The quarterback pyramid has been a constantly changing ladder in the NFL. Given the ups and downs of the league, the specific level of success can decide how certain players are viewed. Moreover, without a true criterion for the ranking, the exact rationale becomes even more vague.
However, Patrick Mahomes had ruled that system for essentially his entire career. Having the single-best seven-year start to a quarterback’s career cemented his standing as the pinnacle of the sport. Even now, as he’s ceded ground to Josh Allen, the mentality heading into the 2026 season remains unchanged.
Patrick Mahomes Is Vying for the Number 1 Spot Again
When comparing individual resumes, it becomes hard to place any current quarterback in their prime over Mahomes. A three-time Super Bowl champion with five trips to the big game under his belt, he has dominated the postseason unlike anyone else.
But the statistical side of the argument isn’t completely against him either, as he stands as a two-time MVP with the highest single-season yards from scrimmage total in NFL history. But the player to come closest to him in arguments and discussions has been Allen.
A statistical anomaly himself, he has been dangerously dominant in the regular season. The only asterisk against him has come in the form of a disastrous postseason record against Mahomes specifically.
Even though the two are tied at 5-5 in their 10 overall encounters, the Kansas City Chiefs have a commanding 4-0 advantage over the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs.
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Still, after an injury derailed Mahomes last year, with the team missing the playoffs for the first time since he joined the franchise, it paved the way for Allen to overtake him as the league’s best quarterback.
As a result, a poll by ESPN of executives, coaches, and scouts ranked the two-time MVP behind Allen. Speaking to Yahoo Sports Daily, Mahomes showed real maturity about the ranking, explaining his rationale behind the drop.
“You understand it. I mean, coming off injury, and we didn’t play as well as we wanted to, the last few years, you’re gonna drop in the rankings of some sort.” That drop in play also reflected statistically for Mahomes as well.
“You understand it.” 🤷
.@PatrickMahomes isn’t bothered by being ranked as the NFL’s No. 2 quarterback.
(via Yahoo Sports Daily) pic.twitter.com/HRqrrzWb9J
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 15, 2026
Over the last three years, he has ranked 9th, 10th, and 11th on PFN’s QB Impact Metric, dropping one spot each season. While respectable, it is nowhere near the two top-4 finishes for Allen in that same timeframe.
However, even as Mahomes accepted his fate, the motivation hadn’t changed for the former first-round pick. He continued, “But at the same time, there are a lot of good quarterbacks on that list. I’m just happy to be a part of it, you know? You have to go out and prove it every single year, so it’s my job this year to prove why I can jump up on the list back to number 1.”
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It remains to be seen if he can make that jump once again and prove himself as the single-best quarterback in the sport. The competition is going to be stiffer than ever, especially as he recovers from a torn ACL that ended his season in 2025.
But it is clear that Mahomes believes he can reach those heights again, and behind a rejuvenated running game for the Chiefs, it might give him a lot more freedom to be his best self under center.
