Three-time defensive player of the year JJ Watt believes the NFL is firmly in the Patrick Mahomes era after the Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterback guided his side to yet another Super Bowl.
The 29-year-old will take on Jalen Hurts’ Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans on February 9 for a chance to claim another ring to his collection, despite only becoming the starter for Andy Reid’s team in 2018.
Producing three touchdowns against the Buffalo Bills in a 32-29 victory, as well as 245 passing yards and 43 rushing yards, the Chiefs’ star player proved why he’s regarded as the finest as the finest quarterback within the sport.
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The performance on the night now means he has won five conference championships and will now appear in five Super Bowl games. He has only ever lost the Super Bowl to the legendary Tom Brady, so Watts feels that is an era-defining run.
“Basketball players get stuck in the (Michael) Jordan era,” Watts told CBS Sports. “Tennis players in the Serena Williams era. Golfers in the Tiger Woods era.
“Football players had the Tom Brady era, and now it’s the Patrick Mahomes era.”
Mahomes lays the praise on teammates
The 2024/25 NFL season hasn’t been an easy one for the Chiefs, particularly the offense who have had to cope with a wave of injuries to the likes of Rashee Rice, Hollywood Brown and Isiah Pacheco.
Yet thanks to Mahomes’ stubbornness and freakish ability to evade being sacked, as well as their iron defense, the Chiefs are in the final game of the campaign once again and the QB ensured he thanked his colleagues.
“I’m just so proud of my teammates man, that [Bills] was a great football team,” Mahomes said. “I’m just at a loss for words. I’m excited for New Orleans.
“I think I’ve always said it: it’s not about one guy. It’s not about a couple of guys. It’s about the whole, entire team.
“And when we needed the defense to get stops, they got stops. Offense, we made plays. That’s why we’re so special, because it’s a team effort in a team football game.”