Kansas City Chiefs' star Patrick Mahomes has captured the spotlight unlike most players have to this point in his career, but a quarterback in the discussion for the best in NFL history currently sits behind three rival players in Chris Simms' latest rankings.
Kansas City Chiefs' star Patrick Mahomes has captured the spotlight unlike most players have to this point in his career, but a quarterback in the discussion for the best in NFL history currently sits behind three rival players in Chris Simms' latest rankings. originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Patrick Mahomes has become a symbol of excellence rarely seen in the NFL. Because of his ability, the Kansas City Chiefs have maintained a near decade long reign over the AFC West and won three Super Bowls in an eight-year span.
Advertisement
Mahomes high rate of achievement has raised the standard for him into rarified air. Unlike his peers, Mahomes is compared in the bigger to the league's all-time greats, including future Hall of Famer Tom Brady.
While he and the Chiefs have a seemingly inevitable winning formula, NFL analyst Chris Simms believes Mahomes' play has taken a slight dip in recent seasons. That has been enough for him to drop the Kansas City quarterback to the No. 4 spot in his current rankings of professional quarterbacks.
'He's mastered winning,' he said on Tuesday. 'He's the ultimate winner. And I know some people are going to say, 'Isn't that the only point? To win?'
"Winning is not a quarterback stat. I know we like to put it there — and I take it there and take it into context — but it's not like, 'Oh, he wins, he's No. 1.''
Advertisement
Simms believes that in terms of performance Joe Burrow, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson have all been better.
'[He's] the man, the myth [and] the legend,' declared Simms. '[He's] one of the greatest I've ever seen — and maybe the clutchiest quarterback in football. Still, the quarterback play week-in and week-out — and I don't think he would disagree with me here — has not been as high level the past two seasons as [it has for been for] Burrow, Lamar or Josh Allen.'
The final two on that list makeup the last two NFL MVP winners. On one side, it's hard to claim the title as the best when these quarterbacks maintain such a high level of play. However, Mahomes maintains a leg up on them.
Neither of the three have been able to top Mahomes in the playoffs the last three seasons. In fact, Allen has gotten multiple chances and come up fruitless each time.
Advertisement
It is certainly an impressive feat that Mahomes continues to find ways to outshine this level of competition each year to remain atop the AFC. Lately, that has come despite suboptimal performances on his part.
Heading into 2025, Mahomes and the Chiefs know full well they will need the best from him as each of the three will be loading up for their chance to dethrone Mahomes and end his decorated reign.
Related: Taylor Swift Prepared To Win KC 'Baking' Competition
Related: Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce Urged To Protect Themselves
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
New Report on Celtics' Anfernee Simons Decision
New Report on Celtics' Anfernee Simons Decision originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Boston Celtics managed to get under the NBA's second tax apron by trading Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in separate deals. In the Holiday deal, they saved some money while acquiring a quality guard in Anfernee Simons. Advertisement Simons is not the player Holiday is, but he is a player capable of scoring 20 points on any given night. Over the last four seasons, the former Portland Trail Blazers guard has averaged 17.3 points or more. He's also averaged as many as 22.6 points per game, his scoring average for the 2023-24 season. The Celtics saved money while acquiring Simons and got a complementary electric scorer to put next to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown when they're at full strength. Simons' contract will also expire in 2026, opening up even more cap space next offseason. Boston Celtics exec Brad Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images However, it's not guaranteed that Simons will be on the Celtics' opening night roster. Heavy's Steve Bulpett reported that Boston might trade Simons away, though it would be on one condition. Advertisement 'If you're doing a story about (Anfernee) Simons' fit with the Celtics, you'd better be quick about it to cover yourself,' an NBA executive told Bulpett while laughing. 'Boston's still out there talking trade, and he could be gone if the right move comes along.' Simons is owed almost $27.7 million for the 2025-26 season. While the Celtics got under the NBA's second tax apron partly because of this trade, they are barely below it. To ensure they won't cross it again, Simons could be traded for someone who makes less than he does. Related: Celtics in Danger of Losing Another Player After Two Major Trades Related: Jayson Tatum Makes Cooper Flagg Gesture After NBA Draft This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
New Report Emerges on Al Horford's Celtics Decision
New Report Emerges on Al Horford's Celtics Decision originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Al Horford will enter unrestricted free agency for the first time since 2019. The last time that happened, he left the Boston Celtics for their division rival, the Philadelphia 76ers. Advertisement When he joined the Sixers six years ago, he agreed to a six-year contract worth $109 million. There's no telling if he will receive a similar offer for that much in 2025 at 39 years old. However, he is coming off a season where he averaged nine points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 36.3% from three. MassLive's Brian Robb has confirmed that the Celtics' biggest priority is keeping him and Luke Kornet. ESPN's Shams Charania confirmed on "The Pat McAfee Show" that Horford "has a robust market." In other words, he should be getting expensive offers on the open market. Boston Celtics forward Al Horford (42).David Butler II-Imagn Images Needless to say, the Celtics will have some competition for Horford's services. The Boston Globe's Adam Himmelsbach also reported that the Celtics' champion is undecided on what he'll do this offseason with free agency about to start. Advertisement "I'm told Al Horford continues to mull potential options for next season and at the moment appears unlikely to have a final decision on the first day of free agency tomorrow," Himmelsbach wrote. Horford has built a legacy in Boston in his seven years with the team. He has made an All-Star game while helping the Celtics reach five Eastern Conference Finals, two NBA Finals appearances, and the championship in 2024. With Jayson Tatum out indefinitely with an Achilles tear, the Celtics will not know how they will do without him until he returns, which could factor into Horford's decision. Related: Celtics Make $2 Million Move Before NBA Free Agency Related: New Report Reveals Who the Celtics Will Not Trade This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
New Report on Celtics' Al Horford Decision After Two Major Trades
New Report on Celtics' Al Horford Decision After Two Major Trades originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Boston Celtics took little time to check off one of their biggest offseason priorities: getting under the NBA's second tax apron. With that now out of the way, they can turn to their next biggest priority: keeping Al Horford. Advertisement Horford will enter unrestricted free agency this summer for the first time since 2019. The last time he was a free agent, he left the Boston Celtics for the Philadelphia 76ers. He came back to the Celtics two years later, but Horford's departure may have been what prevented them from making the NBA Finals the two years he was off the team. The five-time All-Star is considerably older, so he isn't expected to make as much money this summer as he did six years prior. However, even though he's 39 years old, he will still have a market. Horford has built a strong legacy in Boston, but that doesn't mean he'll pass up on more money to stay. MassLive's Brian Robb revealed that Boston's most important objective is keeping Horford and Luke Kornet. However, their effort to keep them will also mean that Boston will explore the markets of some of its current roster players. Advertisement "However, with free agency approaching and the Celtics prioritizing bringing back free agents Al Horford and Luke Kornet, league sources tell MassLive that the Celtics are expected to remain active in the trade market while retooling their roster," Robb wrote. "The team is expected to explore their options with newly acquired talent like Anfernee Simons and Georges Niang and other parts of the roster including Sam Hauser." The Celtics got under the NBA's second tax apron, but if they pay Horford and Kornet substantial money, they would cross it again, which they don't want. That will mean one or several players mentioned above could be on a new team in the coming weeks. Related: Celtics Announce Trade After NBA Draft Related: New Report on Celtics' Anfernee Simons Decision This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
