How Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes can break an Aaron Rodgers NFL record with 33 TDs image
Dec 14, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a pass during the second half against the Los Angeles Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
The Kansas City Chiefs have been one of the best teams of the last decade, with Patrick Mahomes leading the franchise to multiple Super Bowl titles in what's been one of the more impressive dynasties in NFL history.
But after missing a large chunk of the 2025 season, Mahomes lost a year of his prime and could be at risk of falling short of some records because of it. But there's one record he has a real chance of getting, and it's an interesting one.
Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon noted that Mahomes is close to breaking a record set by Aaron Rodgers: fastest player to 300 passing touchdowns in NFL history. Mahomes is just 33 TDs away and, fittingly, can use the full 17-game season to break this record.
Patrick Mahomes has a perfect chance to break Aaron Rodgers' NFL record
"Patrick Mahomes: Fastest to 300 career regular-season touchdown passes," Gagnon writes. "Mahomes looks to be well on track to start Week 1 as he completes his recovery from a major knee injury, but he hasn't thrown 33-plus touchdown passes in a single season since 2022. So he's got his work cut out for him."
Reaching 300 touchdowns faster than any QB in NFL regular-season history would be quite the accomplishment for Mahomes, and it's a record well within his reach.
Since he's slated to start Week 1 for Kansas City and he needs to break this record in under 18 games, he has the full 17-game season to break the record.
Mahomes is 33 touchdowns short of 300 for his career, and he will surely get close to this record if he plays the full season, even if he does not break it.
All he needs to do is average two touchdowns per game as a passer and play the full 17-game slate. With a strong AFC West, Mahomes and the Chiefs might need to go all-out to win the division, let alone make the playoffs again.
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The issue for Mahomes in getting this record is that he'll have to go vintage Mahomes and not repeat the last few seasons' passing production.
His last time over 33 touchdowns was in 2022, when he threw for 41 in a season. He had 27 in 2023, 26 in 2024, and 22 in 14 games last season.
Mahomes will need to pick up the pace a bit if he wants this record, but history suggests he's more than capable of throwing for 33-plus touchdowns in a season.
He had 50 in a wild 2018 season, 38 in 2020, and 37 in 2021. All in all, half of his seasons have seen Mahomes reach at least 33 touchdowns, while the other half of his career has been below that mark.
Of course, the one thing to worry about is that the last three seasons have been the bulk of those sub-33-passing-touchdown years for Mahomes. He has a chance at this record, but he cannot afford to play like he has the past few years. Mahomes needs to be better.
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