You're sitting at a bar, or maybe just scrolling through your phone, and the debate starts. Someone says the Chiefs have always been this good. You know that’s not true. You remember the lean years. The "almost" years. But when you really get down to the brass tacks of what year did chiefs win super bowl, the answer isn't just a list of dates. It's a saga of a 50-year drought bookended by two distinct eras of absolute dominance.
Honestly, it’s kinda crazy how long Kansas City fans had to wait between sips from the Lombardi Trophy. For half a century, the 1969 season was the only thing keeping the lights on in the trophy case. Then, Patrick Mahomes happened. Now, we’re basically living in a world where a February without red and gold confetti feels like a glitch in the matrix.
The Early Days: 1970 and the AFL Statement
Before the merger was even fully baked, the Chiefs were already making noise. But it wasn't easy. They actually played in the very first Super Bowl in 1967 (technically the 1966 season), but they got handed a pretty stiff loss by Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers.
The breakthrough happened in 1970.
January 11, 1970, to be exact. This was Super Bowl IV. The Chiefs weren't just playing for a city; they were playing for the respect of the entire American Football League (AFL). They were double-digit underdogs against the "Purple People Eaters" of the Minnesota Vikings.
- Final Score: Chiefs 23, Vikings 7
- The MVP: Len Dawson
- The Vibe: Hank Stram "micturating" on the competition while mic'd up for NFL Films.
Dawson was the cool customer, throwing for 142 yards and a touchdown despite the massive pressure. The defense was the real hero, though, forcing five turnovers. It was a masterclass. And then, for 50 years, the well went dry.
The Mahomes Era: A Modern Dynasty
If you ask a younger fan what year did chiefs win super bowl, they’ll probably start rattling off dates like they’re reading a grocery list. That’s because the last few years have been a blur of winning. After half a century of heartbreak—including some truly soul-crushing playoff losses in the 90s and 2000s—Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes finally broke the dam.
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2020: The Comeback in Miami
Super Bowl LIV was the moment the world realized no lead was safe against Kansas City. Trailing 20-10 in the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers, Mahomes looked human for about three quarters. Then came "Jet Chip Wasp."
Basically, the Chiefs scored 21 unanswered points in about five minutes. It was surgical. It was terrifying. It was their first title in 50 years, and the city went absolutely nuclear.
2023: The Gritty Win Over Philly
Fast forward through a loss to Brady (we don't talk about that) and a painful AFC Championship exit, and the Chiefs found themselves in Super Bowl LVII. This one was personal for Andy Reid, facing his old team, the Philadelphia Eagles.
It wasn't a defensive struggle. It was a shootout. Mahomes was playing on one good ankle, basically hobbling his way to a 38-35 victory. Harrison Butker nailed a field goal with eight seconds left, and K.C. had their third ring.
2024: The Back-to-Back Glory
The most recent win happened in February 2024 at Super Bowl LVIII. This was the one that cemented the "Dynasty" label. Again, it was the 49ers. Again, it was a comeback. But this time, it went to overtime.
It was only the second overtime game in Super Bowl history. Mahomes marched them down the field, found Mecole Hardman in the end zone, and that was that. 25-22. Back-to-back. Something no team had done since the Patriots in the early 2000s.
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Why the Years Get Confusing
People get tripped up on the dates all the time. Is it the 2023 season or the 2024 Super Bowl?
Usually, when someone asks what year did chiefs win super bowl, they mean the calendar year the game was played. But the NFL classifies them by the season.
- 1970 (1969 Season) - Beat the Vikings
- 2020 (2019 Season) - Beat the 49ers
- 2023 (2022 Season) - Beat the Eagles
- 2024 (2023 Season) - Beat the 49ers
You've probably noticed a pattern. They win a lot lately.
But it’s worth noting that they’ve had their fair share of "oops" moments too. They lost Super Bowl I (1967), Super Bowl LV (2021) to the Bucs, and most recently, they fell to the Eagles in a Super Bowl LIX rematch in early 2025. Yeah, the 40-22 loss in February 2025 stung, especially since it ended the dream of a "three-peat."
The Secret Sauce of the Wins
You can't talk about these wins without mentioning the stability. Most teams cycle through coaches like they're changing socks. The Chiefs? They’ve had Andy Reid since 2013.
Reid is basically a football wizard who finally found his chosen one in Mahomes. Throw in Travis Kelce—who is arguably the greatest tight end to ever lace them up—and a defense led by Chris Jones that always seems to make the play when it matters most, and you have a recipe for a decade of dominance.
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Honestly, the 2024 win was probably the most impressive because the offense looked "broken" for half the year. They led the league in dropped passes. People were saying Mahomes had lost his "magic." Then the playoffs started, and they just... stopped losing.
A Quick Summary of the Hardware
| Game | Calendar Year | Opponent | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Super Bowl I | 1967 | Green Bay Packers | Loss (10-35) |
| Super Bowl IV | 1970 | Minnesota Vikings | Win (23-7) |
| Super Bowl LIV | 2020 | San Francisco 49ers | Win (31-20) |
| Super Bowl LV | 2021 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Loss (9-31) |
| Super Bowl LVII | 2023 | Philadelphia Eagles | Win (38-35) |
| Super Bowl LVIII | 2024 | San Francisco 49ers | Win (25-22 OT) |
| Super Bowl LIX | 2025 | Philadelphia Eagles | Loss (22-40) |
What's Next for the Kingdom?
As we sit here in 2026, the landscape is shifting. Mahomes is still the guy, but the roster is aging in key spots. There’s been talk of coaching staff retirements. The AFC is getting harder. The Bengals, Bills, and even the Texans are breathing down their necks.
But if history has taught us anything about the Kansas City Chiefs, it's that you never bet against #15 in a red jersey. Whether they add another ring in 2026 or 2027 remains to be seen, but their place in the history books is already written in permanent ink.
If you’re trying to keep your trivia straight for the next big game, just remember the big four: 1970, 2020, 2023, and 2024. Those are the years the confetti was red.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Check the Season vs. Year: When buying memorabilia, always look for the Super Bowl Roman Numeral (LIV, LVII, etc.) to ensure you’re getting the right "year."
- Revisit the 1970 Film: If you’ve only seen the Mahomes wins, go watch the NFL Films "Mic'd Up" from Super Bowl IV. Hank Stram is legendary.
- Track the 2026 Season: Keep an eye on the defensive secondary depth as the Chiefs look to rebound from their 2025 Super Bowl loss.