Patrick Mahomes Is Officially Done According To Former NFL Superstar QB

Patrick Mahomes (Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)
Patrick Mahomes is entering his age-30 season as the face of the Kansas City Chiefs and the modern NFL. For most fans, he’s still at the top of his game—a three-time Super Bowl champion, a generational talent, and the most electrifying quarterback of his era. But not everyone is convinced Mahomes still has that magic touch.

On the latest episode of his “Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger” podcast, the former Pittsburgh Steelers legend made headlines by declaring that Mahomes is “just entering out of his prime.” Roethlisberger, himself a two-time Super Bowl champion and future Hall of Famer, didn’t mince words when comparing Mahomes to another quarterback legend.

“Well, I would take Aaron [Rodgers] in his prime over Patrick now,” Roethlisberger said. “I think Aaron Rodgers in his prime was one of the top few to ever do it—and so is Patrick Mahomes at his prime. Patrick Mahomes is just entering out of his prime, I think.”

It’s a bold take, especially considering Mahomes’ resume. While it’s true that Mahomes didn’t have his best statistical year in 2024—throwing 26 touchdowns against 11 interceptions and averaging just 245.5 passing yards per game, the lowest of his career—the Chiefs still finished 15-1 in the regular season and made their third straight Super Bowl appearance, ultimately falling to the Philadelphia Eagles.

The numbers may not have dazzled, but the wins kept piling up. Still, Roethlisberger’s comments have ignited a debate across the NFL world: Is Patrick Mahomes really past his prime, or is this just another case of a retired great stirring the pot?

It’s worth noting that Mahomes has never lost to Roethlisberger on the field. The Chiefs’ superstar went a perfect 3-0 against Big Ben’s Steelers, including a blowout win that sent Roethlisberger into retirement during the 2021 AFC Wild Card Round.

If Mahomes is “done,” as Roethlisberger implies, it’s hard to see it in the win column. And with advancements in athlete health, nutrition, and training, quarterbacks like Tom Brady have shown that age-30 is just the beginning of a second act—not the end.

For now, Mahomes remains the man to beat in the AFC—and one candid comment from a former rival isn’t likely to change that. But in the NFL, the only thing more relentless than Father Time is the 24-hour news cycle. The debate about Mahomes’ prime is officially on.

Patrick Mahomes Went 3-0 Against Ben Roethlisberger

Patrick Mahomes (Photo By Denny Medley-Imagn Images)
Mahomes went a perfect 3-0 in head-to-head matchups with Ben Roethlisberger’s Steelers, winning the 2018 and 2021 regular-season meetings before sending “Big Ben” off to retirement with a blowout win in the 2021 AFC Wild Card Round.