Patrick Mahomes’ personal trainer wasn’t going to let a strange “entering out of his prime” comment from former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger go without a response.
After Roethlisberger fielded a question on his podcast about whether he’d take Aaron Rodgers in his prime or Mahomes in the present — with the ex-Steelers QB selecting Rodgers — Bobby Stroupe, Mahomes’ trainer, sent a jab back toward Roethlisberger in a post on X.
“Not everybody quits working out at 30 years old, Ben,” Stroupe wrote last week.
Statistically, Mahomes’ numbers dipped in 2024 after back-to-back Super Bowl titles, as he collected just 3,928 passing yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions during the regular season before leading the Chiefs back to the ultimate game of the season — where they lost to the Eagles.
But Roethlisberger, despite acknowledging the brilliance of Mahomes, opted for Rodgers, who won MVP awards in 2011, 2014, 2020 and 2021.
“I think Aaron Rodgers in his prime was one of the top few to ever do it, and so is Patrick Mahomes in his prime,” Roethlisberger said on his podcast. “Patrick Mahomes is just entering out of his prime. I think Patrick Mahomes is phenomenal. He’s going to go down as, you know, another arguable GOAT (greatest of all time). You know what I mean? There’s only like one GOAT, but there’s GOATs.
“I think Aaron in his prime, then we’re talking about Patrick right now. If we’re talking prime and prime, then I’m going to have to think really hard on that.”
Mahomes, who won a pair of MVP awards in 2018 and 2022, has already established himself as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time despite being just 29 years old.
And in 2025, Rodgers will have a chance to play for the Steelers team that Roethlisberger once starred for across his 18-year career after inking a one-year deal in the offseason.
Rodgers already acknowledged it’ll likely be his final season following 18 with the Packers and two with the Jets leading into this year, and he’ll have a chance to pass Roethlisberger on the NFL’s all-time passing yards list — with Rodgers in seventh place at 62,952 and Roethlisberger in fifth at 64,088.