It’s become an annual NFL Combine tradition to revisit photos and videos from Tom Brady’s less-than-athletic performance at the 2000 edition of the scouting showcase.

Patrick Mahomes is following in the legendary quarterback’s footsteps in many ways. But in this one instance, he is looking to avoid going down the Brady path.

The Chiefs’ 28-year-old quarterback might be the league’s biggest star. And he certainly had no problem landing near the top of the draft — he went 10th overall to the Chiefs in 2017.

But Mahomes posted the same 40-yard dash time as Peyton Manning, and certainly did not look like a blazer when he was running the event. As a result, Mahomes’ dash sees airtime early and often on broadcasts around the combine.

Ahead of the 2024 NFL Combine, the three-time Super Bowl champion is kindly asking the NFL Network to stop.

The NFL has not been shy about comparing the performances of the biggest star quarterbacks to top draft prospects in an attempt to build hype for said prospects.

In 2022, Desmond Ridder ran the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds, and the NFL posted a video of his dash compared to Marcus Mariota, Russell Wilson and Mahomes. Mariota and Wilson ran a 4.52 and 4.55. Mahomes was, well, considerably behind that.

Even then, Mahomes called out the league for the video of him getting left behind by all other QBs.

Mahomes certainly did not have a Brady-slow time. Brady ran a 5.17 at the combine — for reference, 17 offensive linemen ran a faster 40 time in last year’s combine. But Mahomes hardly set the world on fire with his legs.

Patrick Mahomes 40-yard dash time

Back in 2017, Mahomes ran a 4.80 40-yard dash time. That’s the same time as Manning. Fortunately for those two, and unlike Brady, their time was faster than all offensive linemen in 2023.

For his part, Mahomes has made the most of his speed. Though he is not a speedster like Lamar Jackson or Justin Fields, the Chiefs’ quarterback is an effective scrambler who picks his spots well. Since 2018, Mahomes ranks seventh among quarterbacks in rushing yards with 1,926, trailing only Jackson (5,258), Josh Allen (3,611), Jalen Hurts (2,503), Kyler Murray (2,448), Fields (2,220) and Russell Wilson (2,032), according to Stathead.

Fastest QB 40 times

It’s safe to assume Mahomes doesn’t crack the top 10 all-time. Based on Pro Football Reference data going back to 2000, Michael Vick and Robert Griffin III have the fastest 40 times at 4.33 each.

2001
Michael Vick
4.33

2012
Robert Griffin
4.33

2006
Reggie McNeal
4.4

2023
Anthony Richardson
4.43

2021
Justin Fields
4.45

2006
Marcus Vick
4.47

2011
Tyrod Taylor

2006
Vince Young
4.48

2010
Jarrett Brown
4.5

2011
Jake Locker
4.51

Mahomes ranks tied for 181st out of 400 quarterbacks.