Who Did the Chiefs Beat in the Super Bowl? What Really Happened in Those Games

Who Did the Chiefs Beat in the Super Bowl? What Really Happened in Those Games

Honestly, if you’re a fan of any team in the NFC West or the Philadelphia Eagles, the answer to who did the Chiefs beat in the Super Bowl probably still stings. It’s been a wild ride for Kansas City. Since 2020, they’ve turned the NFL into their own personal playground, systematically dismantling some of the best rosters in the league.

They aren't just winning; they're ruining seasons.

Most people can point to Patrick Mahomes or Travis Kelce and say, "Yeah, they’re the reason." But the details of these games—the specific teams they left in the dust and the way those games actually unfolded—tell a much more stressful story than the scores suggest. They have four rings now. That’s a lot of heartbreak for everyone else.

The San Francisco 49ers: Twice Bitten

The Niners have to be sick of seeing red and gold. Kansas City has beaten San Francisco in the Super Bowl not once, but twice, and both games followed a similar, agonizing pattern for Kyle Shanahan’s squad.

Super Bowl LIV (2020)

This was the one that ended the 50-year drought. Basically, the 49ers had the game in a chokehold. They were up 20-10 in the fourth quarter. It looked over. Then, on a 3rd & 15 that lives in infamy for Niners fans, Mahomes found Tyreek Hill for "Jet Chip Wasp." Everything changed. The Chiefs scored 21 unanswered points in the final six minutes. Final score: 31-20.

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Super Bowl LVIII (2024)

Four years later, same story, different city. This time it was Las Vegas. The 49ers again took a 10-point lead. Again, the Chiefs clawed back. This one went to overtime—only the second time in Super Bowl history. After the Niners settled for a field goal, Mahomes marched down the field and hit Mecole Hardman Jr. for the "Tom and Jerry" touchdown. 25-22. Back-to-back titles.

The Philadelphia Eagles: A 2023 Heartbreaker

In Super Bowl LVII, the Chiefs faced off against the Philadelphia Eagles in what many call the "Kelce Bowl" because Jason and Travis were the first brothers to play against each other in the big game.

This game was a literal shootout.

Jalen Hurts played out of his mind, but a costly fumble and a late-game defensive holding call against James Bradberry gave Kansas City the opening they needed. Harrison Butker drilled a 27-yard field goal with eight seconds left on the clock. The Chiefs won 38-35. It was a masterclass in efficiency, even though Mahomes was essentially playing on one leg due to a high ankle sprain.

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The Minnesota Vikings: The Forgotten 1970 Win

We can’t talk about who did the Chiefs beat in the Super Bowl without going back to the beginning. Before the Mahomes era, there was Len Dawson and the 1969 season.

At the time, the NFL was considered superior to the AFL. The Chiefs were massive underdogs against the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV. Hank Stram, the legendary coach, was mic’d up for the game, famously telling his team to "keep matriculating the ball down the field." They did exactly that. The Chiefs defense smothered the Vikings' "Purple People Eaters," winning 23-7. It was a statement win that proved the AFL belonged.

Who Managed to Stop Them?

It hasn't been a perfect record. Even dynasties have bad days.

  • Green Bay Packers (Super Bowl I): The very first one. The Chiefs lost 35-10. Bart Starr was just too much for them back then.
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Super Bowl LV): Tom Brady and a relentless Bucs pass rush humiliated the Chiefs 31-9. Mahomes was running for his life all night because his offensive line was essentially a group of backups.
  • Philadelphia Eagles (Super Bowl LIX): Just recently, the Eagles finally got their revenge. In February 2025, Philly handed the Chiefs a 40-22 loss in New Orleans. Jalen Hurts was the MVP, and a rookie named Cooper DeJean even had a pick-six. It ended K.C.'s hope for a three-peat.

Why the Chiefs Keep Winning (Usually)

Success in the NFL is usually about three things: a generational QB, a coach who thinks five steps ahead, and a kicker who doesn't blink. Kansas City has all three. Andy Reid's ability to design plays for Travis Kelce in the red zone is basically unfair at this point.

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But it's also about composure. In almost every game they've won, they were trailing. They don't panic. They just wait for the other team to make one mistake, and then they pounce.

If you're looking to track their history or just want to settle a bet about who did the Chiefs beat in the Super Bowl, here is the quick breakdown of their victories:

  1. Minnesota Vikings (1970)
  2. San Francisco 49ers (2020)
  3. Philadelphia Eagles (2023)
  4. San Francisco 49ers (2024)

The landscape of the NFL is shifting, especially with the Eagles taking them down in 2025, but the "Chiefs Kingdom" era is far from over.

To really understand the impact of these wins, you should look into the specific play-calling of Andy Reid during the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LVIII. Analyzing how they exploited the 49ers' zone coverage in overtime provides a blueprint for why they are so hard to put away. You can also compare the defensive stats from their 1970 win versus their modern titles to see how much the game has changed—and how the Chiefs adapted to it.