Football moves fast. One minute you're watching Patrick Mahomes sprint toward a third straight ring, and the next, Jalen Hurts is hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in New Orleans while the "three-peat" dream dies in the bayou. Honestly, looking back at the last 5 Super Bowl champions, it's wild how much the league has shifted. We've seen the GOAT's final act, a "get rich quick" scheme in LA actually work, and the birth (and potential pause) of a Kansas City dynasty.
It isn't just about the scores. It’s about the fact that every single one of these games changed how teams are built. If you think winning a Super Bowl is about having the best roster, you're only half right. It’s mostly about who survives the war of attrition.
Super Bowl 59: The Philadelphia Eagles (2025)
Everyone thought the Chiefs were inevitable. You’ve heard the talk—Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid, the chance to do what no team in NFL history had ever done by winning three in a row. But the Philadelphia Eagles didn't read the script. In February 2025, they didn't just beat the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX; they absolutely dismantled them.
The final score was 40-22, but even that felt generous to Kansas City. Philly was up 34-0 at one point. Jalen Hurts was a magician, throwing for nearly 300 yards and accounting for three touchdowns. But the real story? The defense. They sacked Mahomes six times. It was the most he’d ever been hit in a single game. Rookie Cooper DeJean even chipped in with a 38-yard pick-six that basically signaled the end of the game before halftime.
People love to debate if this was the "end" of the Chiefs' era. Maybe. But for Philadelphia, it was redemption for the close loss they suffered two years prior. They proved that a dominant offensive line and a relentless pass rush still trump a superstar quarterback when everything clicks.
Super Bowl 58: The Kansas City Chiefs (2024)
This was the year the Chiefs became "villains" to everyone outside of Missouri. They weren't the dominant force of years past during the regular season. The offense looked broken. Travis Kelce looked tired. Yet, they gritted their way to Las Vegas and took down the San Francisco 49ers in a 25-22 overtime thriller.
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It was only the second overtime game in Super Bowl history.
Basically, the 49ers had them. San Francisco took the lead in OT with a field goal, but you can’t leave Mahomes with time. He marched down the field and found Mecole Hardman for the winning score. It was a masterclass in "finding a way." This win solidified the last 5 Super Bowl champions list as a period dominated by Kansas City’s psychological edge over the rest of the league.
Super Bowl 57: The Kansas City Chiefs (2023)
The "Ankle Game." Remember when Mahomes re-aggravated that high ankle sprain right before halftime? It looked like the Eagles were going to run away with it. They were up 24-14 at the break.
Then the second half happened.
Kansas City scored on every single possession in the final two quarters. It was efficient, clinical, and sort of terrifying to watch. A controversial holding call on James Bradberry late in the game set up Harrison Butker for the game-winning field goal, ending it 38-35. Eagles fans still hate that call. Honestly, it was a tough way to see such a high-level game end, but the Chiefs' ability to execute under pressure was the difference.
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Super Bowl 56: The Los Angeles Rams (2022)
The Rams basically sold their soul for this one. They traded every draft pick they had for veterans like Matthew Stafford and Von Miller. They played the game in their home stadium, SoFi, and for a while, it looked like the "Cinderella" Cincinnati Bengals were going to ruin the party.
Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase were lighting it up. But when it mattered most, the Rams' stars did star things.
- Cooper Kupp caught the go-ahead touchdown with less than two minutes left.
- Aaron Donald lived in the Bengals' backfield on the final drive.
- Matthew Stafford finally got the ring people said he was too "Detroit" to win.
It was a 23-20 win that validated the "All-In" strategy. It’s rare to see a team successfully buy a championship, but the Rams pulled it off before the roster inevitably started to crumble under the weight of those traded picks.
Super Bowl 55: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2021)
This felt like a fever dream. Tom Brady, at age 43, in a Buccaneers jersey, facing off against the young king, Mahomes. Because of the pandemic, the stadium wasn't even full, but the energy was intense.
Tampa Bay's defense was the real MVP here, even though Brady got the trophy. They held the high-flying Chiefs to zero touchdowns. Zero. The final was 31-9.
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It was a reminder that even the most talented quarterback in the world can’t do much when his offensive line is missing three starters. Mahomes spent the whole night running for his life, literally parallel to the ground while trying to throw passes. Brady, meanwhile, just played pitch-and-catch with Rob Gronkowski. It was the last time we saw the old guard truly dominate the new generation.
What We Can Learn From the Last 5 Years
Looking at the last 5 Super Bowl champions, a few things become incredibly clear. First, the "dynasty" isn't dead, but it’s harder to maintain than ever. The Chiefs reached the mountain top three times in this span (winning twice), but the physical toll is massive.
Second, the "Home Field" advantage is real but weird. Both the Bucs and Rams won in their home stadiums in back-to-back years, something that had never happened in the first 54 years of the game.
What you should do next:
If you're looking to bet on next season or just want to sound smarter at the sports bar, stop looking at "star power" and start looking at depth at offensive tackle. The two biggest blowouts in this five-year stretch (SB 55 and SB 59) happened because the losing team's offensive line got bullied.
Watch the injury reports starting in December. A team that loses its starting left tackle in Week 17 is almost certainly not going to be the next name added to this list of champions.