by Greatness is happening with the NFL right now. Sports fans may be hard-pressed right now to accept the levels of domination that are right before their eyes, but something is happening that is nearly impossible to fathom. It seems absurd to say this about a 27-year-old player, especially a quarterback, but it’s fair to ask the question: Is Patrick Mahomes the best quarterback ever?
“Greatest” is impossible to parse, as is “best” to a lesser extent, but this is a great time to stop and reflect on the incredible start Mahomes had to his career. Five straight AFC championship games, he just won his second MVP award and has a chance to add to his collection of Super Bowl titles with another win this weekend. Oh yeah, and he has three All-Pro selections, one Pro Bowl selection for every year he’s played AND an Offensive Player of the Year award in 2018, along with his first MVP award.
Say it with me now: this is crazy. No quarterback was as dominant as Mahomes was in the start of his five-season career. There’s no problem recognizing him, and frankly, it already puts him in the category of the most accomplished quarterbacks to ever set foot on the pro field. That part holds true no matter how anyone feels about Mahomes — and logically, there should already be people willing to put him in the best conversation of all time.
Longevity will push him out of this conversation for many people as his NFL career only started in 2018, but unheard of production and accolades is still unheard of production and accolades. It shouldn’t take a 20-year career for people to respect and understand what they’re seeing right now. If he can win another champ in a somewhat casual game this weekend and lock in another Super Bowl title, people will likely be more receptive to the idea that this 27-year-old still in his prime is the best quarterback ever.
The larger sample shows that he has put up incredible numbers so far. Mahomes has led the NFL in ESPN quarterback metrics twice since 2018, has thrown for at least 37 touchdowns in four of his five seasons, and led the league in touchdown passing twice. One of those seasons, this season, was without the services of Tyreek Hill, who was shipped to Miami in exchange for a first-round pick. Losing a dynamic player like Hill would be a significant deathblow for most teams to step over. The bosses are still exactly where they want to be, in what has been a bit of a year of restructuring for them.
The Atlas-level ability to carry an offense, the statistical dominance, the real joy that comes from watching him play. Mahomes has reached LeBron James peak status where simply having him on the roster guarantees the Chiefs will be in championship contention, like five consecutive AFC Championship games (all at home) and now three Super Bowl away games.
Mahomes is arguably the best quarterback in the league today and is so far ahead of his peers that it’s only fair to bring the entire scope of NFL history into play. Even there he is the best.
