NFL
Top 10 Super Bowl Moments In Kansas City Chiefs History

2025 will mark the fifth time that the Kansas City Chiefs have played in the Super Bowl in the last six years. With their success, they’ve created many memorable moments during their run at being a modern dynasty, but they have some history in the big game that dates back all the way to Super Bowl I.
What are the best moments over the years for the Chiefs in the biggest game of the season?
Top 10 Super Bowl Moments In Chiefs History
10. Mahomes Horizontal Pass – Super Bowl LV
Super Bowl LV was one of the few blemishes on the current Chiefs dynasty. They were never really competitive in that game against the Buccaneers, as Tampa Bay took a 21-6 lead at halftime and never looked back. Kansas City suffered due to 11 called penalties against them, including 8 in the first half, and had a leaky offensive line thanks to key players missing the game.
But those shortcomings by the offensive line led to one of the more impressive plays that Patrick Mahomes ever made. On a 4th down late in the game, the QB was running for his life after another failed blocking scheme by his offensive front, and was tripped by a Tampa Bay defender. But before he could hit the ground, Mahomes was able to uncork a pass while his body was seemingly horizontal with the ground.
It was a wildly impressive athletic feat on the biggest possible stage, but was all for nothing. Kansas City was already losing 31-9, and the pass was dropped by Darrell Williams.
9. The Kelce Bowl – Super Bowl LVII
Super Bowl LVII not only featured the smallest point spread in the history of the big game, but was also the first Super Bowl in which two brothers played against each other. Travis Kelce had already locked down his Super Bowl ring, but big brother Jason was still looking for his first in the twilight of his career. There was plenty of media coverage about the situation leading up to the event, and it was a topic of conversation throughout the broadcast.
Their mother, Donna Kelce became a media darling throughout the lead-up weeks and during the game, and cameras were on the family in the post-game scrum on the field. Travis wound up winning the second of his three championships (so far), while Jason and his Philadelphia Eagles were left out in the cold.
8. Hank Stram Mic’d Up – Super Bowl IV
The fourth-ever Super Bowl, played in January 1970, marked the first Super Bowl victory for the Chiefs in their franchise’s history. But it was also the true start of the “Mic’d Up” feature that still lives in the NFL today.
The night before Super Bowl IV, NFL Films came to Chiefs head coach Hank Stram and proposed that he wear a hidden microphone so that his voice could be recorded for an eventual film about the game. The results were outstanding, as Stram delivered some iconic lines and phrases that are still shown and broadcasted today, and have been used in NFL Films presentations in the 55 years since.
7. Competitive First Half Against All Odds – Super Bowl I
Before the NFL/AFL merger in 1970, the Super Bowl was played to determine a champion between the two leagues. But there was a general consensus that the AFL was no match for the NFL, and many believed that Super Bowl I would be a Green Bay Packers victory in blowout fashion.
And while the final score may have shown that the Packers were dominant, it wasn’t the case for the whole game. During the first half, Kansas City was able to hold Green Bay to 14 points, and trailed by just four at halftime. Based on the statistics, the Chiefs were actually outplaying the Packers through the first two quarters, and many viewers were surprised at how well things were going for the AFL side.
The Packers wound up scoring 21 unanswered second half points, and rolled to a 35-10 victory. But Kansas City’s ability to stay competitive throughout at least some of the contest was a positive for the AFL, and was the start of the respect that the league would build in the coming years.
6. First Super Bowl TD In 50+ Years – Super Bowl LIV
The Chiefs went 50 years between Super Bowl appearances, making Super Bowl LIV in Miami one of the biggest moments in franchise history. They failed to score on their first possession against the 49ers, and faced an early 3-0 deficit when San Francisco made an early field goal.
But back came Patrick Mahomes, who orchestrated a drive that lasted nearly 8 full minutes and got Kansas City down to San Francisco’s one-yard line. From there, the Chiefs ran a rollout option to the right on second and goal, and the quarterback scrambled into the end zone for the team’s first Super Bowl touchdown in over 50 years. They’d go on to win the game, which we’ll highlight in the list below.
5. Mahomes 2-Minute Drill To Force Overtime – Super Bowl LVIII
The most recent Super Bowl was an intense matchup against the 49ers, the second big-game meeting between the two sides in five years. San Francisco looked to be in good shape with less than two minutes left, as Jake Moody’s 53-yard field goal was true, putting the 49ers up by a score of 19-16.
But 1:53 left on the clock was an eternity for the great Mahomes, who then led one of the biggest drives down the field in team history. It took 10 plays for them to march all the way down to San Francisco’s 11-yard line, which made for a chip-shot attempt for kicker Harrison Butker, who would tie the game with 3 seconds left, eventually sending the contest into overtime.
4. Overcoming 13.5-Point Underdog Status – Super Bowl IV
Despite the New York Jets pulling off one of the greatest upsets in football history the year prior, there were still plenty of doubts about the AFL’s ability to keep up with the talent level of the NFL when Super Bowl IV rolled around. The notion was so strong that the Minnesota Vikings actually came into the game as 13.5 point favorites, which is in the top-8 as far as largest point spreads in Super Bowl history.
But it was all Kansas City, as the Chiefs rolled out to a 16-0 halftime lead. Their defense forced three interceptions on the day, which they complimented by attempting 42 rushing plays on offense and wearing the Vikings down in the second half.
Not only was the win important for the Chiefs, picking up their first Super Bowl victory, but it was also the final game before the NFL/AFL merger, and helped show the world that the AFL teams would be competitive in the new league.
3. Harrison Butker’s 27-Yard Game Winner – Super Bowl LVII
The Eagles were in full control of Super Bowl LVII, and entered half-time with a 24-14 lead over the Chiefs. But Mahomes and company were able to chip away, and took a 28-27 lead early in the fourth quarter. A late touchdown run by Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts put Kansas City’s status as a dynasty in question, tying the game at 35 apiece.
But the Eagles left too much time for the player who was quickly becoming an all-time great. There was 5:15 left on the game clock, and Philly wouldn’t touch the ball again. A steady mix of runs and passes helped the Chiefs wind the clock, and they were able to get all the way down to their opponent’s 2-yard line with 1:36 remaining. Two kneel downs put them in range to attempt a 27-yard field goal, which Harrison Butker converted, putting Kansas City ahead by 3 with 8 second left. It wound up being the difference in the game, and the Chiefs were champions with a 38-35 win.
2. 21 Unanswered Points To Defeat 49ers – Super Bowl LIV
The Chiefs’ dynasty started in February 2020, but it was almost a year delayed. The San Francisco 49ers held a 20-10 lead halfway through the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LIV, and looked to be in full control. They were looking for their first Lombardi Trophy win in 25 years, and only an improbable letdown stood in the way.
But a letdown is exactly what happened. The Chiefs would not only close the scoring gap with 6:13 left to play on a Travis Kelce touchdown, but the points were a part of 21 unanswered by Kansas City, who wound up scoring twice more to cement a 31-20 victory. It was the first epic performance from Patrick Mahomes on the biggest stage, giving us a sneak peek at the greatness that he was about to unleash on the league.
It was the first Super Bowl win for the Chiefs since 1970.
1. Mahomes To Hardman In Overtime – Super Bowl LVIII
Recency bias? Maybe. But the Kansas City’s dynasty was on the line during the overtime period of Super Bowl LVIII. The 49ers began the extra frame with possession of the ball, and Brock Purdy led San Francisco on a grueling, draining 15-play drive in search of a game winning touchdown. But they were stopped inside the 10-yard line by the Chiefs defense, and had to settle for a field goal, leaving the door open for Mahomes to win the game by way of a touchdown.
The 49ers epic drive was answered by Kansas City. Mahomes and company got the ball back with 7:22 left on the game clock, and put together a 13-play drive of their own. They marched 72 yards down to the 49ers’ 3-yard line, and had a chance to run one more offensive play before potentially settling for a game-tying field goal. But they were successful on their first down attempt, as Mahomes hit Mecole Hardman who was wide open on a flat route at the goal line. It was the second overtime contest in Super Bowl history, and produced the third championship in four years for Kansas City.