It never ceases to amaze me how many sports fans hate greatness.
For as many fans as the New York Yankees, Golden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls and New England Patriots had during their runs, there were just as many detractors who whined for something different in the name of “parity.” For some reason, these folks could not appreciate the artistry of players like Derek Jeter, Steph Curry, Michael Jordan or Tom Brady, and instead chose to be bitter during some truly special runs.
Don’t make the same mistake with the Kansas City Chiefs. It will be a long time until we see anything quite this special again.
This past Sunday, the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVIII 25-22 over the San Francisco 49ers in an overtime thriller. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes rose to the occasion and took home MVP honors after completing 34 of 46 pass attempts, compiling 333 yards through the air and slinging three touchdowns. Tight end Travis Kelce caught nine passes, earned 93 receiving yards and celebrated the big win with romantic partner and pop megastar Taylor Swift after the game.
“The Kansas City Chiefs are never underdogs,” Mahomes said after the victory. “Just know that.”
The win marked Kansas City’s second straight Super Bowl win and their third in the past five seasons, and with all of the commotion surrounding this year’s team, many have claimed it’s all “too much.” Mahomes and Kelce seem to constantly win. Swift has been on every possible TV screen and radio due to her prolific music career, and Mahomes’ wife, Brittany, recently made her debut as a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition model.
Connections to Chiefs are everywhere. Social media, advertisements and other endorsement deals have only increased the dynasty’s cultural reach.
This sort of fatigue is a known risk associated with dynasties. After a certain point, most were fed up with seeing the workmanlike Patriots win titles and the clean-cut Yankees glide towards pennants. Even dynasties with colorful characters such as the 2010s Warriors and the ’90s Bulls seemed to frustrate fans after the initial novelty wore off.
Of course, fandom will keep many from appreciating the Chiefs’ unique dynasty. But, for one moment, consider the possibility that they are the most compelling dynasty to ever exist.
Have we ever seen sports and pop culture intersect the way it has with Kelce and Swift? People have always cared about the athletes on the playing surface, but this fascination has taken on a new level with their budding romance.
Have we ever seen a quarterback with Mahomes’ talent? Probably not. Brady holds the record for the most Super Bowl wins, and is currently considered the “GOAT” by the vast majority of pundits, but Mahomes may have already proven he is the most gifted QB to ever grace the gridiron.
This past postseason saw him guide a rather underwhelming wide receiver corps to the promised land. Outside of Kelce, a tight-end by trade, not many of the Chiefs’ receivers offer the sort of pop that strikes fear into opposing defenses. Indeed, Kansas City boasted a top-flight defense this season, but if Mahomes failed to make key plays, they most likely would have been bounced earlier in the playoffs.
Prior to Super Bowl LVIII, renowned sportscaster Bob Costas claimed that the Chiefs had officially taken the Dallas Cowboys’ title as “America’s Team.” He, of course, cited the greatness of Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid, but also hinted at something much more intriguing.
“They’ve got Travis Kelce and his romance with Taylor Swift, and it’s a big deal to begin with. And now it blows up bigger,” Costas told CNN. “Plus, the State Farm commercials. Yes, you don’t have to know a screen pass from a field goal to know something about the Kansas City Chiefs. So they’re America’s Team.”
Whether or not you watch football, there’s a good chance you recognize the Chiefs’ “principle characters.” Has any other dynasty done this with as many individual icons? Mahomes, Kelce and Swift each have their own brands that are recognizable to average consumers who may not be NFL diehards.
This, combined with Kansas City’s blend of personality and skill, has made for a winning recipe that should be cherished. The Chiefs have built something monumental. Enjoy the ride while it lasts.
