Alex Smith: Patrick Mahomes Is Only Competing Against Tom Brady

Kansas City's former starter is quite impressed with the job his successor has done, as it rivals the best start to a career ever.

The Kansas City Chiefs are back in yet another Super Bowl, and a big reason why is their superstar quarterback. Patrick Mahomes helped lead the team to the big game once again, presenting an opportunity to add to his already impressive resume.

For Mahomes, he emerged victorious in the AFC Championship Game for the fourth time in six years as a full-time starter. Next weekend against the San Francisco 49ers, he could potentially earn his third Super Bowl ring. That'd put him in rarefied air, especially considering his tremendous statistical accomplishments that are perhaps the greatest a player has had through his first handful of seasons.

If Mahomes and Kansas City win Super Bowl LVIII, where does that put Mahomes on the historical leaderboard? The last several days have featured plenty of legacy discussions with Tom Brady's name lumped in. Appearing on The Adam Schefter Podcast this week, former Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith piled on and said Mahomes is only competing against one man.  

"It's Tom Brady," Smith said. "That's it. It's Tom Brady and Patrick, and there's already great debate I think at this point. But again, Tom had so much longevity. Tom had three Hall of Fame careers. Not only was he a phenomenal player, but he did it for so long. That's certainly the only person that Patrick's competing with at this point. It's just history."

While it may seem premature to refer to Mahomes as one of the two best signal-callers ever, he's on track to end his career there. What he's been able to do in less than a third of Brady's career season total is nothing short of outstanding. Brady notched three championships in his first six years, so Mahomes has a chance to tie him down in Las Vegas. Just about everything else is going in the 28-year-old's favor right now. 

There may not be a greater example of Mahomes's greatness than this current playoff run. After a 2023-24 regular season that saw him post some of the worst numbers of his career, Mahomes has been virtually flawless in the postseason. In three games, he's completed 68% of his passes and thrown for 718 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. The numbers may not even do his play justice, as his decision-making, processing and leadership have all been at a career-best level.

This version of Mahomes has helped the Chiefs' offense overcome some personnel issues to get to the most important contest of the NFL season. According to Smith, his former teammate and eventual successor might be the most intelligent quarterback currently playing the position.

"It was so clinical," Smith said. "Even when they did pressure him, what did he take, one sack? He didn't force anything, he never put the ball in jeopardy, he got the ball out of his hands, he's up at the line, he's checking protections, he knows where it's coming. Not only is he the most gifted player in football maybe ever, but I think at this point he's the smartest quarterback at the line of scrimmage. He studies so well. He's so in tune on how to win, too. I think he's really figured out this team, right? Like, how we're going to win this year. I've got a great defense, I'm going to take care of the football. Get the ball out of my hands to my guys, no negative plays. He really helps his offensive line." 

Smith's last few points hold a considerable amount of water. All season long, Mahomes has talked about his evolution in learning to play a bit more conservatively and trust his defense. He's also adopted a style of play — one that many have compared to Brady's or even Smith's — that emphasizes short-yardage plays and letting receivers earn yards post-catch. Lastly, Mahomes is either the best or second-best field general in the league at sack avoidance. 

The Chiefs are hoping that for the second year in a row, Mahomes can help them overcome having a lesser roster on paper than their Super Bowl opponent. San Francisco brings its own challenges to the table, boasting plenty of talent on both sides of the ball. They don't have a generational player under center, though, which gives Kansas City an advantage in that regard. Smith hinted at going with the Chiefs in the battle of his old teams, with Mahomes being a key factor in that decision. 

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