Revisiting the G.O.A.T. Debate Following Super Bowl LVIII
Photo Credit: ClutchPoints
The debate of who is the greatest of all time (G.O.A.T.) is one that, regardless of sport, is often discussed and highly debated. In the National Football League (NFL), the G.O.A.T. conversation has always revolved around a quarterback.
For the better part of two decades, the answer was Joe Montana, a four-time Super Bowl champion and two-time NFL MVP who was undoubtedly the most accomplished quarterback of his generation. After securing his seventh Super Bowl championship with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 43 years of age, Tom Brady had seemingly cemented his legacy as the greatest to ever put on a helmet and shoulder pads in 2020. Yet, just four years later, the conversation has returned to mainstream media, and the current challenger is only just getting started.
There hasn’t been a player that has accomplished more over their first six seasons than Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. After being named Super Bowl Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the third time at Super Bowl LVIII this weekend, Mahomes joins the elite company of Montana and Brady as the only players to accomplish such a feat. Speaking of, the 25-22 win made Mahomes and the Chiefs just the ninth team in NFL history to defend their title and win consecutive championships.
Hoisting the Lombardi for the third time, the 28-year-old adds to a mantle that already holds two NFL MVPs, an Offensive Players of the Year award, and two first-team All-Pro nods. A Pro Bowl selection in every season as a starter, there is no denying the greatness that has been on display in his six seasons as the starting quarterback in Kansas City.
As if three championships and two MVP awards weren’t enough, Mahomes has also solidified himself in the record books as well. Just a season ago, Mahomes broke the record for most total yards in a season by a quarterback with 5,608 combined passing and rushing yards. There was another record set this weekend, with Mahomes 66 rushing yards putting him at 139 total over his four Super Bowl appearances, soaring ahead of Joe Montana’s previous record of 105.
Numbers, accolades, and championships aside, there are a few non-measurables that make Mahomes one of a kind; the natural arm talent, the ability to extend plays, and the creativity (making left-handed and underhand throws come to mind) are just a few. With that being said, where does Mahomes stack up in the G.O.A.T. conversation?
For the sake of argument, only quarterbacks will be mentioned, although all-time greats such as Jerry Rice, Lawrence Taylor, Walter Payton, etc. are not nearly discussed enough in the discourse surrounding the G.O.A.T.
Patrick Mahomes on the Tom Brady comparisons: “To me it will always be tough because Brady beat me in the Super Bowl.” pic.twitter.com/KZMp96jqdH
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 12, 2024
As acknowledged by Mahomes in the post-game press conference of Super Bowl LVIII, he has yet to surpass Tom Brady, and not just because Brady got the better of him in Super Bowl LV. The five-time Super Bowl MVP holds the record for most wins (251), Pro Bowls (15), completions (7,753), passing yards (89,214), and passing touchdowns (649). When looking at the postseason, Brady holds ten more records, with the most noteworthy being wins (35), game-winning drives (14), and fourth-quarter comebacks (9). The numbers don’t lie.
Brady aside, the other two quarterbacks primarily featured in the G.O.A.T. debate are the aforementioned Joe Montana and Peyton Manning.
Playing in a loaded NFC for the majority of his career and in a much less favorable era in terms of NFL rules/officiating, Montana was in a league of his own. Selected first-team All-Pro three times during his career, “Joe Cool” was at his best when it mattered the most, undefeated in the Super Bowl and bolstering an impressive 1,142 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and zero turnovers in the four victories. Winning the passing title twice in his career, Montana held several postseason records and was top five in most passing categories at the time of his retirement.
Considered the most intelligent to ever play the position, Peyton Manning is undoubtedly the greatest regular-season quarterback ever. Having the best statistical season in NFL history with 5,477 passing yards, 55 touchdowns, and a 115.1 passer rating in 2013, the five-time NFL MVP littered his name in the record books over seventeen seasons. To name a few, “The Sheriff” has the most 4,000-yard seasons (14), 400-yard games (14), game-winning drives (54), Super Bowl appearances (2) and wins (1) with multiple teams.
Comparing the two to Mahomes, an argument can be made for the 10th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft to be ahead of both. Although Montana has a slight edge in awards and championships, he did so with arguably the greatest receiver of all time Jerry Rice, and his predecessor, Steve Young, had similar success. Mahomes has won two championships since the departure of one of the greatest receivers of this generation, Tyreek Hill, with a minimal supporting cast outside future Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce. Manning, who also had multiple All-Pro level talent around him throughout his career, sees his legacy suffer when evaluating his success in the playoffs. Holding a 14-13 overall record, Manning has two championships to his name. Mahomes has passed him in both metrics with his victory at Super Bowl LVIII, with a 15-3 playoff record and three championships to his name.
Clearly, Mahomes still has a lot of ground to cover, and considering the unprecedented longevity of the current G.O.A.T., it may be difficult for him to reach these numbers, although he is very much on pace at present. Regardless of where one ranks him in the G.O.A.T. debate, there is no denying the Hall of Fame legacy and the dynasty that he and Andy Reid have built in just the last six years.
