Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady share many similarities from their first six seasons in the NFL.
The elite of the elite at quarterback has long dominated the NFL. Front offices spend years searching for their building blocks behind center.
Ironically enough, the greatest quarterback of all time, or at least the most accomplished, wasn’t taken until the sixth round of his NFL Draft.
That’s right; Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl champion, didn’t hear his name called until No. 199 overall in 2000.
As we all know, Brady put the New England Patriots on the map and even won another championship elsewhere with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before riding off into the sunset.
Given Brady’s longevity and consistent, winning ways, many fans believed no quarterback could ever reach his lofty records.
And then Patrick Mahomes happened.
Patrick Mahomes is witnessing unprecedented success to begin his NFL career
Unlike Brady, Mahomes was a first-round pick in the NFL Draft. But the Texas Tech alum was the third quarterback off the board that year behind Mitchell Trubisky and Deshaun Watson.
▪️ Coaches didn’t know about the pick ▪️ Got “duped” by the Niners ▪️ Showed no interest in DeshaunInsiders explain how in the world the Bears drafted Mitch Trubisky over Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 2, 2020
Mahomes sat his entire rookie year behind veteran Alex Smith as he learned the complicated vocabulary of the high-powered Andy Reid scheme.
When Mahomes took over as starter in 2018, he wasted little time ascending toward the top of league rankings everywhere.
He set numerous passing records in his first year as the QB1 in Kansas City, winning the league MVP award in the process.
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Alas, Mahomes would lose to Tom Brady in the AFC Championship game that postseason. Two years later, after Brady moved to Tampa Bay, the elder statesman would win another matchup vs. Mahomes — this time in Super Bowl LV.
Still, Mahomes would win two Super Bowls in his first five seasons as a starter — one against San Francisco and the other vs. Philadelphia.
He’s made the AFC Championship in all six seasons at the helm.
Watch out, Tom Brady… Mahomes is coming
When comparing resumes between Mahomes and Brady, the trends are alarming.
Brady’s first six seasons as a starter:•70-24 career regular season record•12-2 NFL Playoffs record•3x Super Bowl champion•2x Super Bowl MVP•61.9 completion percentage•21,558 passing yards (3,593/year)•147 passing touchdowns (24.5/year)•78 interceptions (13/year)
Mahomes’ first six seasons as a starter:•73-22 career regular season record•2x NFL regular season MVP•14-3 NFL Playoffs record*•2x Super Bowl champion*•2x Super Bowl MVP*•66.5 completion percentage•28,140 passing yards (4,690/year)•219 passing touchdowns (36.5/year)•62 interceptions (10.3/year)
Mahomes could add a win to his career playoff total, plus a third Super Bowl and SB MVP vs. the 49ers.
At age 28, Patrick Mahomes is already on pace to match or eclipse most of Tom Brady’s records. However, Brady’s longevity in the NFL is not easy to replicate.
I agree. Patrick Mahomes is on a trajectory to challenge Tom Brady—if it's said that way, it's correct. Brady went to his fourth Super Bowl in his eighth year. It's happening for Mahomes in his 7th. He got two MVPs before Brady got one.But Brady's story was just starting then. https://t.co/vrJDMH8OFU
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 29, 2024
Mahomes must remain healthy to reach those numbers. He also needs continued assistance from the front office, similar to what Brady had in New England.
But judging solely from the pair’s first six seasons in the NFL, it looks like mirror images, especially if Mahomes and Co. can pull off a third Super Bowl win on Feb. 11.
