What’s Next for NFLs Number 1 Player, Patrick Mahomes?

Defensive players have also made appearances at #1, with Aaron Donald and J.J. Watt topping the list at times. However, only two players have topped the list more than once: Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes has been #1 twice in the last five seasons and looks to be #1 a third time. He also has the chance to join Brady as the only other player to top the list in back-to-back years, as Brady did in 2017–18. So, what is next for Mahomes?

The Best Quarterback in Football

The NFL Top 100 list is unique in it typically ranks each player based on their performance the year before. Like the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, the top player on the Top 100 isn't consistently recognized as the best player in the league. Since his first season as a starter in 2018, Mahomes has been widely regarded as the best player in football and the NFL betting odds favorite to win MVP annually despite not topping the list each season.

At just 28 years old, the start of Mahomes' career has been staggering. He has two league MVPs, three championships, and three Super Bowl MVPs. He is one of just three quarterbacks in history to win two MVPs and three Super Bowls, joining Tom Brady and Joe Montana. For reference, Montana didn't win his second MVP until he was 34, and Brady didn't win his first MVP until he was 30. Mahomes has won 77% of his career games, the highest mark in NFL history, helping him to reach the American Football Conference (AFC) Championship Game every season he has been a starter, including a record five consecutive home AFC Championship games.

His worst season to date has been losing in overtime of the AFC Championship game. However, last season was not easy.

A Surprise Run to the Super Bowl

Coming off his second Super Bowl win in his first year without Tyreek Hill, the Chiefs were heavy favorites in the AFC.

However, they struggled from the get-go, starting with a shocking opening night loss to the Lions that included several dropped passes. One of those dropped passes by Kadarius Toney turned into an interception that was returned for a decisive touchdown. The Chiefs struggled to catch the ball all season, leading the league with 26 drops. They got away with it until their bye week. After beating the Dolphins in Germany to improve to 7–2, the Chiefs lost four of their next six games, including an embarrassing 20–14 loss to the Raiders where Las Vegas quarterback Aiden O'Connell failed to complete a pass after the first quarter and still won.

Mahomes ended the year 10–6, his worst record as a starter, and sat the final week of the season with Kansas City locked into the #3 seed, also the worst seed of Mahomes' career.

The Chiefs had to play on Wild Card Weekend for just the second time with Mahomes at quarterback and would have to play a road playoff game for the first time with Mahomes. They were not viewed as favorites entering the playoffs. However, Mahomes was still Mahomes. After a 26–7 beat down of the Dolphins in negative temperatures at Arrowhead Stadium. Mahomes played his first road playoff game in Buffalo, beating Josh Allen and the Bills, before going into Baltimore and beating reigning MVP Lamar Jackson in the AFC Championship game to return to the Super Bowl.

For the second time, the Chiefs faced the 49ers in the Super Bowl. The Chiefs struggled early offensively but came alive in the second half. Down three with under a minute to play, Mahomes led a game-tying drive to send the game to overtime. After giving up a field goal in overtime, Mahomes led another drive, this time scoring a touchdown to win his third Super Bowl in walk-off fashion.

Built for Long Term Success

While 2023 was an off-year for Mahomes, it still ended in a championship. And there's nothing to suggest the Chiefs will slow down.

Head coach Andy Reid recently signed a contract to keep him in Kansas City through 2029. In 2023, a Chiefs defense that was a top-10 unit for the first time in the Mahomes era signed superstar defensive tackle Chris Jones to a long-term contract. Jones was the youngest in football last year and is still getting better.

Last year's championship made Kansas City the first back-to-back champion in 20 years since the Patriots in 2003–04. With the win, Mahomes has his sights set on that team's quarterback: Tom Brady. The first threepeat in NFL history could help Mahomes move past Brady, something the Patriots never accomplished. Mahomes is already in the greatest of all-time conversation with two MVPs and three championships. However, at 28, these next few years could cement him as the greatest player in history.

Can Mahomes Overtake Brady?

In short? Absolutely. He has the same number of championships that Brady had at this point in his career but with two more MVPs. Further, Brady went almost a decade without a title between 2005 and 2014. With Reid in Kansas City for the next six seasons, it's hard to envision that will happen. Mahomes is no longer just looking to be one of the best — he’s on the path to be the greatest ever.