Despite winning 15 games, the Chiefs are going up against the odds in their quest for a third consecutive Super Bowl win.
History has proven three-peating in the NFL is a monumental task. Then again, so is winning back-to-back Super Bowls. The Chiefs became the first team to repeat in 18 years last season, and they did so despite a less-than-dominant regular season.
The Chiefs used last season’s struggles as motivation in the playoffs, entering as slight underdogs against the Bills, Ravens, and 49ers but coming away unscathed. This year, make no mistake about it: they are the hunted, and the path to the Lombardi Trophy goes through Kansas City.
Here’s what you need to know about the Chiefs’ historic opportunity to three-peat and whether it’s been done before.
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Has there ever been a three-peat in the NFL?
The NFL has never had a Super Bowl three-peat champion.
Nine teams have repeated as Super Bowl champions, including the Chiefs last season. Of the first eight, none were able to go on and successfully defend their second Lombardi Trophy.
Here are the nine teams who have had a chance to three-peat as Super Bowl champions and their final result:
- 1968 Packers: 6-7-1, missed playoffs
- 1974 Dolphins: 11-3, lost in divisional round
- 1976 Steelers: 10-4, lost in AFC championship
- 1980 Steelers: 9-7, missed playoffs
- 1990 49ers: 14-2, lost in NFC championship
- 1994 Cowboys: 12-4, lost in NFC championship
- 1999 Broncos: 6-10, missed playoffs
- 2005 Patriots: 10-6, lost in divisional round
- 2024 Chiefs: 15-2, TBD
The Packers three-peated as NFL champions at the start of the Super Bowl era, winning in 1965, 1966, and 1967, and those final two titles culminated in the first-ever Super Bowl victories. Their quest for a third consecutive Super Bowl win quickly went off the rails, however, as Vince Lombardi stepped down as head coach ahead of the 1968 season and Green Bay endured a losing season at 6-7-1.
From that point on, no back-to-back Super Bowl champion has even made the Super Bowl when attempting to three-peat. Only three of eight have even made their conference championship game after going back-to-back, with the Chiefs (15-2) posting a better record than each of them.
The 1994 Cowboys arguably came closer to a three-peat than any other franchise, as they won Super Bowls in 1992, 1993, and 1995. They were a formidable contender in 1994 but lost to the NFC’s other juggernaut in the conference championship, with the 49ers going on to win the Super Bowl convincingly.
MORE: One sign the Ravens can finally solve the Chiefs
Three-peat meaning
“Three-peat” is a play on the word “repeat.” While a back-to-back champion is a repeat champion, a back-to-back-to-back champion has completed a three-peat.
In this case, a three-peat is when a team wins a championship in three consecutive seasons. No team has won three consecutive Super Bowls, but the Chiefs have the chance to become the first.
The term “three-peat” can still be applied elsewhere, as three consecutive MVPs could be labeled a three-peat, and the Chiefs could three-peat as AFC champions even if they don’t win the Super Bowl.
Three-peat champions in sports
Three-peats aren’t quite as uncommon in some of the other professional sports leagues:
NBA
| Team | Seasons |
| Minneapolis Lakers | 1952-54 |
| Boston Celtics | 1959-66 |
| Chicago Bulls | 1991-93 |
| Chicago Bulls | 1996-98 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 2000-02 |
NHL
| Team | Seasons |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 1947-49 |
| Montreal Canadiens | 1956-60 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 1962-64 |
| Montreal Canadiens | 1976-79 |
| New York Islanders | 1980-83 |
MLB
| Team | Seasons |
| New York Yankees | 1936-39 |
| New York Yankees | 1950-53 |
| Oakland Athletics | 1972-74 |
| New York Yankees | 1998-00 |
WNBA
| Team | Seasons |
| Houston Comets | 1997-00 |
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Super Bowl winners history
| Date | Super Bowl | Winner | Points | Loser | Points | MVP | Stadium | City | State |
| Feb. 11, 2024 | LVIII (58) | Kansas City Chiefs | 25 | San Francisco 49ers | 22 | Patrick Mahomes | Allegiant Stadium | Las Vegas | Nevada |
| Feb. 12, 2023 | LVII (57) | Kansas City Chiefs | 38 | Philadelphia Eagles | 35 | Patrick Mahomes | State Farm Stadium | Glendale | Arizona |
| Feb. 13, 2022 | LVI (56) | Los Angeles Rams | 23 | Cincinnati Bengals | 20 | Cooper Kupp | SoFi Stadium | Inglewood | California |
| Feb. 7, 2021 | LV (55) | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 31 | Kansas City Chiefs | 9 | Tom Brady | Raymond James Stadium | Tampa | Florida |
| Feb. 2, 2020 | LIV (54) | Kansas City Chiefs | 31 | San Francisco 49ers | 20 | Patrick Mahomes | Hard Rock Stadium | Miami Gardens | Florida |
| Feb 3, 2019 | LIII (53) | New England Patriots | 13 | Los Angeles Rams | 3 | Julian Edelman | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta | Georgia |
| Feb 4, 2018 | LII (52) | Philadelphia Eagles | 41 | New England Patriots | 33 | Nick Foles | U.S. Bank Stadium | Minneapolis | Minnesota |
| Feb 5, 2017 | LI (51) | New England Patriots | 34 | Atlanta Falcons | 28 | Tom Brady | NRG Stadium | Houston | Texas |
| Feb 7, 2016 | 50 | Denver Broncos | 24 | Carolina Panthers | 10 | Von Miller | Levi’s Stadium | Santa Clara | California |
| Feb 1, 2015 | XLIX (49) | New England Patriots | 28 | Seattle Seahawks | 24 | Tom Brady | University of Phoenix Stadium | Glendale | Arizona |
| Feb 2, 2014 | XLVIII (48) | Seattle Seahawks | 43 | Denver Broncos | 8 | Malcolm Smith | MetLife Stadium | East Rutherford | New Jersey |
| Feb 3, 2013 | XLVII (47) | Baltimore Ravens | 34 | San Francisco 49ers | 31 | Joe Flacco | Mercedes-Benz Superdome | New Orleans | Louisiana |
| Feb 5, 2012 | XLVI (46) | New York Giants | 21 | New England Patriots | 17 | Eli Manning | Lucas Oil Stadium | Indianapolis | Indiana |
| Feb 6, 2011 | XLV (45) | Green Bay Packers | 31 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 25 | Aaron Rodgers | Cowboys Stadium | Arlington | Texas |
| Feb 7, 2010 | XLIV (44) | New Orleans Saints | 31 | Indianapolis Colts | 17 | Drew Brees | Sun Life Stadium | Miami Gardens | Florida |
| Feb 1, 2009 | XLIII (43) | Pittsburgh Steelers | 27 | Arizona Cardinals | 23 | Santonio Holmes | Raymond James Stadium | Tampa | Florida |
| Feb 3, 2008 | XLII (42) | New York Giants | 17 | New England Patriots | 14 | Eli Manning | University of Phoenix Stadium | Glendale | Arizona |
| Feb 4, 2007 | XLI (41) | Indianapolis Colts | 29 | Chicago Bears | 17 | Peyton Manning | Dolphin Stadium | Miami Gardens | Florida |
| Feb 5, 2006 | XL (40) | Pittsburgh Steelers | 21 | Seattle Seahawks | 10 | Hines Ward | Ford Field | Detroit | Michigan |
| Feb 6, 2005 | XXXIX (39) | New England Patriots | 24 | Philadelphia Eagles | 21 | Deion Branch | Alltel Stadium | Jacksonville | Florida |
| Feb 1, 2004 | XXXVIII (38) | New England Patriots | 32 | Carolina Panthers | 29 | Tom Brady | Reliant Stadium | Houston | Texas |
| Jan 26, 2003 | XXXVII (37) | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 48 | Oakland Raiders | 21 | Dexter Jackson | Qualcomm Stadium | San Diego | California |
| Feb 3, 2002 | XXXVI (36) | New England Patriots | 20 | St. Louis Rams | 17 | Tom Brady | Louisiana Superdome | New Orleans | Louisiana |
| Jan 28, 2001 | XXXV (35) | Baltimore Ravens | 34 | New York Giants | 7 | Ray Lewis | Raymond James Stadium | Tampa | Florida |
| Jan 30, 2000 | XXXIV (34) | St. Louis Rams | 23 | Tennessee Titans | 16 | Kurt Warner | Georgia Dome | Atlanta | Georgia |
| Jan 31, 1999 | XXXIII (33) | Denver Broncos | 34 | Atlanta Falcons | 19 | John Elway | Pro Player Stadium | Miami Gardens | Florida |
| Jan 25, 1998 | XXXII (32) | Denver Broncos | 31 | Green Bay Packers | 24 | Terrell Davis | Qualcomm Stadium | San Diego | California |
| Jan 26, 1997 | XXXI (31) | Green Bay Packers | 35 | New England Patriots | 21 | Desmond Howard | Louisiana Superdome | New Orleans | Louisiana |
| Jan 28, 1996 | XXX (30) | Dallas Cowboys | 27 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 17 | Larry Brown | Sun Devil Stadium | Tempe | Arizona |
| Jan 29, 1995 | XXIX (29) | San Francisco 49ers | 49 | San Diego Chargers | 26 | Steve Young | Joe Robbie Stadium | Miami Gardens | Florida |
| Jan 30, 1994 | XXVIII (28) | Dallas Cowboys | 30 | Buffalo Bills | 13 | Emmitt Smith | Georgia Dome | Atlanta | Georgia |
| Jan 31, 1993 | XXVII (27) | Dallas Cowboys | 52 | Buffalo Bills | 17 | Troy Aikman | Rose Bowl | Pasadena | California |
| Jan 26, 1992 | XXVI (26) | Washington | 37 | Buffalo Bills | 24 | Mark Rypien | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | Minneapolis | Minnesota |
| Jan 27, 1991 | XXV (25) | New York Giants | 20 | Buffalo Bills | 19 | Ottis Anderson | Tampa Stadium | Tampa | Florida |
| Jan 28, 1990 | XXIV (24) | San Francisco 49ers | 55 | Denver Broncos | 10 | Joe Montana | Louisiana Superdome | New Orleans | Louisiana |
| Jan 22, 1989 | XXIII (23) | San Francisco 49ers | 20 | Cincinnati Bengals | 16 | Jerry Rice | Joe Robbie Stadium | Miami Gardens | Florida |
| Jan 31, 1988 | XXII (22) | Washington | 42 | Denver Broncos | 10 | Doug Williams | Jack Murphy Stadium | San Diego | California |
| Jan 25, 1987 | XXI (21) | New York Giants | 39 | Denver Broncos | 20 | Phil Simms | Rose Bowl | Pasadena | California |
| Jan 26, 1986 | XX (20) | Chicago Bears | 46 | New England Patriots | 10 | Richard Dent | Louisiana Superdome | New Orleans | Louisiana |
| Jan 20, 1985 | XIX (19) | San Francisco 49ers | 38 | Miami Dolphins | 16 | Joe Montana | Stanford Stadium | Palo Alto | California |
| Jan 22, 1984 | XVIII (18) | Los Angeles Raiders | 38 | Washington | 9 | Marcus Allen | Tampa Stadium | Tampa | Florida |
| Jan 30, 1983 | XVII (17) | Washington | 27 | Miami Dolphins | 17 | John Riggins | Rose Bowl | Pasadena | California |
| Jan 24, 1982 | XVI (16) | San Francisco 49ers | 26 | Cincinnati Bengals | 21 | Joe Montana | Pontiac Silverdome | Pontiac | Michigan |
| Jan 25, 1981 | XV (15) | Oakland Raiders | 27 | Philadelphia Eagles | 10 | Jim Plunkett | Louisiana Superdome | New Orleans | Louisiana |
| Jan 20, 1980 | XIV (14) | Pittsburgh Steelers | 31 | Los Angeles Rams | 19 | Terry Bradshaw | Rose Bowl | Pasadena | California |
| Jan 21, 1979 | XIII (13) | Pittsburgh Steelers | 35 | Dallas Cowboys | 31 | Terry Bradshaw | Orange Bowl | Miami | Florida |
| Jan 15, 1978 | XII (12) | Dallas Cowboys | 27 | Denver Broncos | 10 | Harvey Martin, Randy White | Superdome | New Orleans | Louisiana |
| Jan 9, 1977 | XI (11) | Oakland Raiders | 32 | Minnesota Vikings | 14 | Fred Biletnikoff | Rose Bowl | Pasadena | California |
| Jan 18, 1976 | X (10) | Pittsburgh Steelers | 21 | Dallas Cowboys | 17 | Lynn Swann | Orange Bowl | Miami | Florida |
| Jan 12, 1975 | IX (9) | Pittsburgh Steelers | 16 | Minnesota Vikings | 6 | Franco Harris | Tulane Stadium | New Orleans | Louisiana |
| Jan 13, 1974 | VIII (8) | Miami Dolphins | 24 | Minnesota Vikings | 7 | Larry Csonka | Rice Stadium | Houston | Texas |
| Jan 14, 1973 | VII (7) | Miami Dolphins | 14 | Washington | 7 | Jake Scott | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Los Angeles | California |
| Jan 16, 1972 | VI (6) | Dallas Cowboys | 24 | Miami Dolphins | 3 | Roger Staubach | Tulane Stadium | New Orleans | Louisiana |
| Jan 17, 1971 | V (5) | Baltimore Colts | 16 | Dallas Cowboys | 13 | Chuck Howley | Orange Bowl | Miami | Florida |
| Jan 11, 1970 | IV (4) | Kansas City Chiefs | 23 | Minnesota Vikings | 7 | Len Dawson | Tulane Stadium | New Orleans | Louisiana |
| Jan 12, 1969 | III (3) | New York Jets | 16 | Baltimore Colts | 7 | Joe Namath | Orange Bowl | Miami | Florida |
| Jan 14, 1968 | II (2) | Green Bay Packers | 33 | Oakland Raiders | 14 | Bart Starr | Orange Bowl | Miami | Florida |
| Jan 15, 1967 | I (1) | Green Bay Packers | 35 | Kansas City Chiefs | 10 | Bart Starr | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Los Angeles | California |
