PATRICK MAHOMES SAT across from Tom Brady and stared into the face of his future. Their one-on-one interview for Fox's Sunday NFL show took place within the strange setting of a hotel balcony -- Brady wasn't allowed in the pregame production meeting for Week 7's Chiefs-49ers matchup because he's a minority owner of the Raiders -- but the common ground they shared was undeniable.
Brady sat in the 29-year-old Mahomes' chair (so to speak) 18 years ago, during the 2006 season. Like Mahomes, he had already won three Super Bowls by that stage. The NFL shorthand had established him as an all-timer at a relatively young age.