Patrick Mahomes has already established himself as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. As someone who doesn’t even turn 29 until mid-September, the Kansas City Chiefs superstar is likely not done stacking Super Bowl trophies, either.
And, watching from afar, Ja’Marr Chase hates every single agonizing second of it.
In a new teaser of the NFL’s top 100 players of 2024, the Cincinnati Bengals receiver was asked to provide his opinion on the best player in professional football. Chase bristled at the suggestion, only strongly implying that his pick was Mahomes. Why? He was so salty about the Chiefs winning back-to-back Super Bowls that he refused to say Mahomes’ name out loud, even though he noted he’d still give him credit for being exceptional.
Hey, a hater has to have principles, right?
Ja'Marr isn't saying that guy's name. #NFLTop100 pic.twitter.com/OPrVjfO8jM
— NFL (@NFL) July 24, 2024
Little tidbits like this probably only serve to fan the flames of the Chiefs-Bengals’ incredible rivalry. In the Mahomes era in Kansas City, Cincinnati has easily had the most success against the quarterback, beating him three times and giving him one of the more painful losses of his career in the 2022 AFC title game.
Yet, since that defeat, the Chiefs have been on top of the NFL world.
Mahomes has not only added two more Super Bowl trophies to his collection but he’s been the MVP in both games. Meanwhile, the Bengals squandered their only opportunity (so far) to win a championship with Joe Burrow while watching him get an atrocious haircut in the style of a WWE wrestler.
One of these things is not like the other.
It’s great that Chase is being this salty and petty about Mahomes and the Chiefs. It’s time to bring some hate back into football rivalries — enough with the faux classiness we still see far too often. And in the current game, it doesn’t get any better than Chiefs-Bengals.
Round 6 of this heavyweight fight takes place in Kansas City in mid-September. Be there or be square.
