GOAT? No, KC Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes wants to be remembered with a slightly different acronym
The Kansas City Chiefs are on a collision course with NFL history in Super Bowl LIX against the Philadelphia Eagles, so legacy is naturally on the minds of media members.
From the moment he took over as starting quarterback in Kansas City, Patrick Mahomes has always found himself entrenched in the discourse regarding the greatest of all time at the position. The G.O.A.T., if you will. But he’s never the one who starts that conversation. Others always look at the stats, the film, the wins, and the rings, but they rarely have actually asked Mahomes the question: “What do you want to be remembered for.”
When asked about his legacy on Tuesday ahead of Super Bowl LIX, Mahomes finally weighed in.
“I just want to be remembered as one of the greatest teams of all time at the end of the day,” Mahomes said. “And I know how blessed I am to be in Kansas City, and the people that I have around me, coaches and players. And so, I’m more focused on leaving the imprint on the Kansas City Chiefs and how we are remembered for the rest of time.”
G.T.O.A.T. doesn’t quite roll off the tongue like G.O.A.T., but it certainly encapsulates the mentality and identity of the team during the 2024 NFL season and the playoffs. Football is a team sport, and this team is not just comprised of Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Chris Jones, etc. There are 53 active players, a 17-man practice squad, and numerous coaches, trainers, and support staff members that all contribute the success that has gone into back-to-back Super Bowl wins and three consecutive appearances.
During Super Bowl LIX opening night, Mahomes further elaborated on the G.O.A.T. talk and his career aspirations and goals.
“I’m just trying to be the greatest Patrick Mahomes that I can be,” Mahomes said on opening night. “I mean, that’s obviously a goal of anyone’s — to be the greatest at their profession, but in order to do that, you have to be the greatest that you can be every single day. That’s on the field and the work ethic I put in or off the field as the father and husband that I am. I’m going to try to be the greatest in that way, and whenever I’m done with football, if I leave everything out there the way that I feel like I have so far, as far as effort and mentality, I’ll be happy with the results, and I’ll let others talk about who the greatest is.”
So, Mahomes will leave the talking about his legacy (and the acronyms) to us. He’ll do his thing, continue winning on and off the field, and let the cards land where they may. So long as he’s able to leave it all out on the field with no regrets, he’ll be happy with the results.
