LAS VEGAS — Patrick Mahomes is chasing another Super Bowl win. This is him. This is what he’s doing. This is where he does it.
And here’s a warning to the rest of the NFL: He’ll be chasing them for the next 10 years. Or more.
He’s only 28 years old and aspires to his third Lombardi Trophy in the same way that 27-year-old Tom Brady aspired to his third. Those who know best the face of the Chiefs and the face of the 2024 Super Bowl are convinced that if that’s the case. He beat the 49ers on Sunday night, but if he’s lucky he’ll have a fourth, then a fifth, sixth, and seventh time, just like Brady did before finally abandoning the love of his life at age 45. would want it.
He thinks he can play for another 15 years.
“As long as they let me play, I want to play,” Mahomes said Monday on Super Bowl “Opening Night.” “Obviously Brady did it, other guys have done it, so I’m going to see if I can do the same.
“I don’t want to play until I’m hurting the team. So if I can go out there and have success and still love it every day, I think that’s the biggest thing and I think that’s where I put the time and effort into it.” If I can put in the effort, I’m going to play. And if I feel like I’m helping the team, I’m going to go out there and do whatever I can to keep it going.”
Hoisting the Lombardi Trophy has become an addiction for him. But for Brady, experiencing the pain of losing in Super Bowl LV trumps his addiction.
“That’s definitely something I want to continue to do,” Mahomes said. “I know how much it hurts to lose in the Super Bowl more than anything. You want to make sure you distance yourself from that feeling. So instead of hoisting a trophy, it’s more about losing and being in the locker room and thinking about it.” When I feel like I’m one step away from it and I don’t get it, I’ll even try to walk away from it. It feels better than holding up a trophy.”
He has yet to be re-elected as champion.
“It’s special to win back-to-back Super Bowls,” Mahomes said. “There’s only a handful of teams that have been able to do that. So for us, it’s just proving we can do it. I think we got our players to do it.”
If that happens, it will be his fourth Super Bowl victory after Brady.
“We’re not even halfway there yet,” Mahomes said with a smile. “If I get asked that question in 15 years or so, I’ll see if I can get closer to 7. But 7 feels like a long way off.”
Brady is the undisputed GOAT, and Mahomes acknowledged as much when asked about joining the GOAT conversation.
“It’s very early,” Mahomes said. “Tom won the Super Bowl like seven times, including every record in the books. All I can do is be the best Patrick Mahomes every day and that’s all I contribute. is.”
Tiger Woods became obsessed with the Navy SEALs 18 years ago after the death of his father. A few years after his father’s death, Michael Jordan quit the Bulls to play baseball for the Birmingham Barons. Mahomes is similar to Brady.
“The Lord is willing. There were no injuries. He’s going to have his uniform ripped off,” his father, Pat Mahomes, said in a phone call ahead of his embarrassing arrest on suspicion of DWI Saturday night. he told me. “Yeah, I can see him playing until he’s 40 years old. I can see him playing until they tell him to stop playing.”
His son was his usual relaxed and likable person in front of the national media, and spoke about potential distractions:
“I think the great thing about football, and the great thing about our team, is that we have a great building and a great brotherhood. … We’re a family, and that’s how we handle things.”
Jordan regrets quitting basketball and returns. Tiger has regained his love of golf.
“I think what I’ve always said and what’s been the driving force throughout my career is I don’t want to have any regrets,” Mahomes said. “I don’t want to look back on my career and say I regret going out there and performing every day…and if you give it your all, you’ll be happy with the result and that’s what drives you every day. ” ”
Watch out, NFL. This is him. This is what he’s doing. This is where he does it.
