I feel compelled to write about the recent fascination with the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) subject after the latest Super Bowl.
Although the term had not been coined yet, to the best of my recollection the first “GOAT” quarterback back in the ‘50s, ‘60s, and even into the ‘70s was considered to be Johnny Unitas.
I began following the NFL in the ‘70s, when the Pittsburgh Steelers won the first four of their now six Super Bowls. To me, Terry Bradshaw was the GOAT. But the old-timers would have none of that. Johnny U (as he was known) was still the GOAT.
Then came the ‘80s and Joe Montana of the San Francisco 49ers. Montana won four Super Bowls in that decade, and even the hardcore Johnny Unitas fans were forced to grudgingly give the GOAT status to Montana.
Joe’s GOAT status was secure as the years came and went. Then came Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. As Brady accumulated Super Bowls, Montana fans refused to give up their GOAT status. It wasn’t until Brady had finally won seven Super Bowls, the final one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, that even the most ardent Montana fans gave the GOAT status to Brady.
This brings up Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
It is normal to want someone from our own generation to become a GOAT. It happens in all the sports. Pelé was the soccer GOAT for a very long time. Until Messi and Ronaldo came along, and people argue over those two, forgetting Pelé.
There are endless GOAT arguments between Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
But nowadays people are not even waiting until the current player has surpassed the previous GOAT.
To hear that “there is no longer a debate” over who is the GOAT between Brady and Mahomes, is puzzling. There was no debate to begin with. Brady has seven Super Bowl rings. One with a different team. Mahomes has three.
Brady has three Super Bowl losses, by a total point differential of 15 points. In Mahomes’ two SB losses, the differential has been 40 points. His team has been trounced both times. The loss to the Eagles this year should have been by a larger margin.
In their only head-to-head Super Bowl meeting, Brady’ Bucs beat Mahomes’ Chiefs 31-9.
People will say Mahomes has played with different supporting casts. So did Brady… very different supporting casts.
Someday, Mahomes may surpass Brady. Right now, it is not even a conversation.