Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are still nursing their injuries after a thrashing in Super Bowl 59 against the Philadelphia Eagles. The final score of 40-22 is misleading because the Chiefs trailed by as much as 34 points before the Eagles relaxed and secured their win.
The defeat undoubtedly impacts Mahomes’ standing in “Greatest of All Time” (GOAT) discussions, yet it does not eliminate his qualifications. At 29, the quarterback has made five Super Bowl appearances, securing three victories.
Drew Brees, a legendary quarterback in the NFL, shared his views on the escalating discussion.
Drew Brees Shares Candid Insights on the Tom Brady vs. Patrick Mahomes Discussion
Prior to the Super Bowl that took place in New Orleans this year, Sports Illustrated inquired with Brees regarding his views on the GOAT discussion involving Brady and Mahomes.
“It’s still early.” “It’s early in the sense that, while he has accomplished unprecedented things, there is also a need for longevity associated with it, correct?” Brees commented on Mahomes’ age and his accomplishments.
“Essentially, what Tom Brady accomplished was unmatched.” He competed in 23 seasons, reached 10 Super Bowls, and clinched seven titles. Certainly! Here’s the paraphrased text:
Understand that Patrick Mahomes is destined to be remembered as one of the all-time greats, yet a factor of longevity should accompany all those achievements too.
Brees is familiar with Brady, having faced him eight times during their illustrious careers, and Brees emerged victorious in five of those encounters.
Certainly, Brady performed when it was crucial, defeating Brees and the Saints in their sole playoff clash during the 2021 NFC Divisional Round. That win was one of four during that playoff run as the “Golden Boy” led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl triumph against Mahomes and the Chiefs.
Now, Mahomes can count a second Super Bowl loss in his record, but it shouldn’t swiftly eliminate him from any upcoming discussions. Recency bias plays a significant role in sports media, yet Mahomes has achieved the following prior to reaching 30:
Five appearances in the Super Bowl
Three championships in the Super Bowl
Three MVP awards from the Super Bowl
Seven straight appearances in the AFC Championship Game
Two MVP awards from the regular season
Six All-Star game selections
Two selections for First-Team All-Pro
Provided he remains in good health, the Chiefs’ quarterback is likely to have at least another decade to further enhance that remarkable collection of achievements. In case someone conveniently overlooks it, Brady secured four Super Bowls (and showed up in three additional ones) after reaching 30.
As Brees articulated with clarity, endurance is significant when considering a player’s legacy, particularly for quarterbacks. Brees announced his retirement after the postseason defeat to Brady and the Buccaneers during his age-41 season, while Brady retired after completing his age-45 season.
It’s still (in some way) early in Mahomes’ NFL journey. The superstar quarterback has ample opportunity to demonstrate that he should be included in the same GOAT discussion as Brady.