Before we tell the story of Patrick Mahomes, let’s set the stage as to why he is number one.

This is the multi-time MVP Quarterback (the most important position in football) who won the Super Bowl three times and was the MVP in all three.

When the Kansas City Chiefs traded up to pick Mahomes tenth overall from Texas Tech in 2017, everyone knew Andy Reid was acquiring a strong-armed quarterback. However, no one expected that sitting him behind Alex Smith for a full redshirt year would activate what is arguably the most talented quarterback in football history, immediately changing the course of modern professional football.

Taking the starting reins in 2018, Mahomes delivered a jaw-dropping debut that shattered conventional standards for young quarterbacks. He unleashed a dizzying array of sidearm slants, no-look passes, and off-platform lasers, putting together a legendary campaign with 5,097 passing yards and 50 touchdown passes. Joining Peyton Manning as the only players to reach those dual milestones in a single year, Mahomes walked away with NFL MVP honors and turned Arrowhead Stadium into the league's undeniable epicenter.

What sets Mahomes apart from every passer before him is a blend of supreme improvisation and lethal situational awareness. Operating behind an offensive line built for his style, he treats third-and-long like a routine walk in the park, systematically dismantling zone coverages before extending plays beyond the pocket. Defensive coordinators quickly learned that bringing pressure only fuels his genius, as his uncanny field vision turns broken plays into long-distance highlight-reel damage.

The individual statistical dominance translated directly into postseason hardware in short order. In 2019, Mahomes engineered three consecutive double-digit comeback victories in the playoffs, culminating in a fourth-quarter rally over San Francisco to secure Super Bowl LIV—Kansas City's first world title in 50 long years. He proved that the championship standard was no transient flash, returning to the big game the following season to cement the AFC's dominant hierarchy.

His second MVP campaign arrived in 2022, when he led the league with 5,250 passing yards and 41 touchdowns despite losing elite weapon Tyreek Hill in a high-profile offseason trade. Mahomes completely re-engineered his approach, picking defenses apart underneath with surgical precision, then gutted out a legendary performance despite a high-ankle sprain in Super Bowl LVII to capture his second ring and second Super Bowl MVP trophy.

In 2023, back-to-back titles became a reality as Mahomes led a resilient, defense-focused Chiefs team to the top again. Despite midseason offensive slumps, he relied on playoff experience and a strong connection with Travis Kelce, guiding Kansas City through tough road games in Buffalo and Baltimore. The journey culminated in Las Vegas, where he threw the game-winning touchdown in overtime against San Francisco during Super Bowl LVIII, earning the franchise’s third championship in five seasons and solidifying their dynasty.

Entering the 2024 campaign with historic three-peat ambitions, Mahomes again delivered clutch moments at critical times. Despite injuries testing the receiving corps, his unwavering leadership, quick decision-making, and late-game heroics led Kansas City to another impressive January run, demonstrating veteran maturity that kept the Chiefs firmly at the top of the NFL.

The 2025 season brought a rare taste of adversity and a stark reminder that even elite quarterbacks aren't immune to structural shifts. Battling offensive line reconfigurations and key injuries, Mahomes posted his first sub-.500 record as a starting quarterback. While he still generated over 3,500 passing yards and flashed moments of signature brilliance, the team struggled to find its usual rhythm, missing the postseason for the first time in his tenure.

Now heading into the 2026 NFL season at 30 years old, Mahomes faces a new kind of challenge: proving he can reset the standard and steer Kansas City back to the top of the AFC. Yet even with bumps in the road, his overall resume remains extraordinary. With two NFL MVPs, three Super Bowl rings, three Super Bowl MVP awards, and a mountain of franchise passing records, his place in gridiron royalty is already well secured.

With his prime years still stretching out ahead of him, Kansas City enters 2026 eager to see how Number 15 responds to his first true professional setback. If history is any indicator, betting against Mahomes to recalibrate Andy Reid's offense and launch a fierce bounce-back effort would be a mistake.

It won’t matter if he never catches the lead spot in Pro Bowls and All-Pros over some of the others.  Refer to the first two sentences.  This is the top dog on this team.