Patrick Mahomes made headlines Wednesday for two very different reasons — earning top honors among Super Bowl quarterbacks while also briefly stirring speculation about Travis Kelce’s future with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Mahomes received the No. 1 ranking for Super Bowl quarterback performances this century, according to an analysis by Steven Ruiz of The Ringer. Later the same day, Mahomes sparked confusion online with a celebratory post about Kelce — which fans initially misread as confirmation of his return for the 2026 season.
Mahomes quickly clarified the message, explaining it had nothing to do with football.
Patrick Mahomes Ranked No. 1 Among Super Bowl Quarterbacks
Ruiz evaluated 50 Super Bowl quarterback performances since the start of the 2000 season and placed Mahomes’ showing in Super Bowl LVII at No. 1 overall.
Mahomes passed for just 182 yards in Kansas City’s 38–35 win over Philadelphia, but Ruiz said the performance stood above all others.
“There are plenty of quarterbacks who have thrown for more yards and touchdowns in a Super Bowl, but we have never seen a passer carry a team like Mahomes did against the Eagles in this game,” Ruiz wrote.
He added that Mahomes finished with the second-highest success rate of any quarterback on the list, with nearly half of his dropbacks resulting in first downs. Only three quarterbacks averaged more EPA per dropback in a Super Bowl this century.
Ruiz also highlighted the context surrounding the performance, noting Mahomes suffered a high ankle sprain two weeks earlier in the AFC Championship Game and aggravated it during the Super Bowl.
“The rush was getting to Mahomes, but it couldn’t bring him down despite his limited mobility,” Ruiz wrote. “He wasn’t sacked once, and he averaged 6.4 yards per play when under pressure.”
Ruiz pointed to Mahomes’ late 26-yard scramble — which set up Harrison Butker’s game-winning field goal — as the defining moment.
Mahomes’ Other Super Bowl Performances Also Make the List
In addition to his top-ranked game, Mahomes appeared four more times in Ruiz’s rankings:
No. 14: Super Bowl LVIII — Chiefs 25, 49ers 22
No. 18: Super Bowl LIV — Chiefs 31, 49ers 20
No. 30: Super Bowl LV — Buccaneers 31, Chiefs 9
No. 43: Super Bowl LIX — Eagles 40, Chiefs 22
The rankings underscored Mahomes’ sustained impact on the Super Bowl stage, even in games where Kansas City fell short.
Mahomes now owns three Super Bowl championships and continues to add to a resume already filled with league records and postseason milestones.
Patrick Mahomes Walks Back Travis Kelce Tweet After Fan Frenzy
Later Wednesday, Mahomes briefly sent Chiefs fans into a frenzy when he tweeted his excitement about Kelce.
Without context, some fans believed Mahomes hinted at Kelce’s return for the 2026 season when he tweeted, “Let’s go!!!!!” @tkelce, followed by three bullseye emojis.
While some in Chiefs Kingdom took this as a sign that the future Hall of Fame tight end was coming back for the 2026 season, he was actually referencing Kelce’s incredible shot on hole 16 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale in Arizona.
About a minute later, Mahomes clarified the post, writing, “Talking about ⛳️⛳️ 😂😂😂.”
The clarification quickly cooled speculation, though Kelce’s decision about returning remains unresolved.
Kelce has not publicly confirmed whether he will return for the 2026 season. The tight end has already built a Hall of Fame career, collected three Super Bowl rings, and rewritten record books at his position.
Patrick Mahomes Earns Major Honor as He Walks Back Tweet ‘Confirming’ Travis Kelce’s Return