The Kansas City Chiefs have appeared in six Super Bowls in franchise history, winning four of them. Their most recent championship came last season over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII.
The Chiefs have won back-to-back Super Bowls and are attempting to become the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowl titles. In addition to Kansas City’s recent success, the franchise played in two of the first four Super Bowls in NFL history.
The Chiefs’ First Super Bowl Win
Kansas City played in the first-ever Super Bowl, facing the Green Bay Packers. At the time, it was actually called the AFL-NFL World Championship. The Packers beat the Chiefs, 35-10, and Bart Starr was named MVP of the game.
Three years later, the Chiefs returned to the Super Bowl. This time, Kansas City squared off against the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV. After this game, the NFL and AFL officially merged, meaning the Chiefs have the distinction of being the last AFL team to play a game. Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt was a driving force in starting the AFL, and he served as a main negotiator in merger talks with the NFL.
Head coach Hank Stram led the Chiefs to an 11-3 record during the regular season, but Kansas City was a double-digit underdog entering the contest against the 12-2 Vikings. The Chiefs defeated the Vikings, 23-7, and quarterback Len Dawson earned MVP honors.
When the leagues first announced the merger, there were doubts about whether the AFL teams could compete with the NFL squads. However, this was the second straight Super Bowl win for the AFL after the New York Jets won Super Bowl III. The Chiefs’ big win ended the AFL on a positive note.
Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid Lead the Chiefs to 3 Super Bowl Titles
In the 2018 AFC Championship Game, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots defeated Kansas City in overtime. This was just the second AFC Championship Game appearance for the Chiefs in the 49 seasons since their trip to the Super Bowl.
In 2019, the Chiefs went back to the AFC Championship Game and defeated the Tennessee Titans to reach Super Bowl LIV. It was Andy Reid’s second Super Bowl appearance in 21 seasons as an NFL head coach. It was also the 50th anniversary of the Chiefs’ win in Super Bowl IV.
With the Chiefs trailing by 10 points after the third quarter, quarterback Patrick Mahomes led a fourth-quarter rally. He totaled three touchdowns as the Chiefs scored 21 points to win 31-20. As if this wasn’t already impressive enough, Mahomes was in just his second season as an NFL starter.
Mahomes earned MVP honors after leading the comeback, and the Chiefs won their second Super Bowl championship in franchise history. The key play was when Mahomes connected with wide receiver Tyreek Hill on a 44-yard pass on third and 15 with less than eight minutes remaining in the contest.
The following season, the Chiefs returned to the Super Bowl to take on Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mahomes threw two interceptions, and the Chiefs offense could only generate three field goals in the 31-9 loss. The Bucs’ pass rush dominated Kansas City’s offensive line, and Brady won his seventh and final Super Bowl championship.
Kansas City returned to the Super Bowl in 2023 to face the Philadelphia Eagles. The Chiefs trailed by six points entering the fourth quarter, but Mahomes led another fourth-quarter rally to win the Super Bowl. He threw two touchdown passes as the Chiefs scored 17 points in the final quarter to win 38-35. This was Kansas City’s third Super Bowl championship.
Once again, Mahomes was named the game’s MVP, and he became the 13th quarterback to win at least two Super Bowls. Reid became the 14th head coach to win at least two Super Bowls.
Last season, the Chiefs defeated the 49ers, 25-22, putting the Chiefs, Mahomes, and Reid in elite company. Kansas City is just the ninth team in NFL history to win back-to-back Super Bowls. Also, Mahomes joins Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana, Troy Aikman, and Brady as quarterbacks who have won at least three Super Bowls.
Reid is just the fifth head coach to win at least three Super Bowls, joining Chuck Noll, Bill Walsh, Joe Gibbs, and Bill Belichick. Additionally, Mahomes has now won three Super Bowl MVPs, something only Montana and Brady have done.
Can the Chiefs make NFL history by pulling off the first-ever three-peat? All eyes will be on Kansas City this season to find out.
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