“The Steph Curry of football.” Colin Cowherd couldn’t hold himself back from making that reference for Drew Brees. And to be fair, it’s apt. How often do you see a guy barely hitting 6 feet run the show from under center? That was the magic Brees brought to the field. Now, carrying that similar aura is Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs’ star also leans on pinpoint accuracy and slick maneuvers, preferring to outsmart defenses rather than outrun them. But Brees says that’s nothing new—he tips his hat to his own idol.

In a chat with Jon Gruden, Brees got nostalgic about his early days, especially behind Doug Flutie. You know what he said? “This guy [Flutie] could make every throw… He was doing Patrick Mahomes stuff before Patrick Mahomes was even born.” Pretty wild, right? If you’re a Mahomian, we’d suggest you take this way that it just shows how Pat has already climbed the ranks to be in the same breath as the legends.

Now, let’s see what about Doug got Brees singing his praise? First things first. If we loop back to the subject of height, then Flutie was another guy you can call little menace. Forget the current average QB height of 6’2″—he was just 5’10”! Surprised?

It’s easy to see why Brees had Flutie’s back. But there’s also another reason: when Brees was drafted 32nd overall by the Chargers in 2001, he sat on the bench observing Flutie before taking up the reins in 2002. Talk about a mentor-mentee dynamic!

If we start talking numbers then, this is where the Patrick Mahomes – Doug Flutie conversation would fall flat. Flutie ended his career with a 38-28 record, over 14,000 passing yards, and 86 touchdowns. Not too shabby for a guy often flying under the radar! But let’s face it, you don’t hear much about Flutie these days. He was more of a part-time starter, bouncing around teams like the Bears, Bills, and Patriots.

Flutie’s claim to fame? Winning the Heisman in 1984 and pulling off one of the most legendary throws in college football history. That’s all cool, but when you look at Mahomes, you see a guy on a whole different playing field! He’s already snagged 3 Super Bowls and MVP awards, racking up over 24,000 passing yards in just 7 years since assuming the starter role. Bear in mind, he’s only 29.

And although Drew Brees did mention Doug and Mahomes under the same breath, he actually knows for a fact that the Chiefs’ QB is already amongst one of the greatest.

Drew Brees states the real test for ‘winner’ Patrick Mahomes!

As pigskin fanatics, we have programmed our brains to respond to GOAT with Tom Brady. But that has changed recently. And as the seasons pass by, Patrick Mahomes’ name is taking over. If it hasn’t already. And Drew Brees, with an experience of 20 seasons under his resume, reads that pretty well.

In a chat with USA Today, Brees was asked if Mahomes could actually get any better. And guess what? He chuckled. Why? Probably because asking if Mahomes can improve is like asking if water can get any wetter. The guy’s still in his 20s, but he’s already pulling off throws and plays that leave you speechless. But Brees didn’t just laugh it off; he gave some valuable insight, too.

“There’s a formula to win every game,” Drews said. And Mahomes? “He’s a winner,” according to Brees. The guy who can turn nothing into something. Indeed. We’ve seen it a million times—just when the play looks dead, Mahomes pulls off another highlight. But as Brees pointed out, “At the heart of it, it’s really about execution.” Flashy plays are great, but nailing the basics is what matters most.

And Brees believes the real test for Mahomes would be in the future when his supporting cast’s going to see a change. “In five years from now, he’s not gonna have Travis Kelce and some of the others. So, he’ll continue to have to then develop chemistry and relationships with other guys and find ways to win in other ways.”

That’s years down the line. But before that the Chiefs are gunning for an unprecedented 3-peat, and they’re off to a solid start at 2-0 this season. But here’s the real question: if Mahomes wins another Super Bowl, does he cement himself as untouchable?

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