Mahomes at 24 is the youngest player in NFL history to win both a Super Bowl and league MVP awardGETTY IMAGES
Super Bowl-winning Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes now is the "face of the NFL's future" and the league's "new above-the-marquee-star," according to Mark Kiszla of the DENVER POST. Super Bowl LIV was Mahomes' "opportunity to tell" Tom Brady and everyone else in the NFL that "this is his league now." Kiszla: "Mahomes has got the whole NFL world in his hands" (DENVER POST, 2/3). In Miami, Greg Cote writes Mahomes was league MVP last year at age 23, and a Super Bowl ring now at 24 "crowns him as the greatest QB today and the new face of the NFL" (MIAMI HERALD, 2/3). Fox' Joe Buck after the game said, "The NFL will latch on to No. 15." Fox' Troy Aikman: "He is now the face of our league, and rightfully so. We've got a lot of great players in our league that represent themselves well, represent our game exceptionally well. But we're going to be watching him and his exploits for a long time" ("Super Bowl LIV," Fox, 2/2). In Miami, Adam Beasley writes, "Patrick Mahomes -- the league is yours" (MIAMI HERALD, 2/3).
HIS MAJESTY, MAHOMES: On Long Island, Bob Glauber writes with Mahomes' "championship dreams now complete," he can "take his rightful place as one of the great young quarterbacks in NFL history" (NEWSDAY, 2/3). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Jason Gay writes the Chiefs' victory was a "coronation for the NFL's brightest young star" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 2/3). SI.com's Michael Rosenberg writes Mahomes will be "appointment television, year after year," because he is "just a more visually appealing player" than previous faces of the NFL. Mahomes is going to be the "biggest star in the NFL" (SI.com, 2/3). USA TODAY's Dan Wolken writes it remains unclear "how far Mahomes can climb the ladder, whether he can get past the Elways and Montanas and Bradys and do it year after year." Still, winning Super Bowl LIV is the "first step" (USA TODAY, 2/3).
DIFFERENT KIND OF HAND OFF: The GLOBE & MAIL's Cathal Kelly writes the "real winner here is the league." On a night in which Brady "toyed with the idea of retirement" in a spot on behalf of Hulu, the NFL "badly needed a successor." Kelly: "The 24-year-old Mahomes is it" (GLOBE & MAIL, 2/3). In Ft. Lauderdale, Dave Hyde writes, "Somewhere, a torch was passed" (South Florida SUN SENTINEL, 2/3). In Massachusetts, Matt Vautour writes yesterday's game was "Michael Jordan giving way to LeBron James" or "Wayne Gretzky to Mario Lemieux" (Springfield REPUBLICAN, 2/3). In Newark, Steve Politi writes the Chiefs' "certainly didn't look like" they would win down 10 points heading into the fourth quarter, leading him to wonder, "Where was the passing of the torch?" This was supposed to be the moment that Mahomes "became the biggest star in the entire sport." Politi: "Turns out, he was just waiting to make his entrance" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 2/3).
BEST OF THE BEST: CBSSPORTS.com's Jonathan Jones writes it "cannot be questioned at this point that Mahomes is the best player" in the NFL. If Chiefs Chair & CEO Clark Hunt "knows what's good for him," he will "work to sign Mahomes to a long-term extension this offseason that will approach" $40M per year. It "will be the largest contract in NFL history -- by far -- and it must be done this offseason before Mahomes has the chance to earn even more money" next season (CBSSPORTS.com, 2/3). In DC, Jerry Brewer writes under the header, "Patrick Mahomes, In Super Bowl Comeback, Showed Why He Is The Best Player In The NFL" (WASHINGTON POST, 2/3). In K.C., Sam Mellinger writes Mahomes "won Super Bowl MVP in one of the three or so worst games of his brilliant career." Mellinger: "It is not out of line to start wondering if we're watching the best to ever do it" (K.C. STAR, 2/3).
MARKETING MANIA: The GLOBE & MAIL's Kelly writes Mahomes was "already the most marketable new star in the league," and after winning the Super Bowl, he now has the "pedigree to go along with the shampoo commercials" (GLOBE & MAIL, 2/3). S.F.-based Baker Street Advertising Creative Dir Bob Dorfman said Mahomes is "already a household name and face." He added, "This Super Bowl ring easily makes Mahomes the most marketable player in the NFL" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 2/3). Prior to the start of the season, Mahomes ranked No. 2 in THE DAILY's survey of the most marketable NFL players (THE DAILY).
