Super Bowl: Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes proves he’s the most important NFL player on the planet

Just when you thought no one would be more clutch than Usher rollerskating during the halftime show, Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes again reminded us why he’s the single most important NFL player on the planet. The seventh-longest Super Bowl in league history came down to a few seconds, and, in those critical moments, the difference was the player in the No.15 Chiefs jersey. When it mattered most, Mahomes was inevitable, making plays with his arm and his legs to drag his team back from a 16-13 deficit to take the game to overtime, and then a couple of crucial runs and the final touchdown throw to Mecole Hardman to win it. Before Super Bowl LVIII, the narrative focused on the vast disparity in experience between Mahomes, who now has three Super Bowl rings and three Super Bowl MVP awards, and his counterpart on the other sideline, Brock Purdy, famously taken last in the NFL Draft. Sure, Mahomes gets the silverware, but Purdy emphatically answered the doubters, forever destroying his draft-status nickname, Mr Irrelevant, with 255 yards and a TD on the biggest stage of his young career. If there are going to be questions asked following this loss for the Niners, it’ll be about San Fran head coach Kyle Shanahan. He has an enviable record of winning games, but his track record in the biggest ones is far from something to brag about. This is now three Super Bowls where the offensive guru has surrendered a double-digit lead, and pundits will debate why he went away from the run in the second half when it looked like he had the Chiefs defence on the ropes. It undid a dominant first half, when the Niners were having their way with Kansas City in all three phases. As a result, the Chiefs looked out of sorts all game, with tight-end Travis Kelce’s sideline blow-up with coach Andy Reid symptomatic of the miscues. But in an overtime game that came down to a play or two, Kelce was huge when called on, and no one stood taller than Mahomes, with the duo becoming the first repeat Super Bowl champs since the GOAT Tom Brady did it 19 years ago. After the game, No.15 was asked if we’re witnessing a dynasty and he said, “We’re not done yet”. Only a fool would bet against the 28-year-old who just joined Brady and Hall of Famer Joe Montana as the only players in NFL history to have three rings and at least two Super Bowl MVPs. Are we witnessing a dynasty? Very likely. Are we witnessing greatness? Definitely.