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Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes will make his second Super Bowl appearance in four seasons. Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady will make his tenth. So here’s the question: will Mahomes get Brady?
Brady also had two Super Bowl appearances in his first four seasons, the first of which was on the bench. Mahomes also spent his first season on the bench and won the AFC Championship in each of his three seasons as a starter.
Mahomes would have three Super Bowl appearances if the former Chiefs overtake Dee Ford had not lined up in the AFC 2018 title game against Brady and the Patriots, or if the Chiefs had won the coin in the air at the start of the extra session and scored a touchdown on the first drive. If that had happened, Mahomes would have had three appearances in the Super Bowl instead of two, and Brady would have had nine appearances in the Super Bowl instead of 10.
In fact, Mahomes could be in his fourth consecutive Super Bowl spot. If the Chiefs had eliminated Alex Smith during the 2017 season, when the team’s attack was fighting, Mahomes could have given the Chiefs a ride that would take them beyond a 22-21 defeat to the Titans in the wild card round.
For Mahomes, what matters is the future. Under contract until the end of the decade, he will continue to keep Chiefs relevant and competitive. They can finish in five, six, seven or more Super Bowls. And Mahomes could finally catch Brady’s 10 appearances.
In 13 days, Mahomes will double his Super Bowl victories from one to two, or Brady will increase his record from six to seven. Even if he does, no one will be shocked if Mahomes catches Brady, in Super Bowl appearances, in Super Bowl wins, or both.