LAS VEGAS — Don’t be surprised if you see Pat Riley wearing Mahomes’ bright red No. 15 jersey.
It’s business, it’s not personal.
Ever the astute, Riley applied for and was accepted to trademark the term “three-peat” in 1988.
His Lakers were riding a string of NBA titles, and the dapper coach was looking to add Cha-Ching to their quest for more championships.
Unfortunately, the Lakers fell short to the Pistons in the 1989 NBA Finals.
But Riley paid dividends for the Bulls (twice!), the Yankees, and most recently in 2002 when the Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal Lakers completed a three-peat and won back-to-back championships. their respective leagues.
After Mahomes threw the game-winning touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman in overtime for a 25-22 victory in the 2024 Super Bowl, the Chiefs are now on the verge of winning their third consecutive Super Bowl.
No NFL team has ever won three consecutive Super Bowls.
It was eight times the Chiefs had won back-to-back Super Bowls and were looking to win a third.
It was no good 8 times.
In 2005, the Patriots scored only 13 points and lost to the Broncos in the AFC Divisional Round.
John Elway retired in 1999, and the Broncos were done there.
In 1994, Jimmie Johnson left the Cowboys and the Cowboys lost to the 49ers in the NFC title game.
In 1990, the 49ers’ hopes for a third straight championship were dashed by Roger Craig’s fumble in a loss to the Giants in the NFC Championship Game.
In 1980, the Steelers’ vaunted defense finally got old, marking the end of an era.
In 1976, the Steelers lost to the Raiders in the AFC title game and lost running back Franco Harris in that postseason.
In 1974, the Dolphins lost to Kenny Stabler and the Raiders in the AFC Divisional Round.
In 1968, the Packers’ dynasty came to an end with Vince Lombardi gone.
The next challenge will be the 2024 Chiefs.
“I haven’t really thought about it, but I think it’s a pretty good thing to do,” head coach Andy Reid said Monday morning. “When you’re working on this problem, you don’t really go there. You go back to the dark room and the film comes on, the draft comes on, the combine comes on, you watch all that stuff. That’s where you go.
“I’m not talking about a three-peat, which some people might think. That would be great.”
What we covered in the 2024 Super Bowl
It’s more than great.
“It’s a legend,” Mahomes said. “No one has ever done it before and we know that back-to-back wins are legendary. I think eight other teams have done it. We’ve been hearing that all week. I We talked to our players about it and felt like we had the best opportunity ever to go out there and do it, which we had failed to do the year before.
“All I can do is come back with a renewed mindset, knowing that next year will be even more difficult.”
This was the year of acquisition for the Chiefs.
Their vulnerability was exposed.
Their wide receivers led the NFL in dropped passes this season.
Their offense led the league in penalties.
In the end, they lost four of six games to go 9-6 and looked more like a team that might be shut out of the playoffs than a team that could advance and win overtime.
The Chiefs, who won, were underdogs in the district round in Buffalo.
They were underdogs in the AFC Championship game in Baltimore.
They narrowly lost in the Super Bowl and had to overcome a 10-point deficit.
The Chiefs, accustomed to home-cooked meals, had to become expedition warriors to survive the harsh battles.
This season was a season of acquisitions for the Chiefs.
They had to navigate roster construction even though Mahomes was counting an NFL-record $37 million against the salary cap.
It’s actually worth $58.6 million in 2024, but it appears Mahomes intends to rework his contract to give the Chiefs more flexibility.
The Chiefs were unable to earn a bye in the first round of the playoffs, giving their tired players no rest.
They stumbled, but were never defeated.
Or out.
“Listen, it’s history. How you write it is whether it’s a dynasty or not. We can’t judge whether it’s a dynasty or not, but you all have.” said Reid, who confirmed he will return next season at age 65. “I would say it’s as great a group as any group I’ve ever been a part of. If someone said ‘Dynasty’ and tagged it, I’d be so proud of it.”
Mahomes said the Chiefs need to find a way to re-sign defensive lineman Chris Jones and cornerback Rajarius Sneed, who will be free agents. Something like that. ”
As long as Mahomes is on the field, the Chiefs will have a chance to become NFL immortals, as evidenced by their three-peat.
“Being able to make our mark on this great piece of NFL history is something I will never take for granted,” Mahomes said.
