PATRICK MAHOMES SAT across from Tom Brady and stared into the face of his future. Their one-on-one interview for Fox's Sunday NFL show took place within the strange setting of a hotel balcony -- Brady wasn't allowed in the pregame production meeting for Week 7's Chiefs-49ers matchup because he's a minority owner of the Raiders -- but the common ground they shared was undeniable. Brady sat in the 29-year-old Mahomes' chair (so to speak) 18 years ago, during the 2006 season.
Like Mahomes, he had already won three Super Bowls by that stage. The NFL shorthand had established him as an all-timer at a relatively young age. The direction Brady's next decade would take was uncertain, but it would have been fair to say he had little to prove.
It also would have been fair to say his New England Patriots had high expectations for what could still be accomplished -- and they met them. Brady would play 14 more seasons in New England, winning three more Super Bowls, going to 11 Pro Bowls and earning first-team All-Pro honors three more times. Editor's Picks Barnwell answers crucial questions from a wild Week 8: How did the Bears make two huge mistakes? 17h Bill Barnwell Debating Week 8's biggest overreactions: Is this the real Philly offense? Is the AFC East race over? 1d Dan Graziano Are Jerry Jones' precious fan tours a hurdle to winning? Some Cowboys think so 6d Kalyn Kahler Mahomes turned 29 on Sept.
17, seven months after he won his third Super Bowl. His Chiefs are 7-0 in the final se.