Patrick Mahomes has no shortage of fans in Kansas City, but Eric Stonestreet takes that loyalty to another level. The Modern Family star is a lifelong Chiefs supporter who became friends with Mahomes after the quarterback arrived in Kansas City.
So when ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky unveiled a quarterback ranking in different categories that left Mahomes outside the top three except once, Stonestreet was not exactly going to scroll past it. The actor stepped in with a pointed question about what really belongs on a quarterback’s credentials.
Eric Stonestreet Takes Aim at Patrick Mahomes’ Ranking on Dan Orlovsky’s Lists
Stonestreet’s connection to the Chiefs runs much deeper than celebrity fandom. He is a Kansas City native and has been a season-ticket holder and suite holder at Arrowhead Stadium on and off since high school, and he grew close to the Chiefs organization after Mahomes arrived.
Their playful chemistry has even spilled into advertising, most recently through Coors Light’s “Mahomeses” campaign.
The campaign gave Stonestreet a chance to impersonate his friend after Mahomes explained that NFL rules prevent active players from endorsing alcoholic beverages. Stonestreet dressed like Mahomes and played the role with plenty of humor, while the real quarterback watched from behind the scenes. The two have also supported each other’s charitable work over the years.
This makes Stonestreet’s latest football argument feel very on-brand.
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Orlovsky recently ranked his top ten quarterbacks across seven categories: arm strength, ball placement, mechanics, decision-making, pocket presence, second reaction, and rushing ability.
Mahomes appeared in four of those categories, ranking No. 5 in arm strength, No. 9 in decision-making, No. 3 in second reaction ability, and No. 7 in rushing ability.
But the Chiefs star was absent from the top ten in ball placement, mechanics, and pocket presence. Stonestreet spotted the omission and went straight after the criteria.
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“Now rank only the QBs on your lists that have actually won Super Bowls in the last 7 years,” Stonestreet wrote on X. “Or is winning championships and Super Bowls not one of the ‘traits’ to be measured by?”
Now rank only the QBs on your lists that have actually won Super Bowls in the last 7 years. Or is winning championships and Super Bowls not one of the ‘traits’ to be measured by? https://t.co/FFQnWngosh
— Eric Stonestreet (@ericstonestreet) August 13, 2026
It was a playful jab, but Stonestreet had a clear point behind it. Mahomes has won three Super Bowls, including two since 2020, while Matthew Stafford and Jalen Hurts are the only other active quarterbacks on Orlovsky’s list with a Super Bowl victory during that span.
Stafford also received significantly stronger marks in several of Orlovsky’s categories. He ranked No. 1 in ball placement, No. 1 in mechanics, No. 2 in decision-making, and No. 4 in arm strength.
This contrast explains why Stonestreet’s post caught attention. His argument is not simply that Mahomes should top every category. Instead, the Chiefs’ superfan wants Orlovsky to recognize Mahomes’ championship success in that ranking.
Stonestreet certainly has a personal connection to that argument. His friendship with Mahomes has included regular attendance at Chiefs games, charity events, and plenty of jokes, including a remote-controlled cricket prank that once kept the quarterback awake.
For a Chiefs fan as committed as Stonestreet, Orlovsky’s list apparently crossed into territory worth challenging.
