Super Bowl LVII: Patrick Mahomes 'strives to be greatest ever', says Chiefs coach Reid

Quarterback led Kansas City to a stunning victory against Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes celebrates after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on February 12 2023. EPA

Kansas City Chiefs' quarterback Patrick Mahomes holds the trophy as he celebrates his team's winning Super Bowl LVII against the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on February 12, 2023. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP)

Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Carlos Dunlap (8) celebrates with the the Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium. Reuters

A Kansas City Chiefs' player celebrates winning Super Bowl LVII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. AFP

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) kisses the Vince Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl LVII against the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium. Reuters

Kansas City Chiefs' Harrison Butker celebrates winning Super Bowl LVII with his kids. Reuters

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) gets a hug from his wife Brittany Mahomes after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium. Reuters

Kansas City Chiefs' Harrison Butker kicks a field goal which results in Kansas City Chiefs winning Super Bowl LVII. Reuters

Kansas City Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes in action with Philadelphia Eagles' Kyzir White. Reuters

Kansas City Chiefs place kicker Harrison Butker (7) kicks a field goal to win the game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium. Reuters

Kansas City Chiefs' wide reciever JuJu Smith-Schuster is stopped by Philadelphia Eagles' linebacker TJ Edwards during Super Bowl LVII. AFP

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) runs the ball on a successful two point conversion against Kansas City Chiefs safety Juan Thornhill (22) and linebacker Willie Gay (50) and defensive end George Karlaftis (56) during the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LVII. Reuters

Players plie up around Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback Jalen Hurts as he scores a touchdown during Super Bowl LVII. AFP

Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback Jalen Hurts runs with the ball during Super Bowl LVII. AFP

Philadelphia Eagles' Jake Elliott kicks a field goal. Reuters

Philadelphia Eagles' safety CJ Gardner-Johnson tackles Kansas City Chiefs' running back Isiah Pacheco during Super Bowl LVII. AFP

Kansas City Chiefs running back Jerick McKinnon is tackled at the one by Philadelphia Eagles TJ Edwards and Avonte Maddox in the third quarter of Super Bowl LVII. EPA

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Patrick Mahomes has his sights set on being the greatest NFL quarterback in history after he led his side to a remarkable Super Bowl victory.

Mahomes clinched his second Super Bowl ring as he led the Chiefs back from 10 points down at half-time, throwing three touchdowns as his team defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 in Glendale, Arizona on Sunday.

Mahomes, 27, joins Tom Brady, Joe Montana, Eli Manning and Terry Bradshaw as quarterbacks who have won two Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards in a Super Bowl.

But Reid suggested that Mahomes, whose father Pat was a professional baseball player, has even higher ambitions.

"He grew up in a locker-room and he has seen the greats and he strives to be the greatest," Reid said. "Without [him] saying anything, that is the way he works. He wants to be the greatest player ever, that is what he wants to do and he goes about his business and does it humbly."

Mahomes became only the 13th starting quarterback to win more than one Super Bowl ring. He also became the 11th player to win the Super Bowl and league MVP in the same season and the first to do so since 1999.

The 64-year-old Reid said that after they left the field he had told Mahomes how much he appreciated his approach.

"I told him I love him, I am proud of him for leading the way there. He is a humble kid and works his tail off and as a coach you respect everything that he does there," he said.

Mahomes completed 21 of 27 passes, throwing for three touchdowns, 182 yards and no interceptions. Reid said those kind of numbers, like others he has produced in his career, could go to a player's head but not in the case of the Texan.

"There is no bragging. He could stand here and give you the stats he has that are incredible but he doesn't do that," he said, noting that he has an ability that cannot be quantified in numbers.

"When it is time for the guys around him to raise their game he helps them with that. The great quarterback make everyone around them better, including the head coach," he added. "He has done a heck of a job."

Mahomes has battled against the pain of an ankle injury throughout the post-season, including the Super Bowl but the quarterback said there was never a thought of pulling out of the game.

"I felt really good until I reaggravated it a little bit," Mahomes told reporters. "You're in the Super Bowl - you can worry about getting it healthy in the off-season. So I fought through."

Tight-end Travis Kelce, whose brother Jason played in the losing Eagles team, said Mahomes had shown his fortitude.

"Toughest son of gun you ever met, man," he said. "That Texas gunslinger ain't going to let nothing get in the way."