In the high-stakes world of the NFL, where memory is short and judgment is immediate, former Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid recently dropped a truth bomb that resonated far beyond the gridiron. Now wearing the black and gold of the New Orleans Saints, Reid delivered a candid assessment of Patrick Mahomes’ 2025 campaign that struck a nerve not just with sports fans, but with anyone striving for excellence in their own career.

“Patrick, it was a down year for the Chiefs,” Reid admitted in a recent interview, refusing to dance around the struggles of his former team. “That does not mean he’s not the best quarterback.”

With those two sentences, Reid inadvertently offered a masterclass in one of the hardest lessons of adult life: the acceptance of non-linear progress. We live in a culture obsessed with the trajectory of “up and to the right.” We expect our careers, our relationships, and our personal growth to improve constantly, year over year. When a dip occurs—a “down year”—panic usually sets in.

But if Patrick Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl champion and arguably the most talented quarterback to ever play the game, is allowed to have a down year without losing his status as “the best,” why aren’t you?

The Myth of Constant Ascent

The reaction to the Chiefs’ 2025 season—a year marred by uncharacteristic offensive stagnation and missed opportunities—was visceral. Critics were quick to question the dynasty. Fans felt the sting of mortality. The assumption was that greatness creates immunity from struggle.

Reid’s comments dismantle this dangerous myth. By acknowledging the decline in production while simultaneously defending Mahomes’ standing at the top of the hierarchy, Reid highlighted a crucial distinction: form is temporary, but class and capability are permanent.

In our own lives, we often conflate a bad quarter, a failed project, or a year of stagnation with a loss of identity. We tell ourselves that if we aren’t winning right now, we are losers. This is the trap of perfectionism. It suggests that you are only as good as your last performance.

Mahomes’ 2025 season serves as a reality check. Even the outliers, the geniuses, and the titans of industry hit plateaus. The “down year” is not an anomaly in the system of success; it is a feature of it. It is often during these periods of regression that the necessary recalibration for the next leap forward happens. Growth requires consolidation, and sometimes, consolidation looks a lot like failure from the outside.

Reputation is Your Safety Net

Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of Reid’s interview was not the admission of failure, but the ferocity of the defense. Why did Reid feel compelled to clarify that Mahomes is still the undisputed best?

This speaks to the power of long-term reputation over short-term results. Mahomes has spent years building what experts call “social capital” or “brand equity.” He has carried the franchise through ankle injuries, offensive line collapses, and playoff deficits. He has proven his character and his competence repeatedly.

The lesson here for professionals in any field is vital: build a reputation so strong that it can survive a winter. When you consistently deliver excellence, you buy yourself the grace to be human.

If Mahomes had been a mediocre player with a bad attitude, Reid likely would not have stepped up to defend him. But because Mahomes has established a foundation of trust, leadership, and elite performance, his peers view his “down year” as a circumstantial blip, not a definition of his career.

In your own professional life, consistency is your insurance policy. If you show up, do the work, and treat people well for five years, you will find that people are surprisingly forgiving during the sixth year if things go sideways. They, like Reid, will say, “It was just a down year. He’s still the best.”

Context Matters: You Are Not an Island

Reid’s analysis went deeper than just defending a friend; he touched on the systemic nature of performance.

“There’s always this conversation: Do you tie quarterback play to production and team wins? Or do you tie quarterback play purely to how that quarterback did?” Reid asked. “Because to me they’re related. Like how the team performs as a whole is related.”

This is a profound insight into the “Attribution Error”—the psychological tendency to blame individuals for outcomes that are actually the result of complex environmental factors.

In 2025, the Chiefs dealt with injuries to key weapons and roster gaps that even Mahomes couldn’t magically fix. Yet, the quarterback takes the blame. In the corporate world, this mirrors the manager who is blamed for missed targets during a recession, or the creative director whose campaign failed because the budget was cut.

We often burden ourselves with the weight of outcomes we cannot fully control. We think, “If I work harder, I can overcome a toxic workplace/a bad market/a lack of resources.” While high achievers can elevate those around them, there is a limit.

Reid’s commentary invites us to practice self-compassion. Sometimes, the context of your environment simply doesn’t allow for a “championship season.” Acknowledging that isn’t making excuses; it’s assessing reality so you can fix the structural issues rather than just beating yourself up.

The Danger of “What Have You Done for Me Lately?”

The viral response to Reid’s comments—“If he’s the best, how does the team have a down year?”—exposes the fragility of modern success. We live in a “what have you done for me lately” society.

This mindset is exhausting and unsustainable. It turns life into a treadmill where you must run faster every day just to stay in the same place. If we accept this premise, we are setting ourselves up for inevitable misery, because no one defeats Father Time or the law of averages forever.

The antidote to this is the “Reid Mindset”: taking the long view.

When you zoom out, a down year is just a data point in a larger trend line. If you zoom in on the stock market during a crash, it looks like the end of the world. If you zoom out over 30 years, it’s a minor dip on an upward curve.

Mahomes will likely return in 2026 with a revamped roster and a chip on his shoulder. The narrative will shift again. Those who panicked will look foolish. Those who understood the nature of the game will nod knowingly.

How to Handle Your Own “2025 Season”

So, what do you do when you are in the thick of your own “down year”?

First, own it. Do what Reid did. Don’t gaslight yourself or others by pretending everything is fine. Acknowledge the disappointment. “This year wasn’t my best.” There is immense power in simply stating the truth. It stops the energy drain of trying to keep up appearances.

Second, separate your “Who” from your “Do.” Your performance (Do) was down. Your value and capability (Who) remain high. As Reid said, the down year “does not mean he’s not the best.” Repeat that to yourself. A failed launch does not mean you are a failed entrepreneur. A rejected manuscript does not mean you are a bad writer.

Third, analyze the team. Look at your environment. Are you trying to win the Super Bowl with no offensive line? Are you burning out trying to compensate for a lack of support? Sometimes the solution isn’t to work harder, but to change your environment or ask for help.

Finally, use the doubt as fuel. The intrigue surrounding Mahomes now is how he will respond. Will this break him, or will it remake him? The greatest chapters in biographies are never the years where everything went easy. The greatest chapters are always the comeback.

Justin Reid didn’t bury Patrick Mahomes with his comments; he humanized him. And in doing so, he gave permission to the rest of us to step off the pedestal of perfectionism.

The dynasty of your life is not dead because of one bad season. It has just been tested. The question that should keep you awake at night isn’t “Am I still good enough?” You are. The question is: “How will I use this down year to build a better next year?”

Mahomes is still the best. And you are still capable of greatness, even if the scoreboard didn’t show it this year.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What did Justin Reid say about Patrick Mahomes? Justin Reid, now playing for the New Orleans Saints, described Patrick Mahomes’ 2025 season as a “down year” for the Kansas City Chiefs. However, he strongly clarified that this dip in team production does not change the fact that Mahomes is still the best quarterback in the NFL, emphasizing that individual greatness is often tied to team performance.

Why is a “down year” important for personal growth? Psychologists and career coaches agree that “down years” or periods of stagnation are essential for long-term success. They force individuals to reassess their strategies, build resilience, and break the cycle of perfectionism. These periods often precede significant breakthroughs or “comebacks.”

How can I maintain my reputation during a career slump? Just as Reid defended Mahomes based on his history, you can protect your professional reputation by leaning on the consistency and trust you built in previous years. Owning your mistakes, communicating honestly, and not making excuses helps maintain respect from peers even when results aren’t optimal.

Is success always linear? No. Success is rarely a straight line. Most high achievers experience non-linear growth, which includes peaks, valleys, and plateaus. Recognizing that regression is sometimes part of the process helps prevent burnout and keeps you focused on long-term goals rather than short-term validation.

What is the “Attribution Error” mentioned in the article? The Fundamental Attribution Error is a psychological concept where people tend to overemphasize personal characteristics (like talent or work ethic) and underemphasize situational factors (like environment or team support) when explaining behavior or outcomes. In Mahomes’ case, critics blamed his skill for the loss, while Reid correctly pointed out the situational factors (the team’s overall performance).