Getty Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes II at the 2023 Kentucky Derby.
It feels like yesterday that Kansas City Chiefs MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes II first entered the league, taking the NFL by storm.
Now, six years later, future Hall of Famers like Tom Brady and Drew Brees have retired and Mahomes is looked at as one of the veteran signal-callers of the next generation. If you’ve been a fan of the Texas Tech gunslinger since the beginning, it’s almost hard to believe, and it appears Mahomes is having a hard time himself.
“Dang i got old quick 🤣🤣🤣,” Mahomes joked on Twitter on June 3 after quoting a graphic from “Sunday Night Football on NBC.” The social media engagement listed the years of experience of every AFC quarterback that is projected to start in 2023 — with the exception of Will Levis over Ryan Tannehill in Tennessee.
The results exposed Mahomes as one of the top-five longest NFL-tenured starting QBs in the conference behind Aaron Rodgers (New York Jets), Russell Wilson (Denver Broncos), Jimmy Garoppolo (Las Vegas Raiders) and Tannehill (assuming he wins the Titans job). Deshaun Watson was also tied with the Chiefs superstar, although the Cleveland Browns starter missed a full season in 2021.
AFC Quarterbacks Sorted by Age & Experience in 2023
It really is remarkable how young the AFC conference has become over the past few years, outside of recent blockbuster trades like Rodgers and Wilson. Here is the current list of starters, sorted by age (at the start of 2023 season):
- Rodgers, Jets: 39 (years old), 19th season.
- Tannehill, Titans: 35 in July, 11th season.
- Wilson, Broncos: 34, 12th season.
- Garoppolo, Raiders: 31, 10th season.
- Watson, Browns: 27, 6th season (seven years).
- Mahomes, Chiefs: 27, 7th season.
- Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills: 27, 6th season.
- Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals: 26, 4th season.
- Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens: 26, 6th season.
- Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins: 25, 4th season.
- Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers: 25, 4th season.
- Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Steelers: 25 in June, 2nd season.
- Mac Jones, New England Patriots: 24, 3rd season.
- Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars: 23, 3rd season.
- C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans: 21, 1st season.
- Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts: Just turned 21, 1st season.
As you can see, Mahomes’ assertion is correct. He has gotten old quickly, but it’s no fault of his own as the rest of the AFC has systematically replaced their quarterback in search of a new franchise talent at the position.
Chiefs Rookie Felix Anudike-Uzomah Headlines KC’s Bold Predictions With Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr posted an article with 100 bold predictions on the new NFL season and the Chiefs were featured in three of them. The headliner involved rookie pass rusher Felix Anudike-Uzomah.
“Anudike-Uzomah will have the most sacks out of the rookie first-round pass rushers,” Orr predicted, reasoning: “The Texans traded up to No. 3 for Will Anderson Jr. The Raiders took Tyree Wilson No. 7. But only one team is going to be playing with enough leads for a rookie to gain sacks in bundles (the Jets might, but the defense may be a little crowded for the talented Will McDonald IV right now). Welcome to Chiefs Kingdom, ‘King’ Felix, the No. 31 pick.”
Orr’s next theory involved wide receiver Kadarius Toney.
“My prediction for the 2021 first-round pick: 55 catches, 620 yards and seven total touchdowns,” he voiced. “The Chiefs relied on Toney’s speed a year ago, and, while Skyy Moore will be the true pace setter of this offense this year, Toney will add a maddening flavor, diversifying all the ways in which Kansas City can already beat teams.”
His third and final KC prediction? “The Chiefs will be undefeated heading into their Week 10 bye.”
“Apologies to the Lions, Jaguars, Bears, Jets, Vikings, Broncos (twice), Chargers and Dolphins,” Orr wrote. “A Super Bowl rematch against the Eagles on MNF will be the only thing standing in their way of a perfect record at Thanksgiving.”