Like Michael Jordan, Patrick Mahomes Has No Peer | Bobby Burack

On February 2, 2020, Patrick Mahomes hoisted the Vince Lombardi trophy above his shoulders for the first time. He had just finished his second full season as a starter in the NFL, having already won the league MVP award a year prior. 

In just two, Mahomes had established himself as the face of the NFL, primed to carry the baton for the next generation.

It was that simple. But sports fans don't like simple. Sports thrive on debate, particularly individual debate – be it Magic vs. Bird, Tiger vs. Phil, or LeBron vs. MJ. 

So, from the moment Mahomes won his first Super Bowl, fans and analysts have looked to establish a rival – a Peyton Manning to Mahomes' Tom Brady. And, oh, have they tried.

It started with Lamar Jackson, who unanimously won the MVP award in 2019. Jackson was/is electric, with the best blend of running and passing skills in league history.

"The next Brady-Manning rivalry? Patrick Mahomes vs. Lamar Jackson could be the one matchup to watch moving forward," read an op-ed published by CBS Sports in 2019.

However, Jackson failed to convert his regular-season success into playoff success and regressed a year later. (Jackson has since rebounded. And some).

Luckily, Deshaun Watson had a breakout season around the same time. Watson edged Mahomes in several statistical categories in 2020, notably completing over 70% of his passes for the year.

The word was that Watson, who was drafted just two picks after Mahomes in 2017, had the intangibles to challenge Mahomes over the next decade. "Mahomes vs. Watson’ could be the NFL’s new ‘Manning vs. Brady,'" acclaimed sports columnist Woody Paige declared.

Then, that offseason, more than two dozen female massage therapists sued Watson for sexual harassment and sexual assault,