Super Bowl 57: Is Patrick Mahomes already the G.O.A.T?
The Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII, in a game full of storylines and superstars. But one names stands out most among the rest.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes returns for his third appearance in the greatest game in sports, and the impact he has had since his arrival has never been seen before in the league.
Just five years into his career and Mahomes is already seen as the complete quarterback package. He’s off to a quicker start to his career than the likes of Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, with a highlight reel full of underarm throws, no-look passes and impossible plays inevitable. A Super Bowl win, MVP award and five straight Pro Bowl selections in an incredible resume for any player, let alone one who only came into the NFL in 2017.
Mahomes knows the euphoria of victory, but he also understands the frustration of defeat. As he proved against the Bengals in the AFC Championship game, he has grown a lot over the last few years since the Super Bowl defeat to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021.
He’s traded in some potential second-reaction shot plays for a more efficient style, yet is always such a threat that he could uncork something special. There now seems to be little left to improve in his game.
Adapting to new challenges and hitting new heights in 2023
Mahomes on the verge of winning his second MVP at the age of just 27, and this year he has taken his game to a new level. Despite losing the most electric receiver in football in Tyreek Hill, Mahomes spent most of this year acclimatising himself to a collection of unproven targets, such as JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdez-Scantling and Kadarius Toney.
In the end, the results were as good if not better, with tight end Travis Kelce also continuing to hit new heights. Mahomes led the league in passing yards (5,250) and touchdowns (41), evidencing that the next chapter of his career might be even more impressive than the first.
He’s also proved his worth against the emergence of serious competitors to his throne in the AFC. Joe Burrow and Josh Allen have often grabbed headlines this season, particularly given that both overcame Mahomes and the Chiefs during the 2022 regular season. Trevor Lawrence has also joined the mix, but his continued dominance in the postseason means Mahomes continues to reign strongest.
There is little in Mahomes’ way. The only doubt for Sunday’s game against the Eagles is an ankle injury, which he picked up in the divisional round victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He is much closer to full strength in the Super Bowl than he was in the AFC Championship Game, and even with the setback, Mahomes is still a multi-faceted threat to any defense. He is the best player in the NFL, and it isn’t even close.
Mahomes is so difficult to contain and defend, and his talent alone is capable of keeping his team in any contest. Is he the greatest of all-time yet? He needs the rings to get him into that conversation. But as he bids for his second Super Bowl title, we are still just at the start of something really special.
