IT’S been one heck of a wait, but the Chiefs are heading to the Super Bowl. Led by star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City are on their way to Miami to face NFC champions San Francisco 49ers after defeating the Tennessee Titans 35-24 at Arrowhead. The Chiefs are a franchise starved of success and their […]
IT’S been one heck of a wait, but the Chiefs are heading to the Super Bowl.
Led by star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City are on their way to Miami to face NFC champions San Francisco 49ers after defeating the Tennessee Titans 35-24 at Arrowhead.
The Chiefs are a franchise starved of success and their visit to the NFL showpiece is massively overdue.
It’s half a century since they last reached a Super Bowl – but have a terrific chance of victory with the 2018/19 MVP under centre.
HAILING from Missouri, you’d be hard pushed to find a more passionate and loyal fanbase than those in the ‘Chiefs kingdom’.
The long-suffering fans who pack Arrowhead Stadium year in, year out have been starved off success for most of the Chiefs history.
Despite their stadium being named as the loudest in the world, the Kansas City natives haven’t had the titles or glory that their support has deserved.
The team was originally founded in 1960 as the Dallas Texans, but relocated three years later and took on their current name.
Through the first decade or so of their existence, the Chiefs were a successful team and won 87 games, which is the most in the 10-year history of the AFL.
They won three AFL Championships in 1962, 1966 and 1969 and were part of the first ever Super Bowl in 1966-67, going up against the Green Bay Packers.
Since then, the Chiefs have really struggled as a franchise to put together extended success.
Between 1997 and 2012, they reached the playoffs just THREE times and never made it past the Divisional Round.
But since Andy Reid was appointed coach in 2013, a new era has begun at Arrowhead.
Reid has revolutionised the Chiefs over a number of years, most importantly signing up 10th overall pick Mahomes in the 2017 draft.
The former Texas Tech University was understudy to Alex Smith in his rookie year, before exploding in 2018-19 with an MVP season which saw the Chiefs miss out narrowly on a place in the Super Bowl.
Mahomes has led his side one step further this year though, with his best performance a stunning a fightback in the Divisional Round where the Chiefs offence racked up 41 unanswered points after dropping to 0-26.
THE Chiefs are very much the nearly-team of the NFL.
Long-suffering fans have had to wait FIFTY years for their team to have another shot at the Super Bowl.
Since reforming under the Chiefs name in 1963, they’ve been to just two Super Bowls.
The first was the opening showpiece in early 1967, but they went down 35-10 to the Green Bay Packers.
Three years later they had their shot at Super Bowl IV, this time picking up their first title with a 23-7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.
Up until 2019-20, the Chiefs had never battled through the playoffs and made a Super Bowl – but will face the 49ers on February 2 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
THE Chiefs picked Mahomes in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft.
In his first full season as a starter, he became the first Chief ever to be named MVP (Most Valuable Player) after throwing for 5,097 yards, 50 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions.
His first contract with the Chiefs was a four-year, £12.6million deal that included a signing-on bonus of £7.7m.
After his stunning performances which have propelled the franchise to their first Super Bowl since 1970, Mahomes looks set to be handsomely rewarded.
This off-season is the first time he’s eligible for a contract extension and the numbers are expected to be astronomical.
It was reported by CBS earlier in January that the Chiefs are planning to give Mahomes an extension worth at least £30.7m per year, which would smash the current record for a yearly earner in the NFL.
But in total the deal will likely be structured around £76.9m in guaranteed cash – and that doesn’t take into account Mahomes’ numerous sponsorship deals.
He currently earns millions through his deals with Oakley, Essentia Water, Hy-Vee, State Farm, DirectTV and Adidas.
Whilst the Chiefs star was also the cover athlete for EA Sports’ Madden NFL 20.
