The NFL world was left reeling after Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana, a Kansas City Chiefs legend, made a shocking revelation on The Pat McAfee Show on September 2, 2025. When asked to name his top three quarterbacks to start a franchise, Montana excluded Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes, placing five other quarterbacks ahead of him, including San Francisco 49ers’ Brock Purdy, Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen, Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow, Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert, and Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts. The reasoning behind Mahomes’ omission? An eyebrow-raising claim about his age.
Montana, who played two impactful seasons with the Chiefs in 1993 and 1994, led Kansas City to an AFC Championship game and a wild-card round appearance during his tenure. Despite his short stint, Montana’s legacy with the franchise remains significant, making his snub of Mahomes—a three-time Super Bowl champion—particularly jarring for fans. “I’m taking the guy in Buffalo,” Montana said, naming Josh Allen as his top choice, followed by Burrow and Herbert. He also expressed admiration for Hurts, adding, “I do also like the guy in Philly.”
When pressed about Mahomes, Montana offered a puzzling justification: “I think I would have if he was younger.” This reasoning left fans and analysts scratching their heads, as Mahomes, at 29 years old, is the same age as Allen, only one year older than Burrow, and just two years older than Herbert and Hurts. The only quarterback on Montana’s list significantly younger is Purdy, at 25, but Montana’s age argument seems flimsy when considering Mahomes’ unparalleled resume.
Patrick Mahomes has been the face of the Chiefs’ resurgence since being drafted in 2017. In just eight years, he has led Kansas City to five Super Bowl appearances, securing three victories. His ability to win games at an elite level, even amidst a perceived statistical decline over the past two seasons, sets him apart from his peers. While Mahomes’ numbers may not match the lofty heights of his early career, he remains statistically comparable to other top quarterbacks and continues to dominate in high-stakes moments.
Montana’s decision to rank Purdy, Allen, Burrow, Herbert, and Hurts above Mahomes has sparked heated debate across the NFL community. Purdy’s inclusion, likely influenced by Montana’s 49ers ties, is particularly surprising, as most would argue Mahomes’ proven track record far outshines Purdy’s potential. Allen, Burrow, Herbert, and Hurts are all talented quarterbacks, but none have matched Mahomes’ postseason success or clutch performances.
Social media erupted with reactions, with fans expressing disbelief at Montana’s list. “Joe Montana snubbing Mahomes for age? The guy’s 29 and has 3 rings! This is wild,” one X user posted. Another wrote, “Herbert and Hurts over Mahomes? Montana’s gotta be trolling.” The consensus among fans is clear: Mahomes’ exclusion feels like a slight, especially given his status as one of the NFL’s all-time greats.
Montana’s comments come at a time when Mahomes has faced criticism for a slight dip in his statistical output. However, this “decline” is relative to the extraordinarily high bar he set early in his career. Mahomes continues to win at an unmatched rate, and his ability to elevate the Chiefs in critical moments remains undeniable. As one analyst on X noted, “Mahomes’ ‘down years’ are still better than most QBs’ best seasons. Montana’s take is a head-scratcher.”
While Montana’s opinion carries weight given his Hall of Fame pedigree, his exclusion of Mahomes has left the NFL world stunned. The bizarre age-related reasoning only adds fuel to the fire, as fans and pundits alike struggle to reconcile Montana’s list with Mahomes’ undeniable accomplishments. As the 2025 NFL season unfolds, Mahomes will likely let his play on the field do the talking, potentially adding another chapter to his already legendary career.