Where Does Patrick Mahomes Rank All-Time Among Quarterbacks?
The greatness of Kansas City’s QB1
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Everyone loves a good debate on who the GOAT is for any given sport. Jordan vs LeBron, Woods vs Nicklaus, Nadal vs Djokovic, Messi vs Ronaldo, and Biles vs well…that one is a no-brainer. It is pretty unanimous that Tom Brady is the greatest football player ever, but there is an up-and-comer who has the chance to give him a run for his money.
Pre-NFL Days
Patrick Mahomes emerged as a powerhouse on the high school sports scene, showcasing his athletic prowess from an early age. Despite being taken in the 37th round of the MLB draft, he opted for the path of higher education to be a dual sport athlete.
Mahomes was a three-star football recruit out of Whitehouse, Texas. Surprisingly, he wasn't pegged as a top-tier quarterback, ranking 47th in his class. He caught the attention of three programs and received offers from Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, and Rice.
Mahomes chose Texas Tech, a university renowned for its legacy of explosive offenses led by gunslinging quarterbacks. Fate intervened when an injury sidelined the starting quarterback towards the end of Mahomes' freshman year, thrusting him into the spotlight. From that moment on, Mahomes seized every snap, cementing his status as the undisputed leader of the team. By the time his junior year concluded, Mahomes knew he was ready for the next level. He declared for the NFL draft, where he was selected 10th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs, marking the beginning of an extraordinary journey to NFL stardom.
A Legendary Start
After spending one year behind Alex Smith, Mahomes took over the starting job in 2018. He took the league by storm and won the NFL MVP in his first year as a starter, showing off his athleticism and magician-like abilities. He led his team to the AFC Championship game before falling to Tom Brady and the Patriots.
Mahomes has had amazing success since becoming a starter the last six seasons. He’s made it to the AFC Championship game every year and will be playing in his fourth Super Bowl in the last five years.
Mahomes has won two Super Bowls, which puts him in rare company as one of 13 quarterbacks to have led their team to multiple wins to end the season. He’s also one of only 10 players to have multiple MVPs, and the list wilts down to six when you count players with multiple Super Bowls and MVPs.
Brett Favre (1), Aaron Rodgers (1), Drew Brees (1), and Dan Marino (0) have combined to win three Super Bowls in over 70 seasons played. Mahomes is playing for his third Super Bowl win on Sunday in only his seventh NFL season.
Mahomes has passed for over 5,000 yards in the regular season twice, which is good for 4th and 11th all-time for a single season. He also currently sits second all-time behind only Aaron Rodgers for the best passer rating (103.5) throughout a career and currently sits first all-time in passing yards per game (296.1).
Winning is second nature for Mahomes in the playoffs. He’s 14-3 over his six seasons, which puts him tied for third place all-time in playoff wins for a quarterback. Only Tom Brady (35) and Joe Montana (16) have more wins.
An All-Timer
Despite being only 28 years old, Mahomes deserves to be in the conversation as one of the best quarterbacks of all time. It’s strange to say since he’s only seven years into his career, but with plenty of years left in him, Mahomes has a chance to be one of the greatest ever. So, where does he sit now?
When it comes to the elite echelon of quarterbacks, names such as Tom Brady, Joe Montana, and Peyton Manning reign supreme in what can only be described as the GOAT tier. Their legacies are marked by unparalleled longevity, astonishing accomplishments, and jaw-dropping stats. Together, they boast an awe-inspiring tally of 13 Super Bowl victories, 10 NFL MVP awards, and a collective tenure of 57 seasons performing at the highest levels.
The next tier would include the likes of Johnny Unitas, Dan Marino, John Elway, and Aaron Rodgers. In my opinion, Mahomes has already etched his name among these gridiron giants, even if he chose to hang up his cleats today. He is already on a level playing field and in many ways exceeds this group when it comes to accolades, but he doesn’t yet have the longevity of putting up out-of-this-world stats year after year. However, if Mahomes wins his third Super Bowl in a few days, it will undoubtedly move him into the GOAT tier.
What does Mahomes have to do to catch the GOAT, Tom Brady? A whole lot more winning. Even if Mahomes does win the Super Bowl on Sunday, he still will need four more to even catch Brady. To put that in perspective, there are only three quarterbacks in the history of the game who have won four Super Bowls. To be considered the GOAT, Mahomes would likely have to win an eighth Super Bowl or at least tie Brady with superior numbers and in fewer years.
Catching Brady’s seven Super Bowls and 35 playoff wins is an almost impossible feat, but if anyone has shown they can do it, it’s Pat Mahomes. In the meantime, let’s all just enjoy greatness.