Tom Brady, the GOAT, the multiple champion who transcended the sport and dominated the headlines, has been mentioned whenever the NFL has been discussed for more than two decades.

The NFL needs a new hero now that Brady has left, this time officially retiring. And Patrick Mahomes proved exactly why he should be first in line for the vacated GOAT throne on a chaotic night in Phoenix during a Super Bowl that put every amazing facet of the NFL on display:The quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, Mahomes, won his second league MVP award earlier in the Super Bowl week and went on to win both his second MVP award and his second Lombardi Trophy during the big game.

It's simple to understand where the Brady analogies come from, given his young age (only 27) and the fact that he already has all of that hardware packed away, along with a kind of demean outside that conceals a laser-focus and scary will to win.

Report from Super Bowl 57: The Chiefs come back in a nail-biter

As it was: the 57th Super Bowl

While his playing style occasionally contrasts sharply with Brady's, there are more than enough aspects in common, and there is now a good comparison in terms of winning, to imply that the NFL is in good shape:Despite having a season-low 182 passing yards in this game, the player who this season set a new record for offensive yards (5,614) hit the mark with three touchdown passes.

With a Super Bowl record hat-trick of touchdown runs and 304 yards of passing, including two 45-yard bombs to AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith, Jaden Hurts was a one-man highlight reel for the opponent.                                 Hurts had a strong start line, but Mahomes took the victory home.

The distinction? These huge games are typically decided by slim margins, and when it mattered most, Mahomes delivered with his legs, injured ankle and all. Although he hobbled away from strong tackles on all six of his rushes, Chiefs fans groaned as they saw him put his body on the line repeatedly.

And when it really, truly mattered, at the very last second, he came through with a 26-yard run that was full of guts, character, and that never-say-die attitude that helped the team set up the winning field goal.

Rather of displaying his trademark trick throws, dazzling stat lines, or arm talent, Mahomes debuted a fresh approach.

 How does Mahomes compare to Brady at this stage?

 In style, they could hardly be more different, with Brady the ultimate pocket passer, a cerebral assassin who would often have the defense beaten before the ball was in his hands - who would find the weak spots and punish them accordingly.

 Mahomes is a freestyle, playing backyard football at times that has seen him throw the ball at unique angles that we've just never seen before - sidearm, underarm, we've even seen him throw it left-handed!

 The Chiefs quarterback is also a nifty runner, which Brady most certainly was not, but what they both have in common is the most important trait - and that's winning.