A former NFL player and current ESPN Radio broadcaster says Kansas City’s great quarterback will be the best ever if he wins another Super Bowl this season.
After winning their second Super Bowl in a row, the Kansas City Chiefs have a lot to play for in the 2024-25 season. If Andy Reid’s team can complete a three-peat, it will be the only one in NFL history to do so. That would elevate the organization’s status even higher, solidifying a dynasty that will last for decades.
There are also some personal narratives to follow, such as quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ legacy. The two-time NFL MVP is off to the finest start of his career, having won three championships before the age of 29. Reid and general manager Brett Veach have signed contract extensions, laying the groundwork for long-term success. How much of an influence will a three-peat have on Mahomes?
A former defensive lineman who won a Super Bowl with Steve Spagnuolo and the New York Giants believes it would make him the best of all time.
On a recent episode of UnSportsmanLike on ESPN Radio, NFL alum Chris Canty praised Mahomes’ reputation among league luminaries. Aside from Tom Brady, the undisputed finest quarterback in NFL history, Canty believes a Chiefs three-peat will be the deciding factor between Mahomes and every other signal-caller to play football.
“He would be at the top,” Canty remarked. “You three-peat in the NFL? You are the greatest of all time. I mean, if he wins three championships in a row in the NFL, a league that is more geared for parity than any of these other sports leagues… if he wins three in a row, given all of the many iterations of the Kansas City Chiefs that we’ve seen, then he’s the freaking GOAT.”
Would a third championship in a row really make Patrick Mahomes the GOAT?
Less than a decade into his playing career, Mahomes is already tied with Dallas Cowboys star Troy Aikman for the third most rings as a quarterback. According to Canty, his next one will put him in a three-way tie with Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana. Brady leads the way with seven, a total that may not be equaled by anyone. It’s ridiculous to hold Mahomes to that standard, especially given his exceptional talent and the NFL’s emphasis on teamwork.
Less than a decade into his playing career, Mahomes is already tied with Dallas Cowboys star Troy Aikman for the third most rings as a quarterback. According to Canty, his next one will put him in a three-way tie with Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana. Brady leads the way with seven, a total that may not be equaled by anyone. It’s ridiculous to hold Mahomes to that standard, especially given his exceptional talent and the NFL’s emphasis on teamwork.
With that stated, Mahomes is in an interesting position. If he wins a fourth ring (and third in a row), he will continue to have the most spectacular career to date. If he retired next February, he’d be a first-ballot Hall of Fame contender and unquestionably one of the top five field generals in league history. On the other side, he’d be badly deficient in the longevity category, which is a key component of Brady’s case for being the best person to do it.
In this writer’s perspective, Mahomes is on course to be remembered as either the best or second-best quarterback to ever take the field. He has already surpassed many of his current and historical colleagues. A third Super Bowl ring in three years would be a huge boost to his legacy, which no one could take away.
If that’s taken into account, his current leaderboard ranks in counting stats must also be included. He isn’t the GOAT yet, and he may not be if the Chiefs win the Lombardi Trophy again in 2025. But those stats are easier to accumulate than titles, so it could just be a matter of time.
