Tom Brady’s early playoff dominance is one of the most remarkable feats in NFL history. Before suffering his first postseason defeat, Brady had already secured three Super Bowl victories—an achievement that seems nearly impossible to replicate in today’s highly competitive league.
Brady’s first postseason run in the 2001 season ended with an improbable Super Bowl XXXVI victory over the heavily favored St. Louis Rams. He followed that up by leading the New England Patriots to back-to-back championships in 2003 and 2004, cementing his reputation as a clutch performer. It wasn’t until the 2005 playoffs that Brady finally lost a postseason game, falling to the Denver Broncos in the divisional round.
Winning three championships before ever tasting playoff defeat speaks volumes about Brady’s ability to perform under pressure. Given the increasing parity in today’s NFL, the odds of another quarterback matching this feat are incredibly slim. This historic start to his postseason career is just one of the many reasons Brady is widely regarded as the greatest quarterback of all time.
Super Bowl LIX: A Legacy-Altering Loss for Mahomes
Leading up to Super Bowl LIX, much of the discussion revolved around Mahomes’ legacy. The 29-year-old was playing in his fifth Super Bowl in six years, and a win would have made him the first quarterback to win three consecutive championships. Some even suggested that a victory would vault him past Brady as the greatest quarterback of all time.
However, the Philadelphia Eagles had no interest in Mahomes’ coronation, dismantling the Kansas City Chiefs in a 40-22 blowout. For the second time in five Super Bowls, Mahomes wasn’t just defeated—he was dominated.
Mahomes’ Super Bowl Struggles
Despite being widely regarded as the best quarterback in the NFL today, Mahomes has struggled in two of his five Super Bowl appearances. Against the Eagles, he completed 21 of 32 passes for 257 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions, finishing with a 95.4 passer rating. However, those numbers were padded in garbage time. His two interceptions were game-changing—one was returned for a touchdown, and the other set up another Eagles score. Mahomes also lost a fumble that resulted in a field goal.
This marked the third time in five Super Bowls that Mahomes threw multiple interceptions. In contrast, Brady threw multiple picks in just one of his 10 Super Bowl appearances.
The Brady vs. Mahomes Debate: Not So Close Yet
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce declared before the game that Mahomes is already the greatest quarterback ever.
"I'm gonna say he is, but I'm biased toward what I see in the building," Kelce told Fox Sports’ Rob Gronkowski. "I'm gonna say he's the greatest ever, but I know there's a pretty valid argument somewhere else."
That "valid argument" comes in the form of 10 Super Bowl appearances and seven championships, including one head-to-head win over Mahomes in Super Bowl LV.
While Mahomes’ talent is undeniable, this loss further cemented that he still has a long way to go before surpassing Brady’s legacy. The Chiefs remain one of the NFL’s most dominant teams, and Mahomes will likely have more opportunities to add to his Super Bowl tally. But as it stands, Brady’s historic achievements remain the gold standard for quarterback greatness.