5 things Chiefs must do to challenge Tom Brady-Bill Belichick's Patriots dynasty
The Kansas City Chiefs are suddenly building a dynasty following their most recent Super Bowl LVII victory against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Chiefs have now appeared in three of the last four Super Bowls, winning the Vince Lombardi trophy in two of them. They have also appeared in the last five consecutive AFC Championship games, winning three of them.
The Chiefs' impressive run started when Patrick Mahomes took over as their quarterback. They have made it to, at least, the Conference Championship game every season since he became the starter five years ago. Mahomes was also named the Super Bowl MVP in both of their victories, making him only the sixth player ever to win the award multiple times.
If the Chiefs continue to dominate the way they have, they will enter themselves into the conversation of the greatest dynasties in NFL history. The gold standard on this list is, of course, the New England Patriots. The combination of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady is the most accomplished duo in NFL history, while also having the longest ever reign of supremacy.
The new combination of Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes has a long way to go if they ever want to challenge the Patriots' dynasty as the greatest ever, but it's not impossible. Here are five things they must do if they ever want to surpass Brady and Belichick's legendary run.
#1 - Win more Super Bowl rings with the same QB and HC
While winning multiple Super Bowl rings puts any duo into the elite class, winning, at least, three is reserved for the most legendary combinations. Only three quarterbacks and head coach tandems in NFL history have ever recorded three or more rings together.
Joining Bill Belichick and Tom Brady with six are Chuck Noll and Terry Bradshaw with four, as well as Bill Walsh and Joe Montana with three. Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes can join this exclusive list with just one more ring.
#2 - Longevity and consistency
The most iconic part of the Patriots dynasty is its longevity. No other great dynasty in NFL history has ever lasted nearly as long as theirs did. The Patriots dominated the league for two straight decades, winning six Super Bowl rings in nine appearances across 20 years, while never once posting a losing record during that time.
This five-year run for the Chiefs is comparable to the best five years of the Patriots' dynasty. What makes the Patriots so iconic is that they kept it going for so long. If the Chiefs ever want to surpass them, they will need to remain this good consistently for, at least ,another decade, if not more.
#3 - Keep Patrick Mahomes with the Chiefs
Players sticking with just one team has become extremely rare in the modern NFL. Tom Brady even finished out his legendary career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after two full decades with the Patriots. It's also important to note that Brady is the only player that was on the Patriots roster for all six of their Super Bowl rings.
Roster turnovers are inevitable, but if the Chiefs want to become an all-time great dynasty, they will need to make sure they keep Patrick Mahomes on their roster and be satisfied with his position for as long as possible. The rest of the pieces can be figured out, but it's extremely difficult to win any Super Bowls without an elite quarterback, let alone multiple rings. Losing Mahomes would almost surely end the dynasty.
#4 - Convince Andy Reid to keep coaching for many more years
Rumors surfaced around Super Bowl LVII that head coach Andy Reid could potentially be considering retirement. While he appears ready to return for the upcoming 2023 NFL season, the rumors could indicate that he's beginning to consider retirement in the near future.
Reid has proven to be one of the best head coaches in NFL history. He has now appeared in four Super Bowls, after previously recording one appearance with the Eagles, prior to signing with the Chiefs. He also has the second-most wins in the NFL Playoffs by any coach ever, trailing only Belichick. He is as important to the success of their potential dynasty as anyone, including Mahomes.
#5 - Creativity and innovation
Bill Belichick has been a master during his career of creating fresh gameplans, according to many factors, including the roster he has and the opponent he's facing. His ability to adapt and adjust accordingly is one of the main reasons for his extended success. He has gotten the most out of his players, while also being eerily unpredictable for other teams to prepare for.
Andy Reid is an offensive genius, proving his incredible play designs with both the Chiefs and Eagles. Patrick Mahomes is also one of the best improvising quarterbacks in NFL history. Reid and Mahomes must continue to keep things fresh and not allow defensive coordinators to figure out schemes to stop them. This is what can help turn a five-year run of success into a multi-decade dynasty.