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The debate over who is the NFL's greatest of all time (GOAT) is never-ending. Patrick Mahomes is chasing Tom Brady in both achievements and statistics. At 29, he has already matched the former Patriots legend's accomplishments at the same age, but there's one aspect where he still has a long way to go-popularity.
Mahomes' rise has been nearly as rapid as Brady's. By 29, he has already secured three Super Bowl rings, three Super Bowl MVP honors, two regular-season MVP awards, two First-Team All-Pro selections, and six Pro Bowl nods.
His accolades and stats put him on par with Brady at the same age, and many experts believe that in time, Mahomes could rival or sur the seven-time Super Bowl champion's legacy. However, one challenge stands in his way-fame and global recognition.
Brady is a social media star
Mahomes may be the face of the NFL right now, but he has yet to sur Brady's widespread popularity. The Las Vegas Raiders owner boasts 15.2 million Instagram followers-more than double Mahomes' 6.7 million.
On X (formerly Twitter), the numbers are closer, with Brady holding 3 million followers compared to Mahomes' 2.7 million. However, Brady's ongoing presence as an analyst for Fox could give him an even greater edge in public visibility in the coming years.
Of course, neither player approaches the global reach of sports icons like Cristiano Ronaldo (650 million Instagram followers), Lionel Messi (500 million), or even WWE retired megastar Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (350 million). Just a reminder that the NFL has a lot of work to do in of global visibility.
Mahomes has other priorities
To be fair, Mahomes' focus remains elsewhere. At the peak of his career, he is fully committed to his training and performance as an active player. Additionally, as a father of three young children-one of whom is still a newborn-he has little time to build a parallel career as a social media influencer.
Fortunately, time is on his side. While he has stated he doesn't expect to play as long as Brady, his 2020 contract extension-worth $450 million-ensures he will remain with the Chiefs until at least 2031. A lot can change in that time, including a surge in popularity that might finally close the gap between Mahomes and Brady.