For Josh Allen, greatness recognizes greatness.
Josh Allen's Opinion of Patrick Mahomes Made Perfectly Clear Before New Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has made it clear: he has nothing but respect for Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes.
As both quarterbacks prepare to lead their teams into the 2025 NFL season, Allen took a moment during an exclusive interview with Esports Insider to speak candidly about his longtime postseason rival.
While the media often focuses on their high-stakes matchups, Allen went a different route. His words painted Mahomes not just as a top-tier quarterback, but as someone he genuinely likes and respects.
“He’s an extremely talented player. He’s a heck of an athlete," Allen said. "You see him play some basketball, I’ve seen videos. I’ve played golf with him myself. He’s a great guy. I think guys love being around him in their locker room. That’s a trait that I think most quarterbacks need to have in order to be successful in this league.”
Allen vs. Mahomes: Rivalry Fueled by Respect
Allen and Mahomes are both 29 years old and have met four times in the playoffs. Each time, Mahomes and the Chiefs came out on top. Their most recent clash was a 32-29 Kansas City win in the AFC Championship, closing out Buffalo’s 2024 campaign.
Despite the heartbreak, Allen doesn’t see Mahomes as the enemy — he sees him as the standard.
“He can extend plays with the best of them,” Allen added. “He’s got an absolute cannon for an arm. He sees things happen before they happen. Super smart. He works extremely hard, you know? And he’s won three of them, so we can’t argue with the results.”
Mahomes has led the Chiefs to six straight AFC Championship Game appearances since becoming the starting quarterback in 2018 and has already claimed three Super Bowl titles. Meanwhile, the Bills have made six consecutive postseason trips under his leadership but have only reached the conference title game twice, in 2020 and 2024, losing both times to the Chiefs.
Still, Allen isn’t shaken. If anything, the challenge motivates him.
“I try to approach it just like any other game, just going out there and try to perform at my best,” Allen said. “Obviously, when you play some of the best quarterbacks in the league — and Pat’s been one of, if not the best in the league — the last six, seven years, you got to bring your A game.”
Allen, the reigning NFL MVP, is coming off another standout season with 3,731 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and 12 rushing scores. He’s the first player in league history to log 40 or more total touchdowns in five straight seasons, and the only quarterback to rush for six or more touchdowns in seven consecutive years.
As he leads the Bills into training camp at St. John Fisher University in Pittsford, New York, Allen seems more focused and comfortable than ever.
And when that chance comes again, which feels all but certain, Allen will be ready, not just to compete, but to prove that greatness can be met with greatness.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Football
