“I care more about the legacy of our team…I never really think about my legacy,” says Patrick Mahomes every time someone brings up the G.O.A.T debate. While the QB couldn’t care less about mere titles, looks like the community is already fixated. Yes, the Chiefs were close enough to answer that question on February 9, but a missed three-peat (thanks to the Philadelphia Eagles) also meant a missed opportunity for Mahomes and his team to call themselves the best. So if not the Chiefs, who should we call the greatest in NFL history? Challenging question, isn’t it? Well, not for Terry Bradshaw.
In a conversation with talkSPORT this week, the 76-year-old—in his classic no-nonsense, outspoken way—shared a definitive answer, even ignoring the Brady-Belichick dynasty in the process. Bradshaw confidently declared that the Pittsburgh Steelers could clinch that top spot. But before you get confused, the veteran player-turned-broadcast wasn’t exactly singing praises of the current Steelers team that saw an unceremonious exit in the 2024 season—intensified by a late season collapse.
Bradshaw, instead, was talking about his heydays. The times when he used to rule the gridiron as a quarterback in the 1970s. But, the question is, why does he believe that? Well, the answer isn’t just based on nostalgia or bias. The Steelers legend actually had stats backing up his claims. “What I’m most proud of are our four Super Bowls; it was the same team.” But is that claim accurate?
The records certainly support it. Over six seasons, the Steelers won the Super Bowl four times. Led by head coach Chuck Noll and Bradshaw, the roster also included Franco Harris, Lynn Swann, Rocky Bleier, John Stallworth, and Joe Greene.
Another very important point that Bradshaw made was how, back then, they didn’t have the luxury of making trades so frequently. Back in the day, the Steelers were reportedly pretty much committed to their Super Bowl winning team.
“The only difference between today’s teams and those of the ’70s is that we drafted our Super Bowl teams. Now they pick them … or at least they try to simulate some kind of a team, right?” Bradshaw pointed out, before adding, “Then they go, ‘Oh, Tyreek Hill is not happy. We’re shipping his a– to Miami.’ But who are we going to replace him with? ‘Oh, now we’re getting (JuJu Smith-Schuster) … OK, he’s available.’ “
“In my day and time, you got drafted, you went nowhere unless you were cut or they traded you — you were stuck. There may have been on offense, no changes. On defense, maybe two. That’s pretty good drafting—that’s a pretty good draft. So that’s the major difference,” he concluded. Well, that’s got to hurt both Mahomes and Brady, isn’t it? Well, maybe if it was the first time for Bradshaw publicly making such a claim…
Notably, back in 2020, the 76-year-old didn’t mince any words either. During an interview with 93.7 The Fan, Bradshaw had proclaimed, “I don’t think [Tom Brady is] the greatest quarterback of all-time…He may be the best quarterback we’ve had in the last 30 years. Is he better than [Roger] Staubach? No. Is he better than Dan Fouts? No. Dan Marino? No. I’m talking talent-wise when you’re putting all of it together.
“Does he have more Super Bowls than anybody? Yes. Therefore, he’s the best. I absolutely have no problem saying it. If you’ve got the most Super Bowls, you can be in there, but I don’t put anybody as the greatest of all-time. Is he better than Montana? Not in my opinion. Is he better than Drew Brees? Yeah, maybe.”
As for Patrick Mahomes, it’s definitely not over yet. At 29, he’s got plenty of time to plan his revenge plot, starting with the 2025 season.
Patrick Mahomes is ready
“True strength in life is not about walking through life without ever falling; it’s about getting up each time you do.” The Eagles certainly proved this as they came back with a perfectly plotted vengeance against the Chiefs. And, seems, like it’s now time for Mahomes and Co. to do the same.
No matter how cliché it sounds, ‘getting up‘ holds great value. This is precisely what champions do. And, well, Mahomes IS a champion.
So what will the QB do now? Well, it looks like he will be back as a man on mission. As per the team’s defensive end Charles Omenihu earlier this week, “On a revenge tour, just extreme focus, taking even more control of the organization.”
“I think it’s going to be big time. [Mahomes] probably felt like he didn’t have his best performance and him being who he is and being the best quarterback in the league, he wants to come back and have one of those big seasons. So, I think it’ll be like somebody who’s on a mission for sure.” That’s a terrifying thought for the opposition teams, especially if you go back to the last time the Chiefs had to lose out on the Lombardi Trophy.
Mahomes literally went on a mission, garnering 4,839 yards (the second-best in his career till then) with 37 touchdowns during the 2021 season. Couple that with his, “We will be back,” promise, and it looks like the upcoming season is going to see some blistering performances. Notably, after the Super Bowl LIX loss, the QB had noted, “It’s going to hurt for a while, but how can you respond to it? And how can you get better? How can you not be satisfied with just getting here and taking your game to the next level?”
Having said that, the Chiefs are reportedly also looking toward getting somebody like Keenan Allen into the team. Add that to Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy, and it sure looks like a terrifying offense again.
It will be great to see how Mahomes returns next season. Who knows? He might just end up leading the Chiefs to another Super Bowl victory. But will that be enough to establish them as the greatest-ever team in NFL history? Only time will tell…
