To any avid watcher of the NFL, Tom Brady is undoubtedly the greatest of all time. His record-high seven Super Bowl wins place him at number one, but his playmaking skills, leadership, and dominance over two decades truly convey his incredible longevity.
While representing the New England Patriots, Brady excelled under the guidance of a tactical mastermind, Bill Belichick. Both recorded a plethora of playoff accolades but ultimately won six Super Bowl titles from 2001 to 2018, equaling the record for any franchise in NFL history.
The San Mateo native opted to leave and prove himself in the National Football Conference, joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brady won his seventh and final Super Bowl in 2020, demolishing the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 and lifting his final Lombardi at age 44.
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Tom Brady Revealed the NFL Player who Could Match his GOAT Legacy
Tom Brady
In a recent interview on Kevin Hart's 'Cold As Balls' at Fanatics Fest, Brady opened up when asked about the possibility of players dethroning his record Super Bowl tally. The 47-year-old gave a clear answer before the question had finished, as he mentioned three-time Super Bowl winner and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
"I just think Patrick - I love his mentality. The great players that I've played with, Patrick has their mentality. He has the will to win. He's got a desire every time he takes the field to be a great leader. Even more than his physical skill, which I always do. I listen to what they say all the time. I listen to what they say after they win, and I listen to what they say after they lose. I listen to how they communicate with their teammates and stuff. It's just everything he says is the right thing... He's got a great organization, great coach, great general manager, great ownership, and they got the parts around him."
Brady explained that Mahomes' relentless drive to win is one of his greatest attributes, especially considering he defeated the San Francisco 49ers when on the back foot in two separate Super Bowls.
After all, the Kansas City Chiefs era is similar to that of Brady's, where Mahomes is the centerpiece in head coach Andy Reid's organisation. This partnership has seen three Super Bowl wins and seven consecutive AFC Championship Games - and came extremely close to winning the first-ever three-peat last February.
Tom Brady vs Patrick Mahomes: NFL Career Milestones
Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes
Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Below is a detailed comparison of Brady and Patrick Mahomes' career statistics. Considering Mahomes is only 29, his career is far from finished, but his impressive accolades show he's on his way and that he's already in the top ten players in NFL history.
Tom Brady vs Patrick Mahomes (Career Stats)
Tom Brady
7 (2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020)
3
5
3-3
2-0
102,614 yards
737
96.2
When Brady was 29, he had three Lombardi trophies to his name, too, but what made him stand out was his impressive longevity of consistent high-performing seasons and later winning four Super Bowls in his mid-30s.
Time will tell whether Mahomes finds an extra level as he approaches his 30s, or whether he even wants to match the two-decade-long career of Brady. Irrespectively, his career thus far has seen arguably the greatest period of dominance by one organization in the sport's history.
Regardless, there's no doubt that Mahomes will continue to impress. But even when the debate is about the greatest NFL player of all time, their encounter at the 2020 Super Bowl will be a hot topic. Brady put in a veteran performance, and the Buccaneers' secondary restricted Mahomes to zero touchdown completions.
The Texans remain on three titles after their recent blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in February 2025. He has yet to eclipse Pittsburgh Steelers icon Terry Bradshaw and San Francisco 49ers legend Joe Montana, who both have four titles respectively.
It's evident that Brady sees Mahomes as a potential figure to match or even surpass his accolades, but the tough ecosystem of the NFL makes this nearly impossible to predict.
While comparisons are a great way to gauge true greatness, all eras have different names for the face of the franchise and league. The Chiefs quarterback is undoubtedly the player of the 2020s so far and should be applauded for his contribution to America's most populated sport.
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All information per StatMuse - correct as of 02/07/25.