Thursday commemorated the seventh anniversary of the Kansas City Chiefs trading Alex Smith, allowing Patrick Mahomes to step in as their starting quarterback. The Chiefs are now making their fifth Super Bowl appearance in six years, and Mahomes is the first quarterback to reach five Super Bowls before turning 30.

This led us to consider the best individual seven-year performances in sports history. Here’s a rundown of the top ten peaks achieved over the past four decades in team sports.

1. Wayne Gretzky (1981-87)

Gretzky quickly rose to NHL stardom, capturing the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 1979-80 and leading in points for seven consecutive seasons. His dominance included three Stanley Cup victories and scoring over 160 points annually, with four seasons exceeding 200 points.

2. Jerry Rice (1988-94)

Rice’s peak saw him named a first-team All-Pro ten times over 11 seasons, culminating in consecutive Super Bowl championships with the 49ers. He set an NFL record with 22 touchdowns in one season and was Super Bowl MVP in 1989.

3. Michael Jordan (1990-93; 95-98)

Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to two three-peat championships, winning six titles and four MVP awards between 1990 and 2000, establishing himself as a transcendent athlete.

4. Pedro Martínez (1997-2003)

Martínez had perhaps the most dominant pitching stretch in MLB history, winning the AL triple crown with the Boston Red Sox and regularly posting staggering ERA and strikeout numbers.

5. Barry Bonds (1998-2004)

Bonds’ historic stretch included an unmatched four consecutive MVP awards, shattering records with his on-base percentage and home run totals.

6. Lionel Messi (2008-15)

Messi helped Barcelona to multiple titles while winning five Ballon d’Or awards during arguably the best seven years in soccer history.

7. LeBron James (2011-18)

James’ peak started with MVP seasons and culminated in an unprecedented Finals victory following a significant comeback against the Warriors.

8. Tom Brady (2014-20)

In his later years, Brady won four Super Bowls and redefined longevity at quarterback, claiming multiple MVP accolades and records.

9. Shohei Ohtani (2018-present)

Ohtani has made history by excelling as both a pitcher and hitter, winning MVPs while contributing to the Los Angeles Angels consistently.

10. Patrick Mahomes (2018-present)

Mahomes has captured three Super Bowl championships and two MVP awards in his early career, already establishing himself as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.

Honorable mentions: Rickey Henderson, Larry Bird, Diego Maradona, Kevin Durant, and several others who have had remarkable careers.

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