In the annals of NFL history, the Legend of Patrick Mahomes is the straight-to-DVD sequel to Tom Brady’s long-running GOAT Chronicles.
Brady - who retired last week - won seven Super Bowls over an illustrious career that spanned two decades with the New England Patriots, where he won six championships, before spending three seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, winning Super Bowl LV. The 45-year-old essentially owns every major NFL record of note, while he has more Super Bowl wins to his name than any of the 32 franchises .
Brady took advantage of his surprise opportunity to start as a sophomore for the Patriots in the wake of Drew Bledsoe’s injury, and he went on to win three Super Bowls in his first four years as a starter. Mahomes’ tale has seen a similarly rapid rise to prominence.
Since usurping Alex Smith to become the starting quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs ahead of the 2018 NFL season, Mahomes won MVP in 2018 and advanced to the AFC Championship Game where he fell to Brady’s Pats in overtime. The following year, the 27-year-old won Super Bowl MVP after he led the Chiefs to their first championship since 1970 - ending a 50-year title drought.
He returned to the Super Bowl in February 2021, but was soundly defeated by Brady and the Buccaneers despite his best efforts. Mahomes has ultimately reached five AFC Championship Games - all at home - in his five years under centre, while he has clinched three Super Bowl berths in four years with the opportunity to win a second ring beckoning.
Mahomes has an elite offensive mind in head coach Andy Reid calling the shots along with perhaps the greatest receiving tight end weapon in NFL history in the form of Travis Kelce - but the sheer ability the prodigiously talented quarterback possesses is mind-boggling.
Travis Kelce firmly believes Mahomes is going to usurp Brady and be recognised as the GOAT - the greatest of all time. Brady has the unparalleled hardware in the form of seven Super Bowl championships, yet Mahomes passes the eye test while his skill is clear in the success he has already achieved. ESPN presenter and former NFL linebacker Sam Acho believes Mahomes truly could surpass Brady atop the NFL’s mountain.
“Mahomes is 27, so if he gets a second ring - I’m not saying he’s going to get seven, but shoot if he gets four? I mean, even two is crazy,” Acho exclusively told Mirror Sport. “Aaron Rodgers only has one, and he’s only been to the Super Bowl once.
“Another Super Bowl win on Sunday will get Mahomes in the conversation, honestly. People will say ‘Well, it’s seven versus two’ - but a win on Sunday paired with continued dominance would be hard to deny. They’ve been to three of the last four Super Bowls. What if he wins two of those and goes back to the Super Bowl next year?
“Tom Brady was winning every other year. There was a time where he was there every year - win, loss, win, win, and then a nine-year drought. And then back again: win, win, loss, win. So if Mahomes gets two and that moves to three and then four, man. The Manning’s only have two. Drew Brees has one.
“It’s a different stratosphere.”
Mahomes has been named to the Pro Bowl each of the five years he has been a starter, and he ensured that all of the accolades and accomplishments in his short but sensational career were worth it shortly after hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in 2020. Mahomes signed a record 10-year contract extension worth $477 million, with another $26m in bonuses that could see it rise to $503m - the largest contract in American sports history.
Acho praised Mahomes’ attitude to the quarterback position and insisted everyone - fans, critics, and everything in between - should not take his talent for granted.
“People talk about confidence or cockiness, but I just see fearlessness in him,” Acho said. “He’s willing to take risks. So many coaches want to do things a certain way and you’re programmed to go through the reads, but he sees something different. He’s willing to expose himself for the greater good of his teammates.
“You get immune to how amazing he is. You forget that what he is doing is excellent. He has a ‘bad’ year and people get on his case, but he is amazing. We’re witnessing his…it’s more than excellence. We’re witnessing his majesty.”
With the 10th pick of the 2017 NFL Draft, the Texas Tech alum landed in Kansas City. The draft took place in Philadelphia, forever tying the City of Brotherly Love to one of the greatest talents the NFL has ever seen. Now, the Eagles stand in the way of Mahomes as he chases a second championship.
Fans can buy a copy of Sam Acho's book 'Change Starts With You: Following Your Fire To Heal A Broken World' here.
