Last season was a complete head-scratcher for the AFC’s supposed “big four” quarterbacks, with none of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, or Joe Burrow even making it to the AFC title game. Seriously, what happened? Mahomes, Jackson, and Burrow all missed the playoffs entirely and collectively sat out a staggering 16 regular-season games. Even though our experts still rank these guys as four of the best five quarterbacks in the league entering *this* season, 2025 felt like more than just a fluke. Something’s up with the AFC’s top signal-callers.
The AFC’s Superstar QBs Are All Hitting the Big 3-0
Think about it: these guys are all either pushing 30 or have already crossed that threshold. This isn’t just a random number either. This is the age when we usually start seeing mobile quarterbacks, like Allen and Jackson, hit a decline. It’s especially concerning since neither of them has even made it to a Super Bowl yet! Burrow, who also missed significant time last year, even had what sounded like “midlife crisis-type comments” in 2025. Mahomes is coming off a serious knee injury, tearing both his ACL and LCL, and we all saw the Chiefs completely fall apart last year. Was this just a bump in the road, or are we looking at the start of a serious slide for these generational talents?
Mahomes and the Chiefs: Is the Dynasty Done?
Mahomes, at 30 years old with three Super Bowl MVPs, is usually chasing Tom Brady. But now, it’s Brady’s career that might be laying out a concerning blueprint for him. Brady tore his ACL in his ninth season, just like Mahomes did. Brady also went a full decade between his third and fourth Super Bowl rings. Meanwhile, the Chiefs went 6-11 last season, finishing 19th in scoring offense over the last three seasons. Travis Kelce is declining, Rashee Rice’s availability is a question mark, and Xavier Worthy is struggling. They already had to trade Tyreek Hill a few years back and moved Joe Thuney last year. With Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Drake Maye, and C.J. Stroud all chomping at the bit in the AFC, you can definitely make the case that the Chiefs’ dynasty, at least version 1.0, is over.
This isn’t just about Mahomes. All four of these future Hall of Fame quarterbacks are heading into the second half of their careers with some real questions about how long their Super Bowl windows stay open. The next generation is already waiting. This season, we are all watching to see if they can hold off the inevitable, or if those Super Bowl windows are starting to creak shut.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply