These two all-time quarterbacks don’t agree on much, but feel this signal caller, who heads to another Super Bowl, has elevated himself above his NFL peers.
Seven-time Super Bowl-winner Tom Brady and five-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning have seen it all at the quarterback position. They have forgotten more football than most quarterbacks know today.
Well, their collective expertise, which includes a whopping nine Vince Lombardi trophies, was put to task leading up to the season during an appearance on “The Stephen A. Smith Show.”
Smith grilled the two greats on the state of NFL quarterback play, and coming off the NFC and AFC championship playoff round on Sunday, their opinions held up well.
Brady didn’t hesitate: “Quarterbacks need to be coached hard. Andy Reid coaches Patrick Mahomes hard, and that’s good for Patrick. And that’s bad for NFL defenses. Patrick Mahomes is No. 1,” he said.
Manning concurred with Brady on Mahomes before naming his next best QB.
“I’m a big fan of Joe Burrow,” Manning said. “I’m glad to see him back healthy. I like the way he carries himself. I like his demeanor out there. He doesn’t sweat. He doesn’t flinch. He’s just kind of calm and cool the whole time.”
From there, opinions differed: Brady took Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen — who lost to Mahomes on Sunday, Baltimore Ravens QB and likely NFL MVP Lamar Jackson, and Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow after Mahomes.
Meanwhile, Manning, who has Mahomes and then Burrow atop his list, filled it out with Jackson, and Los Angeles Chargers flamethrower Justin Herbert.
“This Justin Herbert is as talented as anybody,” Manning said. “He can throw it a mile.”
In eight NFL seasons, Mahomes has become one of the sport’s biggest stars. He is one of five quarterbacks in NFL history to win at least three Super Bowls and the end doesn’t seem anywhere in sight for the 29-year-old passer, who has led the Chiefs to seven straight appearances in the AFC Championship game.
Todderick Hunt covers Sports and Culture and Recruiting. Have a story idea or a tip? He can be reached at thunt@njadvancemedia.com.