Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Thus far, Patrick Mahomes has led his team to five Super Bowls, winning three of them. He's a two-time league MVP and a three-time Super Bowl MVP.
Where do you rank Patrick Mahomes in NFL QB history?

I actually dont believe Mahomes will play that much longer in the NFL but we will see. I give him 4-5 more years, tops. If the team stayed competitive and he could actually challenge Brady's seven championships, he might try to stick around for that but after having his first major injury, I would think he would want to leave the game healthy if his team were to regress as the years went on.

Reid wont stick around too much longer and Mahomes would have to decide if he wanted to play for another coach? We will see because he will still get elected first ballot to the Hall.

Even if he retired today, I would place him around 8th or so all time. I am always amazed more people don't realize and appreciate the historical career he has already had-not many other QBs in NFL history have 3 league championship (only 9 have achieved that) plus 2 NFL MVPs and he was the best player in the 3 SBs (has the 3 SB MVPs)

Most likely he was never ever going to ‘catch’ Brady before it was all said and done. Remember, Tom had not one - but two - Hall of Fame careers!

If Patrick had a chance to still be in such running, he would have had to perform that three-peat. He failing to do so, especially with the way the Eagles totally dominated them, very safe bet I’m sure with all of us that he’s already lost the quest to be GOAT.

Already having clinched First Ballot? For sure! But IMO Bradshaw and especially Starr are both still ahead of him. And agreeing with Wolf, it really seems like his best years, as well as the Chiefs Andy Reid dynasty, are now behind him.

But, hey, you just never know. Don’t count he and the Chiefs out just yet (though it really seems like the decline is now upon us; maybe some more respectability and playoff berths to come, but that just may be it.)


PS - all said second paragraph, Mahomes’ first 8 seasons as a starter ought to top Brady’s first 8.

If Denver or SD want to overtake KC again for the division, now is the time while there is uncertainty with the Chiefs receivers, offensive line and secondary. If Walker could run well until Mahomes and the offensive line gell more, this team could really improve by seasons end. I know people dont want to believe this, but Tyreek Hill could be on their roster by playoff time. Kelce can now focus on football again but Gray has to factor as well. Can Spags get his defense to play better as the season continues?

saturdaysarebetter wrote: ↑Sun Aug 02, 2026 5:15 pm Thus far, Patrick Mahomes has led his team to five Super Bowls, winning three of them. He's a two-time league MVP and a three-time Super Bowl MVP.
Where do you rank Patrick Mahomes in NFL QB history?

When Clark Judge asked our old Judge & Jury crew last year to give our top 10 QBs ever, I put Mahomes third after Brady and Montana, and just ahead of Graham, Unitas and Peyton. I'll put my full writeup below, but I'll pull out this quote: "Mahomes is the only QB in NFL history who could retire after his first six seasons as a starter, seven in the league, and be not just a Hall of Famer but a stand-up-say-name-sit-down first-ballot Hall of Famer."

I did acknowledge that I could one day look back on this ranking as premature and end up dropping in, but my assumption is that at worst, he'll put together several more strong seasons. Still, I think the only person I could see raising above him is Unitas.

MY WRITEUP, JUNE 2025:

3. PATRICK MAHOMES

When greatness is even, modern play is my tiebreaker. Considering Otto Graham went 10-10 on championship appearances, with seven titles, he’s tough to top. I’ll take Patrick Mahomes as having the modern edge, and being one of the ultimate bet-your-life players. In all three of his Super Bowl victories, Mahomes’s team wiped out a 10-point deficit and a 4th quarter deficit, once together. He erased double-digit deficits in all three playoff wins in the 2019 season, and a few others scattered throughout the past few years. He’s made clutch throws, but what puts him even higher are his clutch runs. His injured-ankle 26-yard dash to set up the winning field goal in Super Bowl LVII is one of the great plays I’ve ever seen. It’s one of the many plays he’s made that’s made me think he’s a wizard, and like Brady, I never saw him lose a playoff game where I thought, "He really blew it."

And that goes with two Super Bowl blowout losses. Mahomes lost Tyreek Hill and ripped off three straight Super Bowls, two championships, an MVP, a passing title and a TD title. Brady, Montana, Graham, Unitas and Manning all had a swan song title or two, and I guess Mahomes could fail to peak again and I’ll look back on this ranking as premature.

But Mahomes is the only QB in NFL history who could retire after his first six seasons as a starter, seven in the league, and be not just a Hall of Famer but a stand-up-say-name-sit-down first-ballot Hall of Famer. I can’t pass on him.

This was my defining criteria:

* The “bet your life” factor
* Complete career
* Elite passing abilities, stats and achievements

This was my list:

1. Brady
2. Montana
3. Mahomes
4. Graham
5. Unitas
6. Manning
7. Marino
8. Baugh
9. Rodgers
10. Elway

I could be talked into a few different directions for 8, 9 and 10.

QB lists can be so subjective and era influenced. We look at accolades, championships and longevity but could todays QBs had played in different eras? What could QBs then, do in a defensively handcuffed, inflated numbers era now?

Its easy to leave QBs like Jurgensen, Staubach, Bradshaw, Fouts off lists but these guys excelled before flak jackets or rules changes in 1977-78. Could we truly imagine what they could do today with less offensive line penalties, officials penalizing pass rushes, more pass interference calls, less head-hunting in the middle of the field? I think there should be two lists rather than one for the best ever ...

Best QBs Ever Pre-Flak Jacket Era

Unitas
Graham
Staubach
Layne
Bradshaw
Luckman
Starr
Baugh
Griese

Best QBs Ever Post-Flak Jacket Era

Brady
Montana
Elway
Favre
Manning
Rodgers
Mahomes
Young
Brees

If Mahomes retired today, I would have him at 9 or 10. Him and Rodgers are in either of those spots on my list and can change on a given day. Today I have Aaron 9 and Patrick 10.

1) MONTANA/BRADY, take your pick
3) Graham
4a) Unitas
4b) Starr
6) Bradshaw
7) Mahomes

if Patrick wins another Super Bowl, especially real soon, then he may very well immediately - as the confetti is falling - move to #5 with myself then debating if I 'dare' (sacrilege) actually go one-more and place him above U and into Rushmore?