When’s the Last Time the Chiefs Went to the Super Bowl?
The Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes have moved to the doorstep of reaching Super Bowl 55 after topping the Cleveland Browns. The Chiefs are back in the AFC title game for the third straight year with against the Buffalo Bills. That has brought into question the last time that Kansas City has reached the Super Bowl in franchise history.
Chiefs’ illustrious history
The Chiefs first came into existence in 1960 as one of the teams in the American Football League (AFL) as part of the Western Division. The organization then moved to the NFL in the 1970 merger that saw them join the AFC West division that they have remained in for the last 50 years in the league.
That has seen them earn 22 playoff appearances, with four in the AFL and the last 18 coming in the NFL, which was behind 12 total division titles during that span. Kansas City has had the opportunity to possess some of the game’s greatest players that are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, such as Emmitt Thomas, Marcus Allen, Joe Montana, Derrick Thomas, Will Shield, Tony Gonzalez, and Len Dawson to name a few.
The Chiefs have also had their longtime owner Lamar Hunt along with head coaches Hank Stram and Marv Levy. The franchise has had a rich history of success, with notable players and coaches a part of the organization over the years.
Chiefs’ last Super Bowl appearance
The Kansas City Chiefs experienced a lengthy absence on the Super Bowl stage that spanned over five decades.
The Chiefs ended that drought in Super Bowl 54 after moving past the Tennessee Titans in the AFC championship game. Kansas City had a formidable opponent awaiting them in the San Francisco 49ers.
Throughout much of the contest, the 49ers’ stout defense kept Mahomes and the Chiefs’ explosive offense under wraps. Things changed in the fourth quarter as a 44-yard pass to wide receiver Tyreek Hill with just over seven minutes left in the period changed the complexity of the contest.
Mahomes capped the drive off with a one-yard touchdown pass to tight end Travis Kelce. The Chiefs utilized that momentum with their defense by forcing a three-and-out. The following possession saw them take the lead after Mahomes marched his team down for a seven-play, 65-yard drive resulting in the Chiefs quarterback’s second touchdown pass of the contest.
The 49ers moved the ball into Chiefs’ territory on the next drive but suffered a turnover on downs. The game was sealed two plays later on a 39-yard touchdown run by running back Damien Williams.
The Chiefs grabbed their second Super Bowl win in franchise history, while Mahomes became the youngest player to win both a Super Bowl MVP and regular-season MVP award. The victory also helped secure his status as arguably the league’s best quarterback and new face.
Chiefs’ Super Bowl 54 odds
Heading into the AFC title game, the Chiefs are pegged as the Super Bowl favorites.
Kansas City had another impressive regular season that saw them secure the first-round playoff bye in the AFC. Patrick Mahomes led the charge with another MVP-caliber year.
Although the Chiefs dogged out a divisional-round win over the Cleveland Browns, Mahomes is the game-changing factor. In his brief NFL career, he has a plethora of experience on the grandest stage.
Mahomes has multiple playoff comebacks from double-digit deficits on his resume, including erasing a 10-point deficit in Super Bowl 54 against the 49ers. Given all that, the Chiefs will remain the favorites to secure a second straight championship.
If they reach that stage, a tough opponent in Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers awaits them.
