Patrick Mahomes had a chance to make history, but Sunday’s Super Bowl loss altered the trajectory of his legacy – at least for now.
Entering the game with an opportunity to become the first quarterback to win three consecutive Super Bowls, Mahomes instead turned in one of the worst performances of his career.
The defeat dropped his Super Bowl record to 3-2, complicating his pursuit of Tom Brady’s legendary status.
Unlike Brady, Mahomes has now been blown out twice on the sport’s biggest stage. While he may end up winning a few more Super Bowls, the sad truth is that performances like the one he had last night can never been wiped away.
There were many analysts who were ready to crown Mahomes as the GOAT had the Chiefs won last night. But we all know how that story played out.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said that Kansas City’s blowout loss was so damaging that we can safely put the Mahomes-Brady debate to bed.
“It’s officially over,” Smith said on today’s edition of First Take. “Let me just throw out these stats for you… Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl, 3-2 record, 65% completion. 265 yards [average], alright, 10 touchdowns, seven interceptions, a passer rating at 86.9 okay, even though he’s won three Super Bowl MVPs.”
Smith emphasized that Mahomes’ numbers, while strong, do not measure up to those of Brady or even Joe Montana, whom he reintroduced into the conversation.
“You’re talking about Tom Brady, with a 7-3 record, his record speaks for itself, five-time Super Bowl, MVP, all of that stuff. We got to bring Joe Montana back into this conversation because of what we witnessed yesterday,” Smith continued.
“Joe Montana, 4-0, 68% completion percentage, 285 passing yards [average], 11 touchdowns, not a single interception ever. OK … and he’s also a three time Super Bowl MVP.
“After this Super Bowl, we talk about Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes and Joe Montana. Montana’s been added back to the conversation.”
Despite the loss, Smith acknowledged Mahomes’ greatness but reiterated that his shot at surpassing Brady is effectively gone.
Mahomes’ Super Bowl record now mirrors what Brady’s was through his first ten seasons. However, Brady’s longevity and sustained excellence ultimately allowed him to reach five more Super Bowls and secure four additional rings.
The road ahead remains open for Mahomes and the Chiefs, but while his career is far from over, the notion that he could realistically surpass Brady is looking more uncertain than ever.
Of course, last night’s loss wasn’t all on Mahomes. The Chiefs were exposed and it’s clear that several roster changes need to be made.
Having said that, it would be shocking if Mahomes doesn’t win at least one or two more rings the rest of his career.
But again, it’s impossible to overstate just how damaging last night was to Mahomes’ overall legacy.
What are your thoughts on what we witnessed last night in New Orleans? … Do you think the ugliness of the loss effectively ends Mahomes’ pursuit of GOAT status???
