The debate between Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady over who is the greatest quarterback to ever play in the NFL has heated up in the week leading up to the Super Bowl. Brady has won seven Super Bowls in his career, but with a win on Sunday, Feb. 9, Mahomes could become the first quarterback in history to lead his team to three straight Super Bowl titles.
Based on this achievement, many, including Stephen A. Smith, believe Mahomes should get the nod over the New England Patriots legend. However, one of Brady’s former teammates doesn’t believe that it’s true.
Danny Amendola Makes Feelings Clear on Tom Brady-Patrick Mahomes Debate
Danny Amendola, who played five seasons with Brady in New England and won two Super Bowls, recently gave his perspective on the GOAT debate. He thinks it’s too soon to crown Mahomes over Brady.
“Patrick, you know, obviously, is an amazing talent,” Amendola said. “I think time will tell. It’s too early for the GOAT talk right now. But I mean, he’s well on his way to being one of the best ever, you know? I think winning this game, the three-peat game, will cement his name into that talk, into that category, but we’re going to be able to debate this for the rest of our lives, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Amendola’s points are valid, as a win in Super Bowl 59 for Mahomes could instantly put the Chiefs quarterback in the same category as Brady. Both will always be regarded as two of the best players ever at the quarterback position, but Mahomes still has a lot of work to do to catch Brady.
Potentially winning a fourth Super Bowl before turning 30 years old will be huge for Mahomes and will put him in an ideal position to match Brady’s Super Bowl count. However, longevity also matters, and Brady excelled in the league for 23 seasons.
It will be tough for Mahomes to consistently stay among the best quarterbacks in the league and perform in the playoffs. Winning three straight Super Bowls will be huge for his legacy, as no other quarterback has or may ever have that record on their résumé. But to be crowned as the GOAT, he has to maintain his level for a longer period, like Brady.
Brady Is 2-0 Against Mahomes in Playoffs
The biggest stain on Mahomes’ illustrious career so far has been his two losses against Brady’s teams in the postseason. He is 3-1 against the legendary quarterback in regular season games, but being 0-2 in the playoffs, where he usually plays better, can be used as a big argument against him in the GOAT debate.
The first meeting between the two in the playoffs came in the AFC Championship Game in 2019 when the Patriots won 37-31 in overtime on the back of multiple controversial decisions from refs. Mahomes played better than Brady in that game, as he threw for 295 yards and three touchdowns with a passer rating of 117.0.
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The two, arguably the best quarterbacks to play in the NFL, played each other in the Super Bowl in 2021. Brady led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 31-9 win against the Chiefs, but Mahomes played behind an offensive line decimated by injuries. The K.C. quarterback failed to make an impact in that game as he threw for 270 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions while running for his life throughout the game.
Apart from his seven Super Bowl titles, Brady has the edge over Mahomes in the GOAT conversations due to these two results. However, completing a three-peat will go a long way in building the Chiefs star’s case, and he could possibly have a better career than Brady once it’s all said and done.
