Now that Patrick Mahomes is fresh off his embarrassing loss in Super Bowl LIX, there remains a lot of speculation on social media about how close he is to all-time great quarterback Tom Brady in the discussion for who is the “GOAT” (Greatest Of All Time). I’m writing to put an end to this argument.
Tom Brady’s resume is unparalleled. He is the NFL’s all-time leading quarterback in Super Bowl victories with seven championships—two more than any player in NFL history. These titles include Super Bowl wins with two different franchises, the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. These successes exemplify his ability to take entirely different systems to championship caliber. On the other hand, Mahomes has three Super Bowl wins early in his career, at the age of 29. His legacy playing against Brady, however, is one he would want to forget: a loss in the 2019 AFC Championship Game and a loss in 2022’s Super Bowl LV.
A remarkable aspect of Brady’s game is the sheer consistency of his 23-year career. He played at an elite level for more than two decades, dominating for the New England Patriots under defensively focused head coach Bill Belichick. Later, Brady proved his skill without Belichick, this time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, led by offensive focused head coach Bruce Arians.
Brady’s ability to maintain peak performance into his 40s, a time when the majority of athletes fall victim to “father time”, is unprecedented. Mahomes, despite being extremely talented, is 29 years of age and with eight seasons under his belt, he has yet to come close to proving he can sustain greatness for as long as Brady achieved.
Brady’s versatility as a quarterback plays an important role in his legacy. He won his first Super Bowl in 2001, when the game was slower and more defensively centric, and continued to win as the opponents defensive schemes evolved around him. He proved that he was capable of tailoring his play style—whether alongside a powerhouse defense, and while using either run or pass-first offenses—a tribute to his football IQ and leadership.
Mahomes, great as he is, has largely ruled during a more pass-friendly, offense-centric era. Unlike Brady, Mahomes triumph is due more to his offensive system, built by mastermind head coach Andy Reid. Finally, Brady’s accolades—three MVPs, five Super Bowl MVPs, and an NFL record in career passing touchdowns—cement his GOAT status.
In conclusion, while Mahomes is recognized as a young gunslinger with loads of talent, athleticism, and his capability to make highlight-reel plays, Brady’s intellect, hardware, and longevity make him an easy leading candidate as the greatest football player ever for decades to come.
