Patrick Mahomes, the star quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, has added another feather to his cap by setting a new Super Bowl record for the most career rushing yards by a quarterback. Mahomes achieved this feat in his fourth Super Bowl appearance, where he led the Chiefs to a thrilling 25-22 overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
Mahomes surpasses Montana, Elway and Staubach
Mahomes, who is widely regarded as one of the best quarterbacks of all time, has been known for his ability to make plays with his arm and legs. He showcased his dual-threat skills once again in Super Bowl LVIII, where he rushed for 33 yards on five carries, including a crucial 12-yard scramble on third-and-10 in the final drive of regulation that set up the game-tying field goal.
With his 33 rushing yards, Mahomes increased his career total to 139 yards in four Super Bowls, surpassing the previous record of 105 yards held by Joe Montana, the legendary 49ers quarterback who won four Super Bowls in the 1980s. Mahomes also moved ahead of John Elway (86 yards) and Roger Staubach (83 yards), who are both Hall of Fame quarterbacks and two-time Super Bowl champions.
Mahomes is the only quarterback in NFL history to play in four Super Bowls before turning 28 years old. He has won three of them, earning two Super Bowl MVP awards along the way. He is also the first player to win both the league MVP and the Super Bowl MVP before his 25th birthday.
Mahomes leads Chiefs to third title in five years
Mahomes’ record-breaking performance was not the only highlight of Super Bowl LVIII, which was played at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. The game was a rematch of Super Bowl LIV, where the Chiefs came back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat the 49ers 31-20 and end their 50-year championship drought.
This time, the 49ers had a 10-point lead at halftime, thanks to a dominant defensive display and a balanced offensive attack led by quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who threw for 202 yards and two touchdowns. The Chiefs, however, did not give up and mounted another comeback in the second half, scoring 15 unanswered points in the third quarter to take a 15-13 lead.
The 49ers responded with a touchdown drive of their own, capped by a 1-yard run by Garoppolo, who also ran for the two-point conversion to make it 21-15 with 7:34 left in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs then tied the game with a 49-yard field goal by Harrison Butker, who also made a 52-yarder earlier in the quarter.
The game went into overtime, where the Chiefs won the coin toss and elected to receive. Mahomes then orchestrated a masterful 75-yard drive, completing six of seven passes for 42 yards and running for 12 yards. He finished the drive with a 4-yard touchdown pass to tight end Travis Kelce, who caught 10 passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns in the game.
The Chiefs celebrated their third Super Bowl title in five years, becoming the first team to repeat as champions since the New England Patriots in 2003 and 2004. Mahomes was named the Super Bowl MVP for the second time in his career, joining Bart Starr, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana, Eli Manning and Tom Brady as the only players to win the award twice.
Mahomes cements his legacy as one of the greatest
Mahomes, who signed a record-breaking 10-year, $503 million contract extension with the Chiefs in 2020, has already established himself as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, despite being only 27 years old. He has a career record of 57-15 as a starter, including 9-2 in the playoffs. He has thrown for 19,901 yards and 173 touchdowns, with only 38 interceptions, in the regular season. He has also rushed for 1,216 yards and 10 touchdowns.
In the postseason, Mahomes has been even more impressive, throwing for 3,340 yards and 25 touchdowns, with only six interceptions, in 11 games. He has also rushed for 354 yards and four touchdowns. He has led the Chiefs to five consecutive AFC Championship games, winning four of them. He has also set several playoff records, such as the most consecutive games with 300+ passing yards (6), the most consecutive games with multiple passing touchdowns (8), and the most passing yards in a single postseason (1,156 in 2019).
Mahomes has also shown remarkable resilience and leadership, overcoming injuries, adversity and pressure. He has led the Chiefs to 10 comeback wins when trailing by double digits, including four in the playoffs. He has also won seven games when trailing in the fourth quarter or overtime, including three in the Super Bowls. He has also delivered clutch performances in big moments, such as throwing a 44-yard touchdown pass to Tyreek Hill on third-and-15 in Super Bowl LIV, or converting a fourth-and-1 with a sneak in Super Bowl LVII.
Mahomes has earned the respect and admiration of his peers, coaches and fans, who have praised his talent, work ethic, humility and character. He has also been a positive influence in the community, donating millions of dollars to various causes and initiatives, such as fighting hunger, supporting children’s health, promoting social justice and empowering women. He has also been a vocal advocate for voting rights, mental health awareness and COVID-19 prevention.
Mahomes has already achieved more than most players can dream of in their entire careers, and he is not done yet. He has a chance to become the most decorated quarterback in NFL history, and to cement his legacy as one of the greatest athletes of all time.
