With the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers squaring off in Super Bowl 58, it becomes their second meeting in the Big Game during the Patrick Mahomes era. While it seems like the Chiefs are on the verge of being labeled a dynasty, this isn’t a franchise that was loaded with success before this recent run.
How Many Times Have the Kansas City Chiefs Played in the Super Bowl?
On Sunday night, Kansas City will be making its sixth Super Bowl appearance. That doesn’t include an AFL title (then known as the Dallas Texans) that it won in 1962. We have plenty of Super Bowl 58 coverage to predict what could happen. Let’s take a look at how the previous five championship spots panned out.
Super Bowl I: Lost to Green Bay Packers 35-10
In the first official Super Bowl, which included pairing the AFL’s best against the NFL‘s best before the leagues officially merged, the Chiefs were saddled with trying to take down Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers.
This contest didn’t much reflect the game we see on our TVs today, and that starts with the most basic of details. In this game, two different footballs were used — the traditional AFL ball when the Chiefs were in possession and the NFL’s standard when the Packers were on offense.
Kansas City impressed during the regular season with an 11-2-1 record, but they never really had a chance to win what would become known as the Lombardi Trophy for a reason. The Chiefs never led in this championship game and — with the Packers scoring the final 21 points — it was clear that the NFL was a step ahead of the AFL. That trend didn’t last long, though.
Super Bowl IV: Beat Minnesota Vikings 23-7
This was the final AFL vs. NFL Super Bowl, and with the Chiefs winning, the two leagues split four titles before they joined forces to become the NFL we know today.
Ticket prices to this game were up 150% from the first Super Bowl — costing you $15 to get in the door. That may sound cheap, but when you consider the spike from just a few years earlier, it was clear that this country was eager to see a champion crowned — a level of excitement that has yet to cool.
As for the game itself, the Minnesota Vikings didn’t score until there was 4:32 remaining in the third quarter. In total, 325 yards were gained through the air, a number that sportsbooks are giving Patrick Mahomes a 17.4% chance to clear this weekend.
Chiefs fans were getting used to playing for championships, but a significant drought was awaiting them as the league gained steam and depth.
Super Bowl LIV: Beat San Francisco 49ers 31-20
Mahomes won the MVP for a city that was starved for success. This was Kansas City’s fifth straight playoff appearance (a streak that remains active and sits at nine consecutive seasons), but its first trip to the Super Bowl in 50 years.
This was Andy Reid’s first time as a head coach in the Big Game, and it nearly didn’t happen. Kansas City trailed the Houston Texans 24-0 in the first half of the Divisional Round, and no one would have blamed you for switching channels.
The Mahomes legacy, however, got a nice data point as he led Kansas City to 51 of the next 58 points scored, allowing them to coast to a 51-31 victory over Houston.
The Texans had their chance to steam a potential dynasty before it ever got started, but instead, Mahomes authored one of the best 35+ minute stretches of football in postseason history.
Super Bowl LV: Lost to Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-9
At this point, we were well aware that the Chiefs were something special, something that was evident by them being three-point favorites over a resurgent Tom Brady.
The GOAT was an underdog with all the chips in the middle of the table? He was. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers entered this season having not won a playoff game since their 2002 Super Bowl, but Brady had this offense clicking behind an elite defense.
MORE: Does Mahomes Think He Can Catch Brady?
While Brady was good (21 of 29 for 201 yards and three scores) and won the MVP award, it was the other side of the ball that left little doubt in this result.
For the first time in his already storied career, Mahomes was held without a touchdown and lost by double figures. This result may prove to be a turning point in the trajectory of this Chiefs dynasty, but it also may be a tiebreaker for most when it comes to debating if Brady or Mahomes is their GOAT.
Super Bowl LVII: Beat Philadelphia Eagles 38-35
Brady made the books look silly two seasons before — an all-time great QB as an underdog. The public didn’t learn. Mahomes and Kansas City were 1.5-point underdogs even after he posted an MVP regular season.
This matchup wasn’t short on narratives. Reid was opposing the franchise he had spent 13 seasons with, and Travis Kelce was facing off against brother Jason in the first Super Bowl meeting of siblings.
- 10 plays, 75 yards (Touchdown)
- Nine plays, 75 yards (Touchdown)
- Three plays, five yards (Touchdown)
- 12 plays, 66 yards (Field Goal)
That was the second-half drive summary for the Chiefs as Mahomes became the first player in the 2000s to earn MVP honors for both the regular season and the Super Bowl.
If there was any doubt that a dynasty was beginning, it was gone after this thrilling victory.
As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!
