As the 2025 NFL season approaches, debate rages over the league’s best quarterback. Patrick Mahomes is widely regarded as the top signal-caller due to his three Super Bowl titles and consistent dominance with the Kansas City Chiefs. However, Bill Simmons, founder of The Ringer and longtime New England Patriots supporter, has challenged that view by naming Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen as the number one quarterback heading into the season.
The Case for Josh Allen’s Rise
Josh Allen, the reigning NFL MVP, has emerged as a premier quarterback and a formidable competitor in the league. While many still favor Mahomes because of his proven postseason success—especially his repeated victories over Allen in playoff matchups—Simmons believes Allen is poised to take the lead this year. The Bills have come close to overcoming Mahomes and the Chiefs multiple times in recent postseason clashes, making 2025 a critical season for Allen’s quest to finally surpass Kansas City’s star.
Background on the Patrick Mahomes NFL Quarterback Debate
Patrick Mahomes, with his decade-long streak of excellence and never missing the AFC Championship Game as a starter, has set a near-unreachable standard, often compared to legends like Tom Brady and LeBron James. This makes Simmons’ choice of Allen as the top quarterback a surprising departure from popular opinion, leading some fans to speculate about underlying reasons behind the ranking.
Reactions and Speculations Around Simmons’ Ranking
Given Simmons’ status as a Patriots fan, some have suggested his ranking could be influenced by personal bias or strategic motivation. Ben Axelrod of Awful Announcing commented on the situation, stating,
“As a longtime Simmons listener, I feel confident in saying that at least a portion of this take is based on Bill being excited about the Patriots again and trying to reverse jinx Allen,”
—Ben Axelrod, Sports Commentator. Whether this ranking signals a real shift in quarterback dominance or is part of Simmons’ usual commentary style remains to be seen.
What to Expect from the 2025 NFL Season
The upcoming season will be a defining period for both quarterbacks. Josh Allen aims to prove he can finally overcome Mahomes in the playoffs and lead the Bills to a Super Bowl victory. Meanwhile, Mahomes looks to maintain his reign as the league’s top quarterback. This ongoing rivalry is set to generate intense competition and further fuel the Patrick Mahomes NFL quarterback debate throughout 2025.