Is Mahomes the System or Is the System Mahomes?
- jameswanderlust9x
- Jul 3
- 5 min read
I’ve had this debate way too many times, especially during playoff season or whenever Mahomes does something ridiculous on the field. The question always comes up, sometimes from salty rival fans, sometimes from analysts trying to stir the pot.
Is Mahomes just a product of the system? Or is he the system himself?
And I’ll be honest. As someone who loves watching quarterbacks evolve, this question has layers. A lot of people think it’s an easy yes or no. But if you look closer, really study the film, the coaching, the situations, it’s way more complicated than that.
Let’s break it down.
First, let’s talk about what “the system” really means
When people say a quarterback is “a system guy,” it usually isn’t a compliment. It suggests he’s only good because of the structure around him. Like, if you took him out of that environment, he’d fall apart.
But that doesn’t quite fit Mahomes.
Because yes, he landed in a dream situation. Andy Reid is one of the best offensive minds we’ve ever seen. The Chiefs have built an entire playbook around Mahomes’ strengths like the off-platform throws, the quick vision, and the improvisation. They didn’t try to force him into a traditional mold. They let him cook.
He also had weapons. We all know the list:
Travis Kelce, who might go down as the best tight end of all time
Tyreek Hill, who literally changed the geometry of defenses with his speed
A pass blocking line that, while shaky at times, still gave him enough time to do his thing
But here’s where it gets interesting: Mahomes made that system work too.
Mahomes elevates the system, not the other way around
I’ve watched enough Chiefs games to say this confidently. The guy makes plays that aren’t even in the playbook.
Like the time he scrambled out of a collapsing pocket, spun back around, and somehow found Kelce in triple coverage on third and long. That wasn’t drawn up. That was Mahomes doing Mahomes things.
If anything, Andy Reid’s system gave him the freedom to experiment. It’s not that Mahomes needs a perfect system. It’s that Reid trusted him enough to play outside the script when needed, and that trust paid off.
That’s a rare relationship between coach and quarterback. And it’s one most teams never figure out.
Imagine dropping a different quarterback into this system
Okay, let’s flip the question.
What if you gave this same Chiefs system, same playbook, same roster, same everything, to another quarterback? Let’s say a solid guy like Kirk Cousins or Dak Prescott.
Would they put up decent numbers? Probably. Andy Reid could get a 4000 yard season out of a lot of guys. But would they win two Super Bowls? Would they extend plays like Mahomes? Would they throw across their body on the run for a game saving touchdown?
No. Not even close.
This isn’t to trash other quarterbacks. It’s to say Mahomes doesn’t just fit the system. He pushes it beyond what it was designed to do.
Can we talk about the “backyard football” argument?
Here’s the one critique I see all the time. “Mahomes just plays backyard football. That’s not sustainable.”
People have been saying that since 2018. And yet, here we are. Five straight AFC Championship appearances. Two rings. And he’s only 29.
What Mahomes does looks chaotic. But it’s calculated. He knows exactly where his guys are. He extends the play just long enough for someone to get open. He buys time, not because he’s panicking, but because he’s baiting the defense.
It’s not “backyard football.” It’s advanced level improvisation. It’s jazz. It’s art.
And you can’t coach that. You can’t scheme that. You either have it or you don’t.
The post Tyreek era proves the point
When Tyreek Hill left for Miami, the critics were ready. “Mahomes will regress.” “Defenses will figure him out.” “He won’t be the same.”
Then what happened?
He won MVP and a Super Bowl.
With a brand new receiver core that included JuJu Smith Schuster, Marquez Valdes Scantling, and a rookie named Skyy Moore. Not exactly world beaters.
And still, over 5200 yards, 41 touchdowns, and clutch plays in the postseason like nothing had changed.
If that doesn’t scream “I am the system,” I don’t know what does.
System vs Superstar: It’s not either or
Here’s the truth. The great ones, the all time greats, are usually both.
Tom Brady had the most structured system in history with Belichick, but he also read defenses like a computer. Peyton Manning basically ran his own offense. Joe Montana had Bill Walsh, but he still had to execute in high pressure moments.
Mahomes is walking the same line. He benefits from a smart coach, creative schemes, and weapons, but he’s also the reason those things work so well. He makes defenses hesitate. He turns broken plays into highlight reels. He turns third and long into “no problem.”
You can’t plug just anyone into that role and expect the same results.
Let’s talk about leadership too
One thing people don’t mention enough: Mahomes is a leader.
He stays cool under pressure. He doesn’t throw teammates under the bus. He inspires guys to play above their level. That’s part of the system too, the culture, the locker room, the chemistry.
It’s no coincidence that players want to come to Kansas City. Or that rookies step up when it matters most. That’s what happens when your quarterback sets the tone, not just with his play, but with his presence.
Final verdict: He is the system but he’s also more than that
So is Mahomes the system?
Yes. And no. And yes again.
He thrives because the system allows him to be who he is. But the system thrives because it has him at the center of it. It’s a two way street, and that’s what makes it so dangerous.
You can build all the structure you want. You can draw up all the plays on the whiteboard. But without someone like Mahomes to execute, adapt, and dominate, it’s just Xs and Os.
Mahomes brings the playbook to life.
Final thoughts
We’re lucky to be watching Mahomes in real time. And as much as people love to debate his place in history, I think the better move is to just enjoy it. Because whether you think he’s the system or just thriving in one, the fact is:
There’s nobody else like him right now.
And no matter how you define it, system guy, freak athlete, leader, magician, he’s changing how we look at the quarterback position.
Forever.
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