can of Coors in his car at the time that he was pulled over.

The arrest happened just days before Mahomes Sr.'s son won his third Super Bowl in Las Vegas. The elder Mahomes actually attended the game at Allegiant Stadium, though he largely kept a low profile.

Mahomes Sr. has previously been accused of driving while drunk -- in 2019, he was charged with DWI second or more and was sentenced to 40 days in jail. He reportedly served the time on weekends to fulfill his requirement.