There will likely never be a Tom Brady again.
Replicating an unprecedented 21-year NFL career isn’t something that just happens. Brady is the greatest quarterback of his generation and all of time. He’ll get into the Hall of Fame once he’s officially eligible and be remembered for his historic accomplishments, including being a seven-time Super Bowl champion.
While it’s unlikely that someone will ever be able to live up to Brady, there’s often a need to fill that void. In basketball terms, we always ask who the next Michael Jordan is. There will never be another Michael Jordan, just like there will never be another Tom Brady.
That didn’t stop Shaquille O’Neal from asking the question during a recent episode of Brady’s Let’s Go! podcast.
“Good question,” Brady told O’Neal. “I think when I’m looking at guys in pro football, quarterbacks, you know, Patrick [Mahomes] is the one that really stands out. They’ve done a great job since he’s really taken over. He’s got a really great coach — like [how] I was fortunate, like how you were fortunate — that helps you and is there for you when things are going good, and not good. Gives you the humble pie when things are going good, and knows how to pick you up when things aren’t good.
“But it’s going to be interesting,” Brady added. “People have to do it for a long time. I did it for a long time. When I look at my career, I was able to do it every single year for basically every single game.”
That’s certainly high praise for Patrick Mahomes, who already has two Super Bowl rings at 28 years old. It remains to be seen if his career will be able to mirror that of Brady’s. It’s a long shot, but if any current active NFL player has a chance, it’s the Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback.
