When former Miami Hurricanes receiver Santana Moss famously said, “Big time players, step up in big games” back in 2000, he could easily have been describing Patrick Mahomes, especially after his performance in Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday night.
After being limited by a hard-hitting 49ers defense for three quarters, Mahomes did what he always does when his team needs him most.
He stepped into the phone booth, donned his cape, and came out with an “S” on his chest.
On the biggest night in American pro sports, Mahomes put the Chiefs on his back once again and carried the team to its third Super Bowl title in four trips with him under center.
And while the mighty yet largely unknown defense outside of Chris Jones played their part in the victory, it was another crunch-time performance by Mahomes that propelled the Chiefs to the win over the 49ers, again.
It’s a feat not lost on the superstar quarterback.
“With all the adversity we’ve been through this season to come through tonight….I’m proud of the guys,” said Mahomes, who won his third Super Bowl MVP award. “This is awesome. Legendary.”
Mahomes, already climbing the ranks of the greatest of all time, just reached another milestone.
He’s now the fifth quarterback to win at least three Super Bowl titles, joining Tom Brady (7), Terry Bradshaw (4), Joe Montana (4) and Troy Aikman (3). He’s also the second-youngest to accomplish the feat (28), joining Aikman as the only ones from the group to win three titles before their 30th birthday and the third to be named Super Bowl MVP three times (Brady, 5; Montana, 3).
This season, many doubted that Mahomes and the Chiefs could win it all again.
Critics questioned whether their offense could carry them to the Super Bowl as it did previously. It looked pedestrian down the stretch, the receivers had costly drops and mistakes during the season and it lost both Tyreek Hill and Eric Bieniemy.
But through all of the doubt and frustration, one constant remained.
Patrick Mahomes.
After his rookie season, Mahomes took over as the Chiefs’ full-time starter and Kansas City has thrived ever since.
He’s become a 6x Pro Bowler (2x All-Pro), a 2x NFL MVP, 3x Super Bowl winner and 3x Super Bowl MVP. He also led the league in passing (5,240 yards) and passing TDs (41) in 2020 and with 50 passing TDs in 2018, Mahomes joined Peyton Manning (55) and Tom Brady (50) as the only three players to throw for 50 TDs or more in a single season.
Mahomes is one of the deadliest players in NFL history in the fourth quarter. On Sunday night, in his fourth Super Bowl appearance and with his team trailing, he proved this again.
After igniting the passing attack with his arm, he introduced San Francisco to his legs.
On 4th and 1 with 6:05 remaining in OT, he scrambled for 8 yards. Four minutes later, he ran for 19 yards on 3rd and 1. Three plays later, with six seconds remaining, he hit Mecole Hardman for the Super Bowl-clinching three-yard TD.
When it mattered most, Mahomes refused to let his team falter.
He went 34-46 for 333 yards passing, two TDs and 1 INT while also becoming the team’s leading rusher with 66 yards on 9 attempts.
Because of his heroics, the Chiefs are now the first team to win back-to-back titles since the Patriots did it in 2003-2004.
But most importantly, Kansas City and Patrick Mahomes can officially say that the Chiefs are a dynasty.
“It’s the start of one,” said Mahomes to CBS Sports’ Tracy Wolfson after the game. “We’re not done. I know we’re going to celebrate tonight, but we’re not done. We’ve got a young team, we’re going to keep this thing going.”
At the age of 28, and with three Super Bowl victories in four appearances, there’s no reason to doubt Patrick Mahomes.
And even if you do, he’ll probably just prove you wrong….again.
