Joe Buck and Troy Aikman refuse to ‘shut up’ about Patrick Mahomes

If you tuned into Monday Night Football hoping Joe Buck and Troy Aikman were going to pretend like Patrick Mahomes isn’t one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, keep dreaming.

Near the end of another win for the Kansas City Chiefs, as they start the season 5-0, Buck pulled the curtain back on the Monday Night Football broadcast and responded to any NFL fans who might be complaining about their coverage of the two-time defending Super Bowl champions.

“Non-Chiefs fans go, ‘Oh my God, can you guys just shut up about Patrick Mahomes?’ But it’s just startling to see somebody who plays the position that way. Especially I would imagine for you, who played the game a different way.” – Joe Buck to Troy Aikman pic.twitter.com/xXU9xOq0NB

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 8, 2024

“You know, when you do these games and you stand here at Arrowhead, which for us is maybe the best view of an NFL field with where this booth sits and this crowd and the noise,” Buck said. “And you see Mahomes doing what he’s doing, non-Chiefs fans go, ‘Oh my God, can you guys just shut up about Patrick Mahomes?’

“But it’s just startling to see somebody who plays the position that way. Especially, I would imagine for you, who played the game a different way. Ended up in the Hall-of-Fame, but more the pocket passer. I mean, what this guy does night after night, game after game, is just incredible.”

This was during a game where Mahomes didn’t throw a touchdown pass and a season where his statistics are rather pedestrian. But even during a ho-hum season, Mahomes still plays the quarterback position differently. And for a New York Jets fan like myself who longs for the days of Ryan Fitzpatrick and his 31 touchdown season, how could you do a Chiefs game without fawning over Mahomes?

“He’s just a joy to watch,” Aikman admitted. “As you know, this is a special place. We don’t get here enough.”

Maybe Buck is a little too online, where he undoubtedly fields criticism and complaints from fans before, during and after every broadcast. But spending too much time talking about arguably the greatest quarterback in NFL history is something Buck and Aikman shouldn’t have to apologize for.

[ESPN]