Patrick Mahomes II: The Defining Quarterback of His Generation
Patrick Mahomes II has already established himself as one of the defining quarterbacks of his generation. The Kansas City Chiefs selected Mahomes with the 10th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, and after spending his rookie season behind Alex Smith, he became the team's full-time starter in 2018. What followed was one of the fastest rises to superstardom in modern NFL history. Mahomes combined elite arm strength, improvisational ability and creativity with an aggressive mentality that completely changed what was considered possible from the quarterback position.
Player Snapshot
Key Player Info
Position
Quarterback
Team
Kansas City Chiefs
Jersey
No. 15
College
Texas Tech
Draft
2017, Round 1, No. 10 Overall
The Winning Ticket
The Chiefs found something special when Mahomes became their full-time starter in 2018. During the four-season stretch referenced on the card, Mahomes and Tom Brady were the only quarterbacks to record at least 11 wins in each season. Mahomes' 49 victories during that span led all NFL quarterbacks. But the wins were only the beginning. His ability to make throws from unconventional angles, extend plays outside the pocket and turn broken plays into touchdowns quickly made him one of the league's most difficult quarterbacks to defend.
The Raiders Comeback
One of the card's defining moments comes from Week 11 of the 2020 season. Kansas City trailed the Las Vegas Raiders late in the fourth quarter when Mahomes orchestrated a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. The Chiefs won 35-31. The drive became another example of what had already become a familiar Mahomes trait: when the game gets chaotic late, he tends to get better.
Mahomes & Kelce
Few quarterback-tight end combinations have been more productive than Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In Week 5 of the 2022 season against the Raiders, the two connected on four touchdown passes. The performance pushed the Mahomes-to-Kelce connection to 41 touchdown passes. Their chemistry has become one of the defining offensive partnerships of the modern NFL.
Mahomes-to-Kelce TD Passes (Week 5, 2022 vs Raiders)
Playoff Performer
Mahomes' regular-season production is impressive. His postseason résumé is what separates him. Even early in his career, he had already established multiple Kansas City franchise playoff records, including passing touchdowns, passing yards, completions and attempts. Since that card was produced, Mahomes has continued adding to those numbers and building one of the most impressive postseason résumés in NFL history.
Early Playoff Totals (Card Reference)
The MVP Story
When the original card material was produced, Mahomes had only one NFL MVP award. That didn't last. Mahomes won his second NFL MVP award following the 2022 season, becoming only the 10th player in NFL history at the time to win the award multiple times. His ability to combine huge statistics with elite team success has become one of the defining characteristics of his career.
Super Bowl Success
Mahomes also quickly established himself as a championship quarterback. He led Kansas City to a victory over San Francisco in Super Bowl LIV, giving the Chiefs their first Super Bowl championship in 50 years. He later led the Chiefs to another championship in Super Bowl LVII, defeating Philadelphia. Mahomes became the first player since Kurt Warner to win both the NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP in the same season when he accomplished the feat in 2022. Kansas City then returned to the Super Bowl again in the following season, defeating San Francisco in Super Bowl LVIII. That victory gave Mahomes his third Super Bowl championship and made Kansas City the first back-to-back Super Bowl champion since the Patriots accomplished the feat in 2004-05.
Why Mahomes Is Different
Mahomes' biggest advantage may not be any single statistic. It's his ability to create offense when the original play has already broken down. He can throw across his body. He can make throws from multiple arm angles. He can extend plays with his legs. And he has repeatedly shown the ability to make high-pressure throws late in games. That improvisational style has become part of his identity and one of the reasons his highlights have become nearly as recognizable as his statistics.
Career Trajectory
Career Milestones by Year
The defining trait throughout has been consistency. Mahomes doesn't simply produce spectacular games. He consistently puts Kansas City in position to win.
Collectibles Note
Patrick Mahomes has one of the strongest modern football collectible profiles. His cards combine several factors collectors look for: No. 10 overall pick, Kansas City Chiefs, multiple MVP awards, multiple Super Bowl championships, elite quarterback production, the Travis Kelce connection, and status as a modern NFL icon. His rookie cards are particularly important because they represent the beginning of a career that quickly became historically significant. Mahomes also benefits from something that many great players don't have: a massive highlight culture surrounding his career. His no-look passes, deep throws, fourth-quarter comebacks and postseason performances have made him one of the most recognizable players to a generation of football fans.
Investment Perspective
Players Invest Take: Patrick Mahomes represents the modern quarterback investment thesis at its strongest. He's young relative to the history of the hobby, already has multiple MVP awards and Super Bowl championships, plays for one of the NFL's most recognizable franchises and has established himself as the centerpiece of a winning organization. The most important part of the story may be that his career is still being written. For collectors, that creates both the appeal and the risk. You're not simply collecting what Mahomes has already accomplished — you're collecting a player whose ultimate career ceiling remains unknown.
From No. 10 overall pick to multiple-time MVP and Super Bowl champion, Patrick Mahomes has already become one of the defining quarterbacks of the modern NFL.
— Players Invest