At just 28 years old, Patrick Mahomes has already built a legacy few quarterbacks could dream of. Two MVPs, three Super Bowl victories, and five consecutive AFC Championship appearances – his resume is the gold standard.
And even though the Kansas City Chiefs fell short in Super Bowl LVIII against the Eagles, it was Mahomes’ third straight Super Bowl appearance and fourth in the last five seasons. No quarterback in the league today can match that track record.
But as the NFL offseason turns toward the future, the question isn’t just about Mahomes’ legacy – it’s about how he stacks up right now.
In ESPN’s annual top-10 quarterback rankings, compiled from votes by NFL executives, coaches, and scouts, Mahomes remains at the top for the third year running. But the margin is shrinking.
“After dominating the voting with back-to-back No. 1 rankings in convincing fashion, Mahomes garnered around 60 percent of the first-place votes this year,” wrote ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. “That’s well short of last year when he received all but one.”
By his own lofty standards, Mahomes had a “down” year statistically in 2024: 3,928 passing yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions
But those numbers don’t tell the full story.
“O-line in decline, particularly at tackle. WR group completely cleaned out by injury. Kelce not near the same player,” one coordinator explained.
“Still, I thought Mahomes had more command of time, score, and situation than ever. He’s a one-man army. No coach wants to game-plan against him.”
Competition heating up
Behind Mahomes in the ESPN rankings:
- Josh Allen (Bills) – No. 2, fresh off his first MVP season
- Joe Burrow (Bengals) – No. 3, leading the league in yards and touchdowns last year
- Lamar Jackson (Ravens) – No. 4, also a two-time MVP
Each of those QBs received at least one first-place vote. Mahomes may be top dog, but the pack is closing in.
ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky made headlines with his response to the rankings. When asked if Mahomes is still “clearly and obviously” the best quarterback in the league, his answer was simple:
“No.”
Orlovsky didn’t argue Mahomes’ greatness – just that, based on 2024 alone, he wasn’t the top performer in the group.
“Out of the top four guys, Mahomes was fourth last year when it comes to just watching them play,” he said.
“But there’s a reality – Patrick has played his absolute best when it matters most. Those other guys haven’t consistently done that.”
These rankings are meant to reflect present-day ability, not just career accolades. But when it comes to crunch-time greatness and postseason poise, Mahomes still stands alone.
- Allen has his MVP.
- Jackson has two.
- Burrow is coming off his best season yet.
But none of them have a Super Bowl title. Mahomes has three.
The quarterback throne still belongs to Mahomes – but the competition is growing stronger by the season. His statistical grip may have loosened, but when the games matter most, no one delivers like he does.
Until someone else proves they can do it on the biggest stage, Mahomes remains the standard.
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