When it comes to truly talented quarterbacks, the NFL is kind of spoiled for choice right now, with veterans like Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers still producing the goods at one end of the spectrum and young up-and-coming stars of the future also pushing for prominence in the league.
Among the best in the business are Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen and Kansas Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, two players who are likely to figure in the game for the next decade to come, and it appears that the two maintain a close relationship despite being real competitors on the field of play.
The pair will both be gunning for Super Bowl glory in 2022, and you can see at sidelines.io/nfl/odds that both the Chiefs and Bills are very much in the betting for the title, and the two stars met up at the recent Formula One Grand Prix in Miami according to Allen;
“And you know, sure enough, we go up, and we hung out for an hour and a half, two hours, just kind of hanging around, talking, having a good time,”
“I’ve spent a couple of times around Patrick, but every time I’m around him, he’s just a great dude. He’s a great personality. He’s fun to be around. And obviously, all the respect that I have from on the field, I think it’s a different vibe than what people think.”
Some, perhaps unfairly, might expect players from opposing teams, especially those who are genuine title contenders, to hate each other and not spend any time in each other’s company outside the field of play, but it seems the new generation doesn’t think the same way as the old-school stars;
“Again, when we step on that field, we were supposed to be competitors,” Allen added.
“It’s the old mantra, ‘You gotta hate your enemy.’ But I would say that we have a really good relationship, especially for, you know, the type of games that we tend to play in. [The] AFC championship two years ago, and obviously, the divisional last year.”
“But he is — he’s awesome. He really is. Love being around him. And I’m super excited for this opportunity with him. Because I think the other side, they’re gonna riff a little more than, than me and Pat, I think we’re gonna feed off each other pretty well.”
Allen and Mahomes finished last season fourth and eighth, respectively, in the NFL passing yards stats, and the expectation is that the Bills are going to be the side to beat in the coming season while Kansas City is once again sure to battle into the postseason.
One does wonder whether Brady may pull out all the stops and take Tampa Bay to the Super Bowl as he seeks an eighth Super Bowl ring, which might then lead to the 44-year-old retiring for good this time.
Similarly, Aaron Rodgers will once again be blazing a path, having picked up back-to-back NFL MVP awards in 2020 and 2021, and the 38-year-old may have one more season at Green Bay before he either seeks out new pastures or decides to call time.
One thing is for sure when both Brady and Rodgers leave their NFL playing days behind them, the likes of Allen and Mahomes are likely to try their best to replace them as greats of the game.
