Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, still one of the most dominant players in the NFL, recently faced criticism from a surprising source.
On his podcast, former Pittsburgh Steelers star and two-time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger claimed that Mahomes is “just entering out of his prime.” That comment quickly ignited a strong response from Mahomes‘ trainer, Bobby Stroupe.
Roethlisberger, discussing the ongoing debate over the greatest quarterbacks of all time, weighed Mahomes against another NFL legend.
He said, “I think Aaron Rodgers in his prime was one of the top few to ever do it, and so is Patrick Mahomes in his prime. Patrick Mahomes is just entering out of his prime. I think Patrick Mahomes is phenomenal. He’s going to go down as, you know, another arguable GOAT (greatest of all time). … If we’re talking prime and prime, then I’m going to have to think really hard on that.”
Roethlisberger made his remarks while considering whether he would choose Rodgers in his prime over the current version of Mahomes. Though he acknowledged Mahomes‘ brilliance, his preference for Rodgers triggered a reaction from the Chiefs‘ side.
Response from Mahomes’ team shifts the narrative
Mahomes‘ personal trainer, Bobby Stroupe, took to social media platform X to strike back. He didn’t shy away from calling out Roethlisberger‘s conditioning regimen. Stroupe quipped:
“Not everybody quits working out at 30 years old, Ben.”
Stroupe‘s rebuttal defended Mahomes‘ ongoing dedication to his craft, highlighting that age has done little to slow him down.
Despite enduring what some might call a statistical dip in 2024, Mahomes continues to perform at an elite level. He passed for 3,928 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, his first season as a full-time starter without surpassing 4,000 yards or earning a Pro Bowl nod.
While these numbers were slightly lower than his 2022 MVP campaign (5,250 yards and 41 scores), he still led the Chiefs to the Super Bowl, where they fell to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Mahomes remains one of only five quarterbacks in NFL history to start in three or more Super Bowls and boasts three Super Bowl MVP titles, most recently in 2024. At just 29 years old, he has already secured two regular-season MVPs (2018, 2022), further cementing his legacy.
Aaron Rodgers, whom Roethlisberger praised, has also been in the spotlight. Now in the late stage of his career, Rodgers signed a one-year deal with the Steelers for the 2025 season, possibly his final NFL stint.
Currently ranked seventh all-time in passing yards with 62,952, he’s chasing Roethlisberger‘s fifth-place mark of 64,088 yards.
Where Mahomes truly stands
If there’s one thing Roethlisberger‘s comment has accomplished, it’s stirring the debate over who deserves to be called the GOAT. Analysts and fans continue to monitor Mahomes‘ performance for signs of decline, yet he continues to deliver when it matters most.
Despite a reduction in volume stats, his efficiency and playoff heroics remain as strong as ever. In the 2024 postseason alone, Mahomes led the Chiefs to back-to-back AFC Championship wins and returned to the Super Bowl, adding to his increasingly exceptional résumé.
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