Big 12 Super Bowl QBs: Texas Tech's Patrick Mahomes set standard for NFL playoff success
In 2019, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes became the first ever Big 12 quarterback to win an NFL playoff game. Now? Two Big 12 alumni will start the Super Bowl.
When Kansas City and San Francisco meet in Super Bowl 58 on Sunday, Mahomes and 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy — who played at Texas Tech and Iowa State, respectively — will both aim to win the third Super Bowl by a Big 12 quarterback. Mahomes won each of the first two.
Mahomes, the 10th overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft, played with the Red Raiders from 2014-16, where he was a three-year starter. Purdy, who starred for the Cyclones, was the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft —Mr. Irrelevant — after playing four seasons at Iowa State from 2018-21.
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Mahomes, the two-time Super Bowl winner, is also known for one of the most-famed Big 12 games ever: Oklahoma defeated his Red Raiders 66-59 in 2016, despite Mahomes tying the NCAA's single-game passing yards record (734). Mahomes was outdueled by eventual No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield, who now plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Here's a lookback at the career of Big 12 quarterbacks in the Super Bowl:
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Big 12 quarterbacks in the Super Bowl
Before Mahomes' first NFL playoff win in 2019, the Big 12 had no success to speak of by former conference quarterbacks in the postseason. Now, however, they're among the most successful.
Last season, Big 12 quarterbacks represented both teams in Super Bowl 57. Former Oklahoma signal-caller Jalen Hurts led the Eagles and took on Mahomes' Chiefs. Mahomes got the better of Hurts in that meeting, completing 21 of 27 passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran six times for 44 yards while leading Kansas City to its second Super Bowl victory in four seasons.
It's also happening again with Mahomes and Purdy. So far, Mahomes, Purdy and Hurts are the only quarterbacks from the Big 12 to win or play in the Super Bowl.
Big 12 quarterbacks' NFL playoff record
Note: The Big 12 launched in 1996.
All in all, Big 12 quarterbacks are 24-19 overall in NFL playoff games, including Mahomes' 14-3 record. Purdy holds a 4-1 record, while Hurts is 2-3, Mayfield is 2-2 and Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill is 2-3.
The Buccaneers' Chris Simms (Texas), Titans' Vince Young (Texas), Commanders' Robert Griffin III (Baylor), Cardinals' Kyler Murray (Oklahoma), Seahawks' Geno Smith (West Virginia), Dolphins' Skylar Thompson (Kansas State) and Steelers' Mason Rudolph (Oklahoma State) have also started playoff games but are a combined 0-7.
Former TCU quarterback Andy Dalton and former West Virginia quarterback Marc Bulger also both started playoff games, however, neither school had joined the Big 12 yet during their college careers.
Patrick Mahomes NFL stats
Career: 2,386 of 3,590 passing (66.5%) for 28,424 yards with 219 touchdowns to 63 interceptions; 374 carries for 1,936 yards with 12 touchdowns
Brock Purdy NFL stats
Career: 422 of 614 passing (68.7%) for 5,654 yards with 44 touchdowns to 15 interceptions; 61 carries for 157 yards with three touchdowns
Patrick Mahomes college stats
Career: 857 of 1,349 passing (63.5%) for 11,252 yards with 93 touchdowns to 29 interceptions; 308 carries for 845 yards with 22 touchdowns
Brock Purdy college stats
Career: 993 of 1,467 passing (67.7%) for 12,170 yards with 81 touchdowns to 33 interceptions; 365 carries for 1,177 yards with 19 touchdowns
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Big 12 QBs' Super Bowl records: Patrick Mahomes, Brock Purdy face off
