Patrick Mahomes is preparing for his 2026 comeback after a devastating ACL injury ended his 2025 season. Now, a former NFL quarterback’s critical evaluation has created another talking point around his return.
The assessment has already generated a sharp response from Mahomes’ longtime trainer, giving the Chiefs star another reason to silence the doubters. If history is any guide, Mahomes will be eager to let his play do the talking.
Chiefs Fans Fire Back Over Dan Orlovsky’s Curious Patrick Mahomes Ranking
Dan Orlovsky stirred up some intense debate with his latest quarterback trait rankings, placing Mahomes outside the top ten in several categories.
He ranked the Chiefs superstar #5 in arm strength, #7 in rushing ability, #9 in decision-making, and #3 in second-reaction ability, while leaving him out of the top ten for ball placement, mechanics, and pocket presence.
Orlovsky’s evaluation came with an important qualifier because Mahomes is returning from a torn ACL. The analyst still described him as “one of the best quarterbacks in the world when he’s healthy” and said he will be “back here in short order.”
His decision-making ranking, however, became one of the biggest talking points. Orlovsky pointed to Mahomes’ 11 interceptions last season but also acknowledged the difficult situations behind those mistakes.
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“He threw 11 interceptions last season, but he was constantly trying to find plays when they weren’t there,” Orlovsky wrote about Mahomes, who also ranked outside the top 10 in PFN NFL QB Impact last season.
Mahomes also missed the top ten in pocket presence, which Orlovsky identified as his biggest omission. “This year, that will probably be Patrick Mahomes,” he wrote. “I dropped him on a few lists as he comes back from a torn ACL.”
This reasoning did little to prevent the ranking from becoming a talking point among Mahomes supporters.
Bobby Stroupe, Mahomes’ longtime personal performance coach and trainer, responded on X with a message that was short but clearly pointed.
“Oh. 👌 We will keep Dan informed as the season goes on,” Stroupe wrote.
This response opened the door for Chiefs fans to imagine how Mahomes might answer once he gets back onto the field. X user Beth replied, “lololol,” while THEzackofalltrades wrote, “Dan is an idiot and this WON’T AGE WELL.”
The reactions kept coming, but they shared the same theme: Mahomes has another reason to keep the rankings in mind.
X user Mat XIV wrote, “Ohhh [expletive] Dirty Dan just woke the receipt-keeper. LFG boys.”
Scott Fitzgerald added another context, writing, “I’d pay a hefty price to get a peek at the Stroope training facility bulletin board about now.”
The rankings may only be preseason evaluations, but Mahomes has spent his career responding to outside questions with on-field answers. With his ACL recovery already under close watch, the Chiefs quarterback now has another opportunity to make the rankings look very silly once meaningful football arrives.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.