Patrick Mahomes admires plenty about Tom Brady’s approach

There’s no denying that the greatest spotlight in the NFL’s biggest game of the year is going to be squarely on the quarterbacks involved come Sunday. When Super Bowl LV kicks off between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs, the lion’s share of attention will discuss the ins and outs of both Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes and rightfully so. They are two of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play in the National Football League.

The matchup of quarterbacks in this year’s championship game is a dream for the NFL, a potential passing of the torch from the most decorated player to ever play the game to the only current player who could potentially dethrone him. Yet despite Mahomes’ ability to already be included in the pantheon of all-time greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, the Chiefs star certainly doesn’t come across as someone who feels like he’s stepped into that space.

Instead, he says, there’s a lot he’s still trying to learn from the very player he’s playing against on Sunday.

Earlier this week, Mahomes spoke to the media about Brady’s game and approach, and it was clear that the Chiefs quarterback is taking a lot of notes at this stage of his career.

"“The way he’s able to dissect defenses before the snap is something I truly admire. I’m trying to get to that level. The way he’s able to move within the pocket and be able to reset his feet and be completely calm and still make the throw right on the money no matter who’s around him is something I can continue to work on. As I continue in my career, I’m just going to try to do whatever I can to watch the tape on him because he’s doing it the right way. You can tell by how many Super Bowl championships he has and the rings on his fingers.”"

Mahomes himself has drawn considerable praise from his head coaches, teammates, and colleagues around the NFL for his tremendous work ethic that mirrors his talent. He’s a natural leader whose community-minded approach on the field and his confident swagger on it have made him an instant fan favorite in Kansas City and beyond—so much so that he’s supplanted every other player to become the NFL’s biggest seller in terms of merchandise.

Only time will tell whether Mahomes can enter the sort of rarified air currently occupied by Brady, but that’s true of any other quarterback. After all, Brady is chasing his seventh Super Bowl ring on Sunday. However, Mahomes has already won one, is on the verge of another, and has MVP and Super Bowl MVP honors already sitting on the mantle at home. He’s also just 25 years of age. The Chiefs look set to become the NFL’s next great dynasty, and Mahomes will need to ride that wave to the end if he’s going to match the career achievements of the man he’s facing on Sunday.