Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Patrick Mahomes believes the NFL is in a 'golden era' for QBs

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 5/25/23

When Tom Brady announced his retirement in February, the quarterback torch had officially been passed to a younger generation of top signal callers either in or about to enter their prime.

Among the best of that group is Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who, in a recent interview with Complex, stated that he believes the NFL’s 2023 quarterback class just might be the most talented collection of passers in league history.

"You look back and you got like Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw, freaking Troy Aikman, [John] Elway — there's been some Hall of Famers that have all played in the same era,” Mahomes said. “But I think top to bottom, it's hard to find a spot on any team [where] the quarterback's not a guy that you can see win playoff games. … So, I think it's definitely a golden era for the quarterback position. Maybe we don't have those Hall of Fame guys yet at the top, but one through 32, I mean there's quarterbacks that don't even get a chance to start that are great players."

The "Top 5" Greatest QBs of all-time in the NFL according to Patrick Mahomes:

1) Tom Brady
2) Peyton Manning
3) Aaron Rodgers
4) Joe Motana
5) "Dan Marino or John Elway"

(via @Complex) pic.twitter.com/sUfxhEKotq
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) May 24, 2023

While Mahomes’ statement is a bold one, he also may have a valid argument.

Aside from Mahomes, who’s a two-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl MVP and Super Bowl champion, the league is bursting with several top QBs who are 27 or younger including Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson, Trevor Lawrence, Kyler Murray, Tua Tagovailoa and Deshaun Watson.

There’s also a strong mix of first- or second-year players like Justin Fields, Jordan Love, Kenny Pickett and Brock Purdy, plus a few rookies including Will Levis, Anthony Richardson, C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young, who could all work their way into the conversation pretty quickly.

"There's like 10 top five quarterbacks," Mahomes said. “…There's so many quarterbacks in this league, it's hard to put five. And I guess the best thing about this league is you have the top five quarterbacks this year and then next year it could be completely different."

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