Since Patrick Mahomes joined the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017, his career has been a whirlwind of successes and achievements that have led many to compare him to Tom Brady, the most successful player in NFL history. With three championships over the past five years, six consecutive appearances in the AFC Championship Game, and a flawless performance so far in the 2024 season, Mahomes has proven himself to be the centerpiece of a new NFL dynasty.
Throughout his career, Patrick Mahomes has demonstrated outstanding skills and leadership, which have helped the Chiefs establish themselves as a new NFL dynasty, similar to what Brady achieved with the Patriots. However, despite his multiple championships and awards, Mahomes still faces several challenges ahead if he hopes to match Brady’s legendary career, whose consistency and achievements over more than two decades have established him as the ‘GOAT‘ of football.
ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE SAME TIME FRAME
In his first six seasons as a starter, Patrick Mahomes has achieved impressive numbers: three NFL championships, three Super Bowl MVP awards, and two regular-season MVP awards. Comparatively, Tom Brady, in the same period, won three titles and two Super Bowl MVPs but did not earn a regular-season MVP. This shows that Mahomes, early on, has equaled and even surpassed some of Brady’s initial accomplishments, who ended his career with seven rings and four Super Bowl MVPs.
In other words, while Mahomes has achieved a lot in a short time, he still has a long way to go. Durability and consistency throughout his career will be crucial in determining if he can match or surpass Brady in titles and individual awards.
LONGEVITY AS A DECISIVE FACTOR
Another aspect in which Brady excelled is his longevity. Brady retired at age 45 after 23 seasons, while Mahomes, at 28, is only halfway through what could be his career. It’s hard to predict if Mahomes will play until that age, but at least his contract with the Chiefs until 2030 assures him the opportunity to compete at the highest level for the coming seasons.
To match Brady’s longevity, Mahomes will need to stay in shape, avoid injuries, and adapt to the inevitable physical toll. In the NFL, longevity is not just a matter of skill but of discipline and resilience, areas where Brady excelled for over two decades.
GREATNESS IN THE NFL: MORES THAN JUST NUMBERS
While titles and stats are important, a player’s impact on the sport is less tangible and goes beyond numbers. Mahomes has yet to earn a nickname that compares him to legends like Joe Montana or Brady, underscoring that although he has achieved great feats, he has not yet reached that “aura” that the NFL’s “GOAT” holds.
Brady not only dominated the NFL in his time but also redefined the quarterback position with his leadership and focus on the game, attributes that led him to greatness at multiple stages of his career. Mahomes still has time to establish his own legacy and shape his identity on the field.
CAN PATRICK MAHOMES TOM BRADY
The question of whether Mahomes will reach Brady is not simple and largely depends on how his career evolves over the next few years. While he has reached multiple milestones in a shorter time and has been a constant leader in the American Conference, maintaining this pace will be key to catching up to the legendary Brady. Patrick Mahomes will need to win at least four more rings and another Super Bowl MVP award, a challenge that seems daunting but not impossible.
As the Chiefs continue to dominate the NFL, Mahomes will have the opportunity to cement himself as a legend in his own category, and only time will tell if he can reach or even surpass Tom Brady’s greatness. For now, the young Kansas City quarterback continues to make history with every game.
