By winning the Super Bowl three times in the last five years, the Kansas City Chiefs have entered a very select club: that of dynasties.
Since Patrick Mahomes became the starting quarterback in 2018, the Missouri club has reached the NFL Finals six times in as many campaigns. The Chiefs won four of those duels and became only the second team to play in the Super Bowl four times in five years since the turn of the century.
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Here are the top 5 other teams considered dynasties in the NFL:
rc/Photo by Ray Stubblebine REUTERS
Dallas Cowboys (1991–1995)
In the early 1990s, the Cowboys won the Super Bowl three times in four years.
Led by Jimmy Johnson (1989 to 1993) and Barry Switzer (1994-1997), the Dallas club was mainly propelled by the trio composed of quarterback Troy Aikman, running back Emmitt Smith and pass catcher Michael Irvin . The offensive line, nicknamed the “Great Wall of Dallas,” was also not to be outdone.
In addition to lifting the Vince Lombardi Trophy three times, the Cowboys finished at the top of the Nationals three times and never amassed fewer than 11 victories in the regular season.
NFL
San Francisco 49ers (1981–1994)
The California organization has won the Super Bowl five times in its history. The gains achieved over a period of 14 years were marked by an attack that revolutionized the aerial game.
The Niners first experienced the joy of victory in 1981, beating the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XVI. The successes were repeated in 1984, 1988, 1989 and 1994.
For the first four championships, the 49ers’ offense was led by quarterback Joe Montana, whose poise in critical moments earned him the nickname “Joe Cool.” It was Steve Young who was on duty for the fifth triumph. Note also the presence of legendary pass catcher Jerry Rice for four of the five championships.
Green Bay Packers (1960–1967)
The Packers were so dominant in the 1960s that the NFL decided to name its championship trophy after the team’s head coach. Before the merger of the NFL and the AFL in 1970, the two circuits decided that the champions of each league would face each other in a grand final, starting with the 1966 campaign. This is how the Super Bowl.
Head coach Vince Lombardi’s Packers won the first two Super Bowl duels, in addition to winning the NFL championships five times (1961, 1962, 1965, 1966 and 1967).
The cornerstone of this dynasty was legendary quarterback Bart Starr. The defense also had star players like Ray Nitschke and Willie Davis. However, it was Lombardi’s disciplined and innovative approach to coaching that created a new standard in the world of football.
Pittsburgh Steelers (1972–1979)
The Steelers are the only team in history to win the Super Bowl four times in six seasons (1974, 1975, 1978 and 1979).
Under head coach Chuck Noll, the team was considered one of the toughest in history.
At the heart of this dynasty was the famous “Iron Curtain” defense, featuring Hall of Famers like Mean Joe Greene, Jack Lambert, Jack Ham and Mel Blount. On offense, the Steelers had talented players led by quarterback Terry Bradshaw.
The Steelers of the 1970s remain a benchmark for the power of a well-balanced and physically imposing team.
AFP
New England Patriots (2001–2018)
The “Pats” dynasty is the genius of head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. The two men allowed their team to become a model of incessant pursuit of excellence, for 18 long years.
The dynasty began with a dramatic victory in Super Bowl XXXVI, when Brady and his teammates triumphed in the final minutes against the heavily favored St. Louis Rams. This victory marked the beginning of an era of unprecedented success. The Patriots have participated in nine Super Bowl games and lifted the Vince Lombardi Trophy six times.
In addition to the genius of Belichick and Brady, it is the team’s ability to adapt and evolve that will have made the “Pats” an example of success. They are also considered one of the greatest dynasties in history, all sports combined.