NFL Network host lists five traits Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes shares with Michael Jordan
Younger sports fans got a fuller look at the greatness of former Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan in the ESPN documentary, “The Last Dance.”
People can always look at stats, but there is more to what makes a player tick, and that was shown in the documentary.
Jordan is considered by many to be the best player in basketball history, and Peter Schrager of “Good Morning Football” on the NFL Network sees a comparison in the NFL.
“Let’s do a segment we’re calling, oh, I don’t know, ‘I know this won’t be popular but’ and that’s what we’re going to call this ... but I believe Patrick Mahomes is the closest thing the NFL has to Michael Jordan,” Schrager said.
Schrager then listed five reasons why Mahomes compares to Jordan.
1. Silencing the critics early in his career. The Chiefs were roasted for taking a Texas Tech quarterback in the draft, but in his first start, Mahomes beat Philip Rivers and the Chargers, then went to Pittsburgh and threw six touchdown passes in a win over the Steelers ... at the age of 22. As Schrager noted, Mahomes beat the “big dogs.”
2. Overcoming obstacles of previous failures. Mahomes avenged the AFC Championship Game loss to the Patriots by winning at New England last December. To Schrager, this was akin to Jordan finally lifting the Bulls past the Pistons.
3. Saves his best for the big stage. From Mahomes’ left-handed pass on “Monday Night Football,” to calling Wasp in Super Bowl LIV, the national spotlight brings out the best in the Chiefs quarterback.
“I don’t have an example of a big game where Mahomes didn’t show up or wasn’t himself,” Schrager said. “If anything, he elevates his game when all lights are on him. That is the stuff that true champions, really true special talents have.”
4. Insane vision. You remember the no-look pass, right? Well, how about the touchdown pass to Travis Kelce against the Browns? “It’s one of the best passes I’ve seen,” Schrager said. Schrager also mentioned this jump pass to Mecole Hardman:
5. Relentless intensity. “Every time you watch Mahomes, he seems like he is dialed in and it was no more evident than the Super Bowl when he took a big hit,” Schrager said.
Nate Burleson made a LeBron James comparison, while Kyle Brandt wondered if Mahomes, the Super Bowl MVP, would ride players like Jordan did to make them better.
You can watch the discussion here:
