Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had a chance to separate himself from Tom Brady in Super Bowl 59.

On Sunday in New Orleans, Patrick Mahomes had the opportunity to win his third Super Bowl in as many years and his fourth in five tries.

By halftime, it was clear the football gods had other plans.

The Kansas City Chiefs fell short in Super Bowl 59, losing 40-22 to the Philadelphia Eagles in the worst game of Mahomes’ career.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15).

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

In the AFC Championship Game, Mahomes gave Kansas City the kind of performance reserved for the greatest to ever play. Two weeks later, his world turned upside down.

It took three years, but Kansas City – for so long the harbinger of suffering for 31 fanbases – was reminded how cruel of a sport football can be. The quarterback that has defined a dynasty never found a rhythm. His most trusted target struggled, too. Taunted by the comebacks of years past, the Chiefs’ chances grew increasingly slim.

This wasn’t a defense letting the floodgates open and costing an offense that fell just short. It was an offense putting its defense behind the eight ball and a quarterback – stymied by an elite four-man rush – and a quarterback playing far worse than anybody anticipated.

As such, Mahomes’ resume took a major hit in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl loss. … and it all left the QB dealing with emotions and tears.

Sunday became the missed opportunity of the Kansas City dynasty. Mahomes fumbled his chance at advancing to be 4-1 on the biggest stage, a game ahead of Tom Brady’s mark.

Brady, who provided color commentary of the collapse, endured back-to-back losses after his three Super Bowl wins. It took him a decade to find his fourth win.

Mahomes won’t find his fourth in 2024, and while these runs often are taken for granted, the only solace for the Kansas City faithful is that they have the quarterback to keep them in the running.

Now, that quarterback has been blown out twice in the Super Bowl, once by the G.O.A.T. he’s chasing and once by Jalen Hurts and an Eagles team he was expected to beat.

For the first time in three years, Kansas City lost in its last game of the season. It’s the kind of loss that people remember, the kind that gets discussed on talk shows, the kind that will prolong his pursuit of Brady.

Hurts will forever be the second quarterback to topple Mahomes in a Super Bowl – a fate etched into football history and each of their resumes with permanent ink.