First Five Years of Career
I’ve listed the quarterbacks in order of the number of games started in their first five seasons. While Manning’s big lead in games started does give him the advantage in passing yards, the rest of the numbers don’t hold up to what Patrick Mahomes has done.
- 80 games started
- 20,618 passing yards
- 138 passing touchdowns
- 100 interceptions
- 62.1% completions
- 7.3 yards per attempt
- 63 games started
- 18,991 passing yards
- 151 passing touchdowns
- 37 interceptions
- 66.1% completions
- 8.1 yards per attempt
- 62 games started
- 13,925 passing yards
- 97 passing touchdowns
- 52 interceptions
- 61.6% completions
- 6.9 yards per attempt
- 61 games started
- 14,825 passing yards
- 108 passing touchdowns
- 66 interceptions
- 62.4% completions
- 6.9 yards per attempt
- 58 games started
- 12,348 passing yards
- 80 passing touchdowns
- 53 interceptions
- 62.2% completions
- 6.8 yards per attempt
I’m not sure what’s more impressive here, the fact that Mahomes numbers are heads and tails better than Brady, Brees, and Favre who also sat out their rookie year and started a similar number of games, or that Manning only had 1,627 more passing yards in his first five seasons despite starting 17 more games. Plus, Mahomes 151 passing touchdowns dominate this list, beating Manning by 13 touchdowns despite playing a season less. Mahomes also has far and away the fewest interceptions AND the best completion percentage AND the best yards per attempt of the five.
The numbers are even more in Mahomes’ favor if we just look at their first four seasons as a starter.