NFL legend Joe Montana may have played the final games of his career for the Kansas City Chiefs, but that doesn’t mean he’s a diehard fan of the team – or of Patrick Mahomes.
In a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, the four-time Super Bowl champion and three-time Super Bowl MVP was asked to name the four quarterbacks that he would start a team with. Over the course of a minute he listed off (in order) Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert and Jalen Hurts. Mahomes was his fifth.
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“Pick the top three QBs to start your franchise but you can’t choose (49ers QB) Brock Purdy,” Bruce Arians asked.
“Give me Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, and Justin Herbert… I do also really like Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes,” Montana said.
Had he been allowed to pick Purdy, he might have dropped Mahomes all the way to sixth.
Even though ESPN somewhat misrepresented what Montana said by leaving Mahomes off his list entirely, fans still debated whether Montana got the list right or not:
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“There’s a Qb who’s been in the NFL 8 yrs, and NEVER missed the Conference title game as a starter. You know who it is Some of the older gen are funny about pumping up someone who’s passed or on the verge of passing them. It’s weird,” one user wrote, referring to Mahomes.
“This is just hater stuff from a guy worried Mahomes is gonna be passing his ring count,” another argued.
“Justin Herbert but not Patrick Mahomes (laughs) ok,” wrote a third.
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“Clearly biased toward guys with J names.”
“Joe Burrow is the best QB there why isn’t he number 1 ? Josh Allen can’t even get to the Super Bowl.”
MIAMI, FLORIDA – JANUARY 31: Former NFL player Joe Montana speaks onstage during day 3 of SiriusXM at Super Bowl LIV on January 31, 2020 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM )Cindy Ord/Getty Images
Montana vs. Mahomes
There are a lot of parallels between the careers of both QBs. Both are three-time Super Bowl MVPs and multiple-time league MVPs who have been blessed with incredible coaching and talent supporting them for years.
And while Mahomes is a more prolific thrower of the ball than Montana was in terms of sheer numbers, Montana is still acknowledged as one of the GOATs for being a perfect 4-0 in Super Bowl starts.
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By contrast, Mahomes is 3-2 in the Super Bowl.
This story was originally reported by The Spun on Sep 2, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.