Arrowhead Pride
Patrick Mahomes’ chase for history
When Brady tore his ACL in the 2008 season opener, he was 31 years old and in his ninth NFL season. Mahomes tore his ACL near the end of his ninth season, at 30 years old.
Had Brady never had another elite season or won another Super Bowl after that, he would have been remembered as an all-time great and would certainly have been a Hall of Famer, but probably not the greatest quarterback ever. Brady ended up playing 23 seasons and was still good into his mid-40s. It’s impossible to expect Mahomes or anyone else to replicate that. But Mahomes has to stack some good seasons together to stay in the race.
Mahomes had arguably the greatest start to any career in NFL history. Through his first six seasons as a starter, he had two MVPs, three Super Bowl rings and three Super Bowl MVPs. It’s hard to be better than that. But it has slowed down, from nearly perfect to simply great levels.
As we know now, Brady’s career was just getting started after his ninth season, when he suffered a season-ending knee injury. The Chiefs are clearly banking on Mahomes doing the same.
NFL divisions ranked by QB talent for the 2026 season | NFL.com
2) AFC West
I’ll admit my evaluation of Bo Nix might have been a little too tempered in 2025, especially when considering how effective Denver’s offense proved to be late in the season. Two years into his pro career, Nix has significantly exceeded expectations and has a point to prove entering 2026 after an ankle injury robbed him of a chance to compete for the AFC title. I’m eager to see how it plays out, especially with Jaylen Waddle joining the receiving corps.
Patrick Mahomes heads toward the 2026 campaign in an unfamiliar place. His Chiefs missed the playoffs for the first time in his career and he’s working his way back from the season-ending knee injury he suffered in December. He too has a point to prove, and it’s an even greater one than what Nix is chasing. Mahomes has to show the world he’s still Patrick Mahomes — and that these are still the big, bad Kansas City Chiefs. We’ll see how that transpires, starting with the question of whether Mahomes will be ready to go in Week 1.
Justin Herbert’s breakdown is simple: Please protect him, Chargers. He played heroically in 2025 despite being under constant assault, proving his toughness behind an injury-riddled O-line. It wasn’t his best season, but it might have been his most impressive. It’s time for the Chargers to build on that, instead of spinning their wheels because of trench deficiencies.
The Raiders are another fascinating...
