Tom Brady served as one of Patrick Mahomes’ biggest on-field rivals during the early stages of the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback’s career.
Now retired, the seven-time Super Bowl champion is serving as a mentor and sounding board for the two-time MVP, as Mahomes explained to Kay Adams on her ‘Up and Adams’ show.
‘I’ve actually talked to Tom a good amount this offseason,’ Mahomes said. ‘It’s cool that he wants to give me advice. He doesn’t have to be like that. He’s such a good dude. And I have so much respect for him, and I’ll take any advice he gives me.’
Mahomes joked he wasn’t able to give specifics about the discussions between himself and Brady.
‘I’ve got to keep the secrets, you know?’ Mahomes said, playfully.
That said, Mahomes did detail one of the most important lessons he has learned from Brady, who currently serves as a game analyst for Fox’s NFL coverage and recently bought an ownership stake in the Las Vegas Raiders.
‘He always talks about being yourself,’ Mahomes said. ‘He thinks that – which I truly believe, too – is that guys can spot when you’re not authentic, and you’re not putting in the work. That’s something that he did every single day. That’s why guys respected him so much.’
‘That’s all I’m going to do for the rest of my career, and I feel like I’ve done so far, is I’m always myself,’ he added. ‘No matter if you like me or don’t like me, you know I’m giving everything I can to win football games.’
Like Brady, Mahomes has found success doing that. The 29-year-old has already won three Super Bowls and earned MVP honors in each of his three victories. He has posted an 89-23 regular-season record in Kansas City and a 17-4 record in the postseason, giving him a combined winning percentage of .797.
Mahomes’ success has earned him high praise from Brady. The long-time New England Patriots starter has expressed his belief that if any quarterback could eventually surpass him in the debate about the NFL’s greatest quarterback, it would be Mahomes.
That praise has meant a lot to the Texas Tech product and has lit a fire under him as he looks to bounce back after a Super Bowl 59 defeat in his ninth NFL season.
‘I think [legacy is] always in the back of your mind, even from the beginning of my career,” Mahomes told Adams. ‘But at the end of the day, it’s about taking it a day at a time … That’s something that I’ve been conscious of – of knowing how blessed I am to be in Kansas City, to have all these great players around me.
“And having Tom – a guy like that – say that, it just motivates me even more.’
