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| Patrick Mahomes (15) proves again that he is a Super QB |
So the sports headlines this morning are suggesting that it's time to declare Patrick Mahomes the greatest quarterback ever.
Please ... let's not rush into this.
Yes, he's terrific, and played brilliantly in the Kansas City Chiefs' final two scoring drives Sunday in Super Bowl 58 (take your Roman numerals into the modern era, NFL).
But greatest ever? Too soon.
Three Super Bowl championships leave Mahomes only four behind Tom Brady (you do remember him, right?).
Only two behind Bart Starr for NFL championships.
Only one behind Terry Bradshaw -- Shreveport's and Woodlawn's/Louisiana Tech's Terry Bradshaw -- and Joe Montana.
Tied in NFL championships with Johnny U. ... that's Unitas, for those of you who might have forgotten the Colts' No. 19 or don't even know who he was.
Tied, too, with the Cowboys' Troy Aikman.
And even before our time -- the early 1950s -- Otto Graham and the Cleveland Browns were the NFL's dynasty team.
(Quick note: Greatest ever? One of the most useless arguments in sports lore, in my opinion. Wrote a blog -- several years ago -- why I don't believe it this concept ... in any sport. Just too subjective a subject.)
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| Johnny U. (19), the legend began in 1958 |
What Kansas City, and Mahomes, did on their final two drives was identical to what Johnny U. and the Baltimore Colts did on that early Sunday evening in December 1958 at, yes, the original Yankee Stadium.
A desperate drive in the final two minutes of regulation for the tying field goal?
Colts, 73 yards for a 20-yard field goal with 7 seconds remaining. (The first recognized "two-minute drill.") Check. Chiefs, 64 yards for a 29-yard FG with 3 seconds remaining.
Winning overtime drive? Colts, 80 yards, after the Giants went three-and-out on a first possession. Check. Chiefs, 75 yards, after the 49ers had to settle for a field goal on their OT possession.
Clutch plays? How about Unitas' 11-yard pass to halfback Lenny Moore on a 3rd-and-10. Check. And Mahomes' 8-yard scramble on 4th-and-1 at the KC 36 when the Chiefs had to convert to extend the game.
Great main receiver? The Colts' Raymond Berry (uniform No. 82) catching three consecutive passes for 62 yards to set up the tying FG. Check. The Chiefs' brutish Travis Kelce -- you know, the boyfriend -- with the 22-yard reception/run to the 49ers' 11 (ending at 0:10 in regulation time).
So, 2023 Chiefs, meet the 1958 Colts. All the same.
Think Andy Reid -- three Super Bowl titles as a head coach, two near-misses) -- is a legend? Well, he's well on the way, but ...
How about the 1958 NY Giants, the OT losers, whose offensive coordinator was Vince Lombardi and defensive coordinator was Tom Landry. Gee, what happened to those coaches? Did they ever have any more success?
And Weeb Ewbank, the Colts' 1958 head coach, added another NFL title with the famed 1969 New York Jets.
And like KC now as a Super Bowl champion repeater, the Colts made it two titles in a row in 1959 (also against the same New York Giants).
KC has a dynasty, three Super Bowl titles in five years, four Super Bowl appearances in five years.
Greatest dynasty? Let's not rush this.
Almost -- almost -- as good as Lombardi's Green Bay Packers: five NFL titles in seven years, one near-miss (1960-66). Almost as good as Bradshaw and the Pittsburgh Steelers: four Super Bowl titles in six years (1974-79). Almost as good as the early 1990s Cowboys: three Super Bowl titles in four years.
(You do remember the Cowboys in the Super Bowl? It's only been 28 years, but who's counting?)
And the Patriots, Brady and coach Bill Belichick? Six titles, three seconds in 18 years. (And Belichick was the defensive coordinator for the only two Super Bowl titles Bill Parcells ever won, with the Giants.)
Look, Mahomes is terrific and seems pretty humble about it (a lot more so than the boyfriend), and Andy Reid seems a likable personality and no one doubt his coaching genius.
But greatest ever? Let's be sane about this. Old farts like me don't forget Lombardi, Landry, and Johnny U. ... And the Blond Bomber from Shreveport.
From Leo Van Thyn: Thanks for this. As always over the top reactions and hyperbole by lots of folks. Personally, I extremely dislike the term “greatest” and comparing athletes from different eras.
ReplyDeleteFrom Jesse Carrigan: Good. We [Louisiana Tech] will always have Terry, our "greatest."
ReplyDeleteFrom Jim Pruett: In my opinion -- a great finish. Clutch drive. Mahomes is a special talent.
ReplyDelete"Greatest ever" discussions on any topic leave me cold (as you know). Basically opinion. (Bet 49ers fans would almost ALL disagree.)
From Hank Fitzhugh: Good memories, especially the 1958 Championship Game. Bradshaw and Steelers were good, but my favorite Bradshaw memories were his late-night conversations with Johnny Carson.
ReplyDeleteFrom Bill Gibson: Thanks. I remember those games, players, and coaches well. The modern ignorant generation might get a clue from the Super Bowl trophy the “Lombardi Trophy.”
ReplyDeleteFrom Al Miller: Good article, my man, and full of correct info for each and all to ponder.
ReplyDeleteFrom Ben Sour: Great piece for those of us who watched the greatest game ever played (and heard Mazeroski 's walk-off to win the Series for the Pirates). But do you have to call us old farts? ... Had to reread my fellow alum Ray Berry's story. At SMU, he watched hours of Doak Walker game films. He's a great model for how hard some people work to be successful.
ReplyDeleteFrom Ken Sins: As Bill Parcells used to say: Let’s hold off on the anointing oil.
ReplyDeleteFrom Alan Feinberg: Being an old timer myself. I enjoyed this article.
ReplyDeleteFrom Alton McKnight: Thanks for remembering those great ones from the past who deserve mention in any discussion of great players, teams or coaches. The Chiefs are a great team, but far from the best ever.
ReplyDeleteFrom Bill Workman: Great blog. I agree -- a little presumptuous and premature to say Mahomes is the best ever.
ReplyDeleteI remember when he was playing for Texas Tech. A little different kind of athlete, not your typical jock.
From Jack Thigpen: I have been missing your articles, enjoyed the one today about the greatest of all time. I remember all those games and players, brought back memories of some great players and coaches. Some of the best to ever play and coach the game. This generation thinks their guys are the best ever, and our generation thinks ours were the best. A discussion that could go on for a long time.
ReplyDeleteFrom Dell Wood: Interesting post. Thanks for bringing some of those names to the forefront.
ReplyDeleteFrom Elizabeth Loftin: Excellent article. I learned about football watching Bart Starr and Green Bay. Watched most of the players you mentioned, including our home boy, Terry.
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