His successor at the Chiefs
Before becoming the Kansas City Chiefs‘ starting quarterback, Patrick Mahomes learned from NFL veteran Alex Smith. Smith believed in Mahomes‘ potential and referred to him as a “rare talent.”
During his final season with the Chiefs, Smith had a remarkable year, achieving career-high stats with 4,042 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and an impressive eight yards per attempt.
He also led the NFL with a passer rating of 104.7. Despite this success, the Chiefs finished with a 10-6 record and were eliminated in the Wild Card round, marking Smith‘s final game with the team. Following this, Smith joined the Washington Football Team, but a severe leg injury largely ended his career.
Since taking over from Smith, Mahomes has been an NFL sensation. In his first season as a starter, he exceeded 5,000 passing yards and threw 50 touchdowns.
“I knew when the Chiefs drafted Patrick Mahomes my time in Kansas City was running out,” Smith told the Pat McAfee Show.
“At that point anyway, I was on my thirteenth year, you’re not guaranteed anything … I knew I had that year to make the most of it.
“Nobody talks about his work ethic, and he’s an immense competitor. He’s relentless.”
Mahomes is widely recognized as the best quarterback in the league and has already achieved two NFL MVP awards and two Super Bowl championships in just his seventh season.
His rapid ascent to stardom and his ability to follow in the footsteps of a respected veteran like Smith demonstrate his exceptional talent and dedication to the game.