When it’s all said and done for Patrick Mahomes, he could make the Kansas City Chiefs the greatest football team of all time. Not just that, but he could even surpass Tom Brady who many consider to be the greatest quarterback of all time and someone no one could ever catch up to.
Brady obtained seven rings after a 23-year career. Mahomes is currently at three in seven years. Both were at three rings by the age of 28. Tom Brady’s career longevity and sustained success over two decades set a benchmark that is difficult to match. Mahomes, while incredibly talented and accomplished, will need to maintain his level of play for an extended period to rival Brady’s longevity and consistency.
And with how the NFL has developed since the early years of Brady’s career, it’s looking like Mahomes can actually surpass him. But even with that, comparing players across different eras is inherently challenging due to changes in game rules, playing styles, and competition levels. Tom Brady’s dominance in the NFL during his era, characterized by strong defenses and different offensive strategies, adds another layer to the debate.
Both Mahomes and Brady have had a significant impact on the game of football. While Brady’s meticulous preparation and leadership have reshaped the quarterback position in many ways, Mahomes’ innovative playing style and athleticism have ushered in a new era of quarterbacking.
Brady himself has “turned the keys over to him (Mahomes)” according to Andy Reid in a postgame interview with NFL Network after his Super Bowl 58 victory. The only people in terms of numbers in the Super Bowl ahead of Mahomes are people in the football Hall of Fame and Tom Brady (who’s a guaranteed Hall of Famer).
Mahomes showed not just in this game, but the entire season, that he thrives most when under pressure. The Chiefs season did not start well at all. They lost five out of the first eight games and after that, people did not even expect them to be in the playoffs. But when he has to put the team on his back, Mahomes showed that he can take them all the way.
Mahomes said “this game was a microcosm of this whole season,” during an interview with NFL Network after the game. The Chiefs were down by double digits at one point and Mahomes started the second half by throwing an interception. It looked downhill after that point, just like it did in those first eight games. But Mahomes not only picked himself up but his team up as well. He had 333 passing yards and 66 rushing yards (the most by a Chiefs player in the game and second most behind Christian McCaffrey). He also had the longest single rush in the entire game with a 22- yard rushing play in the third quarter.
Clark Hunt, Chiefs Chairman and CEO, said to NFL Network, “When Patrick is needed most he comes through like always.” The dynasty of the Kansas City Chiefs has officially begun, but not only that, the reign of Mahomes is truly underway. A lot of NFL fans were excited to see Brady retire, it was the end of a dominant era and something people thought they would never see again, but here we are after Super Bowl 58, and we not only see that era matched but surpassed as well.
