The Kansas City Chiefs start their quest to turn into the primary NFL workforce to win three consecutive Super Bowls once they open the playoffs in opposition to the Houston Texans on Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET on ESPN/ABC/ESPN+).
If Kansas City’s common season is any indication, the AFC West champs have a powerful probability to finish the duty. The Chiefs went 15-2, together with 9 straight wins to start out the season. As exhausting as it’s to win two Super Bowl titles in a row, a three-peat is a rarity amongst all main sports activities.
Across the NBA/MLB/NHL/WNBA, there have been 14 cases when a workforce has received three straight titles.
There have been 9 cases in NFL historical past when a workforce has received back-to-back Super Bowls — however no workforce returned to the massive recreation within the following season.
The Green Bay Packers had been the primary to go back-to-back in 1966 and 1967, whereas the Pittsburgh Steelers strung collectively two separate runs within the Nineteen Seventies. The Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers every received consecutive Super Bowls within the Nineteen Nineties. Only one franchise — the Buffalo Bills — has reached the Super Bowl in 4 straight years, although they misplaced every time.
Here’s a glance again at how every workforce fared in its upcoming season.
Green Bay Packers, 1968
The Packers dominated within the Sixties, profitable two Super Bowls and three championships earlier than the AFL-NFL merger created the Super Bowl.
Green Bay underwent a serious change after profitable in 1967. Vince Lombardi stepped down as coach and Phil Bengtson grew to become the lead man. Bengtson spent 9 seasons working Lombardi’s protection, turning it into one of many NFL’s finest.
In his first season, Bengtson did not replicate Lombardi’s success. The Packers went 6-7 and missed the playoffs for the primary time since 1964.
The Dolphins strung collectively two titles in a row with legendary coach Don Shula, together with an undefeated 1972 season. In 1974, Miami nonetheless had a powerful season, going 11-3 and profitable the AFC East. The Dolphins reached the playoffs for the fifth straight season, however misplaced within the divisional spherical to the Oakland Raiders.
Pittsburgh Steelers, 1976
The Steelers weren’t removed from a three-peat in 1976.
Pittsburgh began 1-4 however went on a nine-game profitable streak over the remainder of the common season. It received the AFC Central Division and defeated the Baltimore Colts within the divisional spherical.
However, the Steelers got here up brief in opposition to the eventual Super Bowl champion Raiders within the convention championship recreation.
Pittsburgh Steelers, 1979
As shut as they got here in 1976, the Steelers did not earn an opportunity at a three-peat after their second back-to-back run.
Pittsburgh struggled in October, dropping three straight video games, and could not get well. The Steelers completed 9-7 and missed the playoffs for the primary time since 1971.
San Francisco 49ers, 1990
The 49ers made a powerful run at a three-peat in Joe Montana’s closing season with the franchise.
After going 14-2 in 1989, San Francisco had the identical report the subsequent season. They began 10-0 and Montana received his second straight MVP award.
That sturdy common season resulted in a 3rd straight NFC Championship Game look. The 49ers misplaced 15-13 to the New York Giants, who outscored the defending champs 6-0 within the fourth quarter.
Jimmy Johnson and the Cowboys parted methods after profitable two Super Bowls in a row from 1992 to 1993. But Dallas did not miss a beat with the hiring of Barry Switzer as coach.
The Cowboys went 12-4 for the second straight season and reached the NFC Championship Game. America’s Team got here up brief although, dropping to the 49ers 38-28. San Francisco received its third Super Bowl in seven years.
Denver Broncos, 1999
The Broncos struggled in 1999. John Elway retired within the offseason and working again Terrell Davis performed solely 4 video games earlier than struggling a season-ending damage.
Denver began 2-6 and completed 6-10, its fewest wins in a season since 1990.
A 3rd Super Bowl win in 4 years introduced some hangover for New England in 2005. It started 5-4 earlier than heating as much as end 10-6. Tom Brady threw for a then-career-high 4,110 passing yards and tied a profession excessive in interceptions (14).
The Patriots stormed previous the Jacksonville Jaguars within the wild-card recreation however got here up brief in opposition to the Broncos within the subsequent spherical.
