Joe Montana and Jerry Rice, Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison, Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill. The Chiefs have a dynamic combo. Here is what it all means.
The Kansas City Chiefs signed Tyreek Hill to a three-year extension worth up to $54 million before the regular season began. While Hill is currently out for a few weeks with a sternoclavicular joint injury, that still shouldn’t sake our excitement for what the entire extension will provide for the Chiefs.
The reigning MVP, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, now has his best playmaker and deep threat through the 2022 season. The case could be made that there is no better combination in the entire NFL.
While Hill is fast, he has only gotten better as time has gone on. His route running has improved every year and his feet are quicker than ever. Even if the Chiefs didn’t have Mecole Hardman, Sammy Watkins, and Travis Kelce available at Patrick Mahomes’s disposal, Hill would be a handful all by himself.
There have been several instances of incredible quarterback to wide receiver combinations throughout the NFL’s history. And the statistics show that Mahomes and Hill are just getting started.
Patrick Mahomes to Tyreek Hill: 2018
137 targets, 87 receptions, 1479 yards, 12 touchdowns, 17 yards-per-catch
In his first season as the starting quarterback, Patrick Mahomes had incredible faith in Tyreek Hill, targeting him 137 times. Any Chiefs fan could tell you that the team actually left points on the field, despite being one of the most productive offenses of all time. Many of the missed opportunities were on deep passes to Tyreek Hill that would have been easy points.
Bear in mind that Tyreek Hill has only played in the NFL for three seasons. In his first year, he only started one football game. Hill was a prospect that was drafted in the fifth round without a clear role. Now, as he has settled into his game as a true NFL wide receiver, he has already taken leaps and bounds forward. The Chiefs expect him to take another step this season, when healthy, and for good reason. He could be one of the best at his position in the NFL.
For comparison, here are some other great combos:
Joe Montana to Jerry Rice:
1985-1992 (Montana was the starter but Rice had receptions from other passers)
Targets: N/A, 610 receptions, 10,273 yards, 103 touchdowns, 17.1 yards-per-catch
1990-1991: (One of the best seasons for the combo of Jerry Rice and Joe Montana)
Targets: N/A, 100 receptions, 1502 yards, 13 touchdowns, 15 yards-per-catch
What made Jerry Rice the greatest receiver on the planet was his consistency and durability. What Tyreek Hill will be able to do over a long period of time remains to be seen. That being said, if one observes the 1990-1991 season, which was among his best, we would notice that Hill was within fifty yards of Rice on 13 fewer receptions. Additionally, Hill averaged two more yards per reception than Rice did in comparison to his performance in 2018.
Peyton Manning to Marvin Harrison:
1998- 2009 (Manning was the starter but Harrison had receptions from other passers)
1,546 targets, 965 receptions, 114 touchdowns, 13.2 yards-per-catch
2002-2003: (One of the best seasons between Manning and Harrison)
205 targets, 143 receptions, 1722 yards, 11 touchdowns, 12 yards-per-catch
To me, this is one of the most insane stat lines of all time. Peyton Manning and the incredible Colts offense of 2002 targeted Marvin Harrison 205 times. That being said, Hill had more touchdowns and yards-per-catch than Harrison in one of the Colts’ best offensive years ever, last season. Manning undoubtedly loved targeting Harrison. When Patrick Mahomes becomes that comfortable with Hill, watch out.
Troy Aikman to Michael Irvin:
1989-1999: (Aikman was the starter, but Irvin had receptions from other players)
Targets: N/A, 718 receptions, 60 touchdowns, 17.6 yards-per-catch
1995-1996: (One of the best seasons for Irvin and Aikman as a duo)
165 targets, 111 receptions, 1603 yards, 10 touchdowns, 14.4 yards-per-catch
The combination of Troy Aikman throwing the ball to Michael Irwin was terrifying for any defense. Tyreek Hill is a very different kind of receiver, but you would expect more touchdowns out of Irvin in one of his best seasons. Tyreek Hill had more touchdowns despite a smaller frame and the offense having more weapons on the offense in the passing game.
Overview
Last season was just the beginning for Tyreek Hill and Patrick Mahomes. As Mahomes refines his craft and gets more comfortable in the pocket, these numbers will get even better. Additionally, Tyreek Hill would have already had better statistics if not for the insane amount of talent on the Chiefs offense.
Get ready Kansas City, this duo is going to be a lot of fun.