Patrick Mahomes won't turn 29 until September. He just won his third Super Bowl, his third Super Bowl MVP, and became the first starting quarterback since Tom Brady in the mid-2000s. Mahomes' GOAT candidacy is real.
The inevitability of Mahomes and the Chiefs has a whiff of Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls. The way he orchestrates comebacks and drives the fourth quarter is reminiscent of Brady. Sniff Mahomes and opponents will often be helpless.
Even when the Chiefs couldn't overcome the Niners' stout defense, did anyone really think they were out of it? they never With Mahomes.
He threw an interception after going seven straight postseason games without one. Yes, he forced her a little on that throw, but it's been a flawless performance ever since. Kansas City's offense has been unreliable all season — they lead the league in catches, and there were moments of sloppy play on Sunday.
Mahomes, with the help of mastermind Andy Reid, found a way to generate enough offense. We all knew he could put up outrageous numbers when exposed to a stacked offense. But what Mahomes has done in each of the past two years is show he can win in a different way.
It's no longer about chasing big plays. This was a showcase from Mahomes and Reid, one that took them from an entertaining and successful duo to a true NFL dynasty.
Only Brady and Bill Belichick have won more playoff games among all quarterback-coach pairings. Brady and Joe Montana are the only quarterbacks with more postseason wins than Mahomes. Brady, Montana and Terry Bradshaw are the only quarterbacks with more Super Bowl victories.
Before Sunday's game, a strong case could be made for Mahomes as a top-five quarterback in NFL history. Now, anything less than third place all-time would be controversial.
Brady has four more rings and two Super Bowl MVPs. His last three Super Bowl titles came at 37, 39 and 43 years old. Aging as gracefully as Brady probably isn't a fair expectation for Mahomes, but at just 28 years old, it's reasonable to expect him to maintain that level for at least half a decade. .
Since becoming the starter in 2018, Mahomes has won six straight division titles. He has never been shut out before the AFC Championship Game, and has made four Super Bowl appearances. By advanced and conventional metrics, Kansas City's run to Super Bowl glory in Las Vegas was the toughest any team has ever faced.
After enjoying home-field advantage in recent seasons, Mahomes took his team to Buffalo and won. Then they knocked off the top-seeded Ravens in Baltimore. Vegas' masterpiece Sunday was the most impressive of the trilogy — the Niners are better in every aspect than the Chiefs, and their defense has been causing problems in Kansas City.
Mahomes used his legs to get a crucial first down. Shoot the ball quickly via screen passes. When the Chiefs got into the red zone as the first overtime period came to a close, he was calmer than anyone else on the field.
It's one of the greatest performances in Super Bowl history. Mahomes was already on a GOAT-level path. This playoff run has elevated him even further – he could retire tomorrow and there will be a strong debate about whether he is the second greatest player in NFL history. By the time we get to 2030, Mahomes may have surpassed Brady as the consensus GOAT.
