ESPN ranks Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes as the 18th best professional athlete of the 21st century

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes continues to earn accolades, reaching generational levels.

According to ESPN’s list of the best professional athletes of the 21st century, Mahomes is 18th out of 100 choices. The ambitious list, which starts with the best athletes in every sport since 2000, has a who’s who of names.

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“Mahomes not only had one of the NFL’s best passing seasons ever in 2018, but he did it in his first year as a starter. That season, he became only the second quarterback to throw for 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns, joining the Broncos’ Peyton Manning, who did it in 2013,” said ESPN’s Adam Teicher in Mahomes’ ranking blurb. “Mahomes put himself on a fairly easy pace in both statistical categories with a scorching start. He had 13 touchdown passes in the first three games and threw for more than 300 yards in eight of the first nine. He had two six-TD games that season and hasn’t had one since.“

Michael Phelps finished first on the list, while Tom Brady was the highest-ranked NFL player, at number five overall. Mahomes is the highest-ranked active NFL player and could increase his chances with the next ESPN ranking.