For years, Tom Brady’s figure has shadowed any other quarterback in the NFL for the GOAT debate, as his titles, appearences and performances speak for themselves. He holds a résumé so overwhelming that it practically ends arguments before they even start. Since his retirement, no one in the modern NFL would realistically threaten that mark.
However, analyst Emmanuel Acho is not ready to close the case. According to Acho, Patrick Mahomes can actually catch him in accomplishments. But there is a catch in his words that defines the very nature of sporting greatness.
Acho’s bold take on the debate
Acho suggests that while the math may eventually favor the Chiefs’ superstar, the narrative is a different beast entirely.
“Patrick Mahomes can catch Tom Brady in rings. But nobody can catch Tom Brady in greatness, because he was first… Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes met twice, not once, twice. Tom Brady met Patrick Mahomes when Tom Brady was old, and beat him
His argument has become the primary weapon for Brady loyalists. Despite Mahomes becoming the first QB to reach five Super Bowls in a six-season span, the shadow of Super Bowl LV looms large. In that 2021 matchup, a 43-year-old Brady led the Buccaneers to a 31-9 victory over a prime Mahomes, a result that many believe ended the GOAT card permanently.
The extra Mahomes needs
The boost Mahomes requires is not winning more games. He needs the longevity of the greats. To surpass Brady, Mahomes must prove he can survive the inevitable roster turnovers and droughts that define a very long career.
As Acho notes, the answer of who is bes” may have already been given on the field in Tampa, but the answer of who is most successful is still being written in Kansas City. Mahomes is undoubtely the current “final boss” of the NFL, and as long as he is on the field, the seven-ring record remains possible.
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