Bruce Arians: Patrick Mahomes Can Surpass Tom Brady's Legacy If Any Player Can

When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV, it will be a matchup between the greatest quarterback that has ever played in Tom Brady and the greatest quarterback that could be Patrick Mahomes.

And Bucs head coach Bruce Arians thinks Mahomes might be the one player capable of exceeding Brady's incredible legacy. 

"If there was a player who could do it, it would be Patrick," he told reporters Thursday.

The 43-year-old Brady is a six-time champion (and has now reached 10 Super Bowls), a three-time MVP, 14-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro selection. Nobody has won more Super Bowls or played in more, and Brady's longevity alone makes him one of the most unique players in league history. 

But Mahomes is on the right path. The 25-year-old is already a one-time champion and one-time MVP in his four seasons, with the chance to win a second title this season. He's a three-time Pro Bowler and was a first-team All-Pro selection in 2018. 

To put that into perspective, Brady didn't win his first MVP until his eighth season. He did have two titles within his first four seasons, however (and three titles in his first five). 

If it seems like Brady is always in the Super Bowl, well, you aren't the only one who feels that way. Mahomes had jokes on the matter.

"Being able to go up against one of the greatest if not the greatest quarterback of all time in his 150th Super Bowl, it's going to be a great experience for me," he told reporters. "To go out there and get to have a chance to repeat and get to do it against the best, I mean it's something special and I'm excited for the opportunity."

As for who has the edge in this one, well, the Chiefs did win 27-24 in Week 12. But the Saints also beat the Bucs twice in the regular season and that didn't work out for them so well in the postseason. It will be a fascinating game, and the obvious storyline remains the battle between the GOAT and the man who wants to someday hold that title.