Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is considered one of the best players in NFL history. The winner of three Super Bowls, in which he was named MVP in each. So he knows a thing or two about the position of quarterback. He's been expected to deliver from day one at the Chiefs. They took him as a first round pick in 2017 from Texas Tech University.
In his first Super Bowl, he completed 26 of his 42 passes as the Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers 31-20. Mahomes was victorious in his third Super Bowl win against the 49ers. This was a game that went to overtime. It was Mahomes' pass, which was caught by Mecole Hardman, that scored the touchdown that saw the Chiefs win 25-22.
Mahomes knows tough times too. In Super Bowl LIX, he was sacked six times, as the Chiefs were swept aside by the Philadelphia Eagles. That's the quarterback position in essence. When things go well, it's great. When they don't, you are under a great deal of scrutiny. So, Mahomes is well-positioned to rate other quarterbacks. Here are Patrick Mahomes' four greatest NFL quarterbacks of all time.
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1 Tom Brady
2000 to 2022
Tom Brady Drops Back In First Season
Credit: Lou Capozzola-USA TODAY Sports
“Obviously, Tom’s on there,” said Mahomes. Tom Brady is always part of the discussion when it comes to the greatest NFL players of all time. So, it’s no surprise to see Mahomes select him.
In Super Bowl LV, Mahomes’ Chiefs lost 31-9 to Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In that game, the Chiefs failed to score a touchdown. Meanwhile, Brady was named MVP. This was Brady’s first season away from the New England Patriots. It was also his seventh Super Bowl victory. This is at the age of 43. Brady isn’t just a giant of the NFL; he is one of the most famous athletes of all time.
2 Joe Montana
1979 to 1994
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana (16) in action against the Washington Redskins at Candlestick Park
Credit: © RVR Photos-Imagn Images
“Joe Montana, he's on there. Four Super Bowls, gotta put him on there,” said Mahomes. Joe Montana is one of the greatest San Francisco 49ers players of all time. He won four Super Bowls with the 49ers in the 1980s and 90s. He’s also a three-time Super Bowl MVP.
Not just equipped with a great arm, Montana had immense composure, too. In Super Bowl XXIII, the 49ers were down 16-13 in the fourth quarter. Up stepped Montana, leading his team 92 yards in 11 plays in just under three minutes. He completed this by throwing the winning 10-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver John Taylor with just 34 seconds left on the clock.
3 Peyton Manning
1998 to 2015
Peyton Manning Indianapolis Colts quarterback
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
“Peyton Manning would probably be on there for me," said Mahomes. Peyton Manning did not win as many Super Bowls as Brady and Montana. He did, however, command respect from those in the game. His two Super Bowl wins were with two different teams.
The Indianapolis Colts beat the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI, with Manning winning MVP. He won it again in Super Bowl 50 with the Denver Broncos, who beat the Carolina Panthers 24-10. He had a sense of calm, and he was an intelligent player. A leader among men, Manning made the Pro Bowl on 14 occasions.
4 John Elway
1983 to 1998
John Elway
RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
John Elway is one of the Denver Broncos’ greatest players of all time. Mahomes was hesitant when picking a fourth quarterback from his list. He has the utmost respect for Dan Marino. “If you look at the stats, dude, his (Marino’s) first season - 48 touchdowns in that era? Best quarterback season in history. I don't care what anyone says -- that thing is one of the most special seasons,” said Mahomes. “And then like every single time that I've been breaking these records, it's like 'Dan Marino had 170 touchdowns in three years' and I'm like 'What? How?'”
But when picking between the two, Mahomes opts for Elway, as unlike Marino, the former Broncos man won the Super Bowl. Elway played in five Super Bowls. However, he lost his first three between 1987 and 1990. He did win back-to-back Super Bowls in the late 1990s, with Super Bowl XXXIII being his final game. The Broncos beat the Atlanta Falcons 34-19, and Elway was named MVP.
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Tom Brady is the greatest NFL player of all time. But even some opponents he came up against, he didn't like getting hit by them.