The ongoing debate over Tom Brady’s status as the greatest quarterback of all time continues to be fueled by critics diminishing his career achievements.

Critics initially compared Brady to Joe Montana, questioning his lack of Super Bowl wins and losses.
Former player Rodney Harrison has recently praised Patrick Mahomes, fueling the debate and putting undue pressure on Mahomes.

There seems to be an ongoing debate about whether Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback of all time without someone trying to diminish his career and argue for someone else. This discussion started when Brady achieved more than any other quarterback in NFL history. Initially, critics said he hadn’t surpassed Joe Montana because Montana had won four Super Bowls in his career while Brady had only won three. When Brady won his fourth Super Bowl, critics disqualified him because Montana was undefeated in Super Bowls while Brady had lost two.

Even when Brady went on to win his fifth, sixth, and even seventh championships, critics argued that he always had an elite team and benefited from having a legendary head coach. They also claimed that playing in the AFC East gave him an easier path to the playoffs, ignoring the fact that Brady’s excellence was the reason the division wasn’t that competitive. Recently, people have tried to eliminate Brady from the GOAT talk by praising Patrick Mahomes and claiming he has already surpassed Brady as the greatest.

While Mahomes is undoubtedly an incredible quarterback and likely the best of his generation, declaring him the GOAT and dismissing Brady’s accomplishments is unfair. It is surprising to hear former players like Rodney Harrison, who won two Super Bowls with Brady, make such statements. Harrison, who has been critical of Brady in the past, recently declared that Mahomes will end up being the greatest player ever.

Although Harrison’s statement is shocking, it is in line with his previous criticisms of Brady. It puts unnecessary pressure on Mahomes to live up to a standard that may never be attainable. Mahomes should be appreciated for the success he has brought to the Chiefs without constantly comparing him to Brady. These comparisons only serve to diminish both quarterbacks’ achievements.

Unfortunately, there will never be a consensus regarding Brady’s legacy. People have strong opinions about the future Hall of Famer, and this debate will likely continue indefinitely. Rather than trying to diminish greatness, we should recognize and appreciate it for what it is. Comparisons and arguments will persist, but we should strive to move beyond them and enjoy the greatness of both quarterbacks.