The conversation about whether Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes is the GOAT NFL quarterback is at an all-time high. I don’t think we’ll ever have a concrete answer as the debate will likely go on just as we see in the NBA with Michael Jordan vs LeBron James (or Kobe Byrant, Bill Russell, etc.) Regardless of where you stand, the fact is that both Brady and Mahomes are phenomenal players, and both have publicly talked about how they have incorporated meditation and mental training into their routines, which undoubtedly adds to their success. 

Tom Brady vs Patrick Mahomes GOAT Debate

Both Brady and Mahomes are undoubtedly superstars and future Hall of Famers. While there is certainly a physical gift and rigorous, relentless training that goes into achieving what they have, there is also the mental side that they both attribute to their abilities to perform in high-pressure games. This holistic training has contributed to the fact that we are–and will presumably continue to–debate whether Brady or Mahomes is the GOAT.

What separates them into the 1% of the 1%? We take a deeper look into their mental training in this article. 

Tom Brady vs Patrick Mahomes Mental Training Comparison

Tom Brady’s Mental Toughness Regimen

On his TB12 website, Brady talks about one way that mental training contributed to his game.

“During the football season, one of my biggest priorities was making sure I had the right mental toughness and attitude. Mental toughness is centered on doing the best you can in the present while believing you can do even better in the future.

“If things go my way, great; and if they don’t, that’s okay, too, since I always have a chance to overcome them in the future

“I don’t like to focus on negatives or make excuses. I am never a victim. I gain nothing if I get angry or frustrated. If I threw an interception or had a bad day, by staying in that place, I would just make things worse,” says Brady.

He goes on to say:

“I’m not a robot. I’m a very emotional person. But I’ve learned to use losses as ways to be better the next time. Usually, what I learn afterward, through review and self-reflection, is a greater positive than whatever benefits might have come from winning.”

How does Brady train to stick with this mindset? 

Here are Brady’s four keys to mental toughness:

1. Choose a positive mindset at the beginning of each and every day.
2. Commit to giving your best possible effort every day. 
3. Choose how you react by staying positive even when things don’t go your way.
4. Learn and grow from losses and negative experiences. 

The principles strongly align with the keys to mindfulness, which include:

• Letting go or nonattachment
• Compassion
• Trust
• Right effort
• Concentration or focus
• Non-judgment
• Respond rather than react
• Patience
• Beginner’s mind (i.e., stay open and curious)

Whether Brady purposely designed these keys to mirror mindfulness or not, it is reported that he works closely with peak performance coach Greg Harden. As with great athletes like Novak Djokovic and Michael Jordan, one of the secrets to Brady’s success is ongoing mindset training. 

Patrick Mahomes’ Mindset and Meditation Techniques:

Mahomes has his own mental health and mindset techniques for performance, which include meditation. 

In an article before the 2023 Super Bowl, Mahomes spoke with The Kansas City Star about his pre-game preparation. He mentioned meditation as part of his ritual. 

“It kind of clears your mind. There’s a lot going on in the NFL season. It’s not just football. If you can just refocus on the main thing, it usually helps out,” Mahomes said. 

He credits a mental performance consultant from Texas Tech, Paddy Steinfort, for teaching him about not only meditation but how to train your mind to focus on the right things.  

“He used to talk about how your mind can only think about six things at the same time. And if you were focusing on the crowd, and then you’re focusing on how big the game is, then you’re not thinking about what coverage is the nickel (cornerback) playing, or how’s the nickel going to adjust versus this coverage and stuff like that. So I kind of just keep it in that perspective,” Mahomes also said in the article.

He also said, “Whenever you’re playing, I feel like you don’t think about that type of stuff. I think it’s going to be cool when I look back and see these big games that I played in. But at the time when I’m playing them, I’m not really thinking about how big that game is in that perspective.”

In the quest to determine the NFL’s GOAT quarterback between Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes, it’s evident that mental health and meditation play pivotal roles in their extraordinary careers. Regardless of personal opinions on their rankings, understanding the impact of mindfulness practices on these athletes offers valuable insights into the intersection of mental well-being and athletic success. Whether it’s Brady’s incredible career or Mahomes’ unique style and vigor, the mindful gridiron is a testament to the transformative power of mental health in the pursuit of NFL greatness.