Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes II was ranked as the 18th most influential sports figure of the past quarter century.
Patrick Mahomes II was highlighted among the “most influential sports figures” of the past quarter century, or 25 years, according to a Bleacher Report ranking that was published on December 10.
The Kansas City Chiefs superstar was placed 18th on the list, which is understandable considering he only entered the NFL in 2017 and still has a long way to go. He was the third quarterback to receive this honor and one of four NFL QBs overall.
The others were Tom Brady (ranked No. 3), Colin Kaepernick (ranked No. 10) and Peyton Manning (ranked No. 19) — who was named just behind Mahomes.
Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick also made this list as a fifth NFL figure, placing 13th, and long-time Alabama head coach Nick Saban was ranked 11th due to his impact on the college football world.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes’ Philanthropic Efforts & Career Accolades Stand Out When Discussing His Influence
Within Mahomes’ section of the article, Bleacher Report noted his three Super Bowl titles, two NFL MVP awards [and] two first-team All-Pro honors. But they called the Chiefs QB’s “philanthropic efforts” his “defining outside-the-lines influence.”
“After sitting as a rookie in 2017, Patrick Mahomes took command of the Kansas City Chiefs and made a remarkable impact,” Bleacher Report summarized. “He threw for 5,097 yards and an NFL-best 50 touchdowns to win league MVP. And he’s hardly slowed down.”
“Through six years as QB1 in Kansas City, the gunslinger has celebrated three Super Bowl titles with a fourth trip to that stage,” the B/R staff went on. “Each of those seasons ended no earlier than the AFC Championship, and Mahomes added a second MVP during the 2022 campaign.”
Bleacher Report also mentioned Mahomes’ tendency to spark various NFL trends — like quarterbacks throwing with “strange arm angles” and “no-look passes.”
“Still, his play style is already having a clear influence on this generation of QBs in high school and college,” the site concluded. “As he continues to act as the post-Tom Brady face of the NFL, the 29-year-old is also growing as a voice for social change and is no stranger to charitable efforts, as his 15 and the Mahomies foundation is ‘dedicated to improving the lives of children.’”
On that note, Mahomes has been nominated for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award but has never won it. His foundation was first established in 2019, and “supports initiatives that focus on health, wellness, communities in need of resources and other charitable causes.”
Should Patrick Mahomes Be Ranked Higher on the List of the ‘Most Influential Sports Figures’ Since the Year 2000?
Considering Mahomes is the unquestioned face of the NFL before reaching age 30, some might argue that he could — or even should — rank higher than No. 18 overall.
It’s not surprising that Brady made the top three, being that he dominated the majority of this 25-year era. Similarly, NBA counterpart LeBron James, golf legend Tiger Woods, soccer megastars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, record-breaking Olympian Michael Phelps and female sports pioneers Serena Williams, Simone Biles and — most recently — Caitlin Clark all placed higher than Mahomes.
Obviously, Kaepernick is a more controversial selection, as his very public protests of the national anthem sparked a civil rights movement that divided the nation for a time.
Bleacher Report explained the choice to rank Kaepernick 10th, writing: “During the 2016 preseason, Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem as a way to protest the oppression of people of color. No matter your personal feelings on the matter, Kaepernick’s actions sparked a loud conversation about social justice within the NFL.”
There were a few more recent sports sensations that also topped Mahomes on this list, including NBA superstar Stephen Curry — who surprisingly ranked second overall — MLB phenom Shohei Ohtani and the aforementioned Clark.
One other deserved sports figure who made the top 10 was NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, who tragically died in a helicopter crash in 2020 following his Hall of Fame career.
With impactful competition like this, Mahomes’ rank isn’t necessarily a surprise. Having said that, he could have easily been placed within the top 10-15 as well given a few of the names that are in front of him on this list.
Michael Obermuller covers the NFL and NHL for Heavy.com, where he began writing in 2021. His areas of focus include the Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins, as well as the New York Rangers and New York Islanders. An NYC area native and Quinnipiac graduate, his previous bylines include FanDuel’s The Duel, King Fantasy Sports and Pro Football Mania. More about Michael Obermuller