Tom Brady Is Still the GOAT, and Super Bowl 59 Proves It
For years, the NFL world has debated whether Patrick Mahomes would one day surpass Tom Brady as the greatest quarterback of all time. Many believed he was on track to do it—until Super Bowl 59 happened.
The Chiefs, fresh off another AFC Championship run, were dismantled by the Philadelphia Eagles on the game’s biggest stage. Mahomes, who had been chasing Brady’s ghost, put on a performance that was anything but GOAT-worthy. And with that, the debate should be over—Tom Brady is, and will remain, the greatest quarterback in NFL history.
The Resume: Brady’s Greatness Stands Alone
Before Mahomes, the only legitimate argument against Brady’s GOAT status came from the old guard—Montana, Unitas, maybe Manning. But when Brady retired (for good), his legacy was nearly untouchable:
7 Super Bowl titles (more than any franchise, let alone any QB)
5 Super Bowl MVPs
3 League MVPs
89,214 passing yards (most all-time)
649 touchdowns (most all-time)
35 playoff wins (most all-time)
Mahomes had been on pace to challenge some of these records, but after the Eagles’ dominant win in Super Bowl 59, it’s clear: he’s not touching them anytime soon.
Mahomes’ Super Bowl Struggles Prove the Gap Is Wide
Before the game, Mahomes’ supporters argued that a win would put him at four rings—one away from Montana and within striking distance of Brady. Instead, he and the Chiefs got run off the field. This wasn’t a near-miss like Brady’s Super Bowl losses to the Giants; this was a flat-out demolition.
This game further exposes a critical gap between Brady and Mahomes: Brady never got embarrassed in a Super Bowl. Even in his three losses, he performed at an elite level:
Threw for 505 yards against the Eagles in Super Bowl 52.
Led a late go-ahead drive against the Giants in Super Bowl 42.
Put the Patriots in position to win in Super Bowl 46.
Mahomes, meanwhile, has now had two ugly Super Bowl performances—this year’s blowout loss and Super Bowl 55 against Brady’s Buccaneers, where he was held without a touchdown.
Longevity Matters: Can Mahomes Last 23 Seasons?
Brady didn’t just dominate for a short stretch—he did it for 23 years. He won his first Super Bowl at 24 and his last at 43. He reinvented himself multiple times, playing at an MVP level even in his 40s.
Mahomes has been in the league for seven years and already has dealt with injuries and up-and-down team performances. Will he still be playing elite football in 2038? That’s what it would take to truly challenge Brady’s longevity.
The Final Verdict
Super Bowl 59 was supposed to be a defining moment for Mahomes. Instead, it exposed the reality: he’s not close to Brady’s legacy yet. Could he still make a run in the coming years? Sure. But after this loss, we need to stop pretending the GOAT debate is a 1A-1B discussion.
Brady is, and always will be, the greatest quarterback of all time. Mahomes had his chance to tighten the gap—and he fumbled it.
