Piece by: Tyler Deakin
Let’s be honest here, the Kansas City Chiefs are the envy of the NFL right now in that they are making their 2nd consecutive Super Bowl appearance. They won Super Bowl LIV last year, and they have hosted 3 consecutive AFC Championship Games. Are we witnessing the next great Patriots-esque dynasty unfold right before our eyes? I believe that a Super Bowl LV win would go a long way towards establishing the Kansas City Chiefs as the NFL’s next great dynasty. Obviously, the Chiefs would need to add more Super Bowl & AFC Championship Game appearances to match or surpass the recent Patriots dynasty. My opinion is that the Chiefs foundational players (Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, & Travis Kelce) will help them achieve their goal in establishing a dynastic identity.
Let’s begin with Patrick Mahomes, who recently signed a record breaking 10-year $503 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs. That’s obviously a lot of financial resources being poured into one player; however, he is their franchise quarterback who is just now entering the prime of his NFL career. Mahomes is entering the prime of his career after winning the Super Bowl LIV MVP Award and the 2018 MVP Award at 25 years old. He’s in the MVP conversation this year, and with another incredible Super Bowl performance could potentially win another Super Bowl MVP Award. NFL fans who watch Patrick Mahomes on Sundays certainly aren’t surprised by his accomplishments anymore. No task feels impossible watching Mahomes at quarterback; he makes all types of throws from various arm angles, is a model of consistency, and has the clutch gene in that he is capable of coming back from any deficit with ease.
Tyreek Hill is probably the fastest & most explosive player in the NFL right now. Hill had 13 catches for 269 yards & 3 touchdowns when the Chiefs played the Buccaneers in Week 12 of the 2020 NFL season. The Buccaneers threw every defensive coverage possible at stopping Tyreek Hill to no avail. Might Hill repeat his performance in the Super Bowl this weekend? This is certainly possible, although the dominance will likely be to a much lesser extent. He’s under contract with the Chiefs on a 3-year, $54 million deal he signed in 2019. Much like Mahomes, Hill is just 26 years old and is an ideal candidate for a contract extension perhaps as early as this offseason.
Travis Kelce is the elder statesman of the team at 31 years old. Honestly, I was surprised when I found out his age because he plays like a much younger player. His 2020 regular season statistics sound like an elite NFL wide receiver’s statistics: 105 catches for 1,416 yards & 11 touchdowns. Kelce’s ability to create mismatches with his size & speed makes the Chiefs offense incredibly dynamic. Let’s not forget that he’s a very capable blocker as well, which enhances his value on the Chiefs offense. He’s had incredibly consistent statistics over the past 5 NFL seasons, and was rewarded with a 4-year, $57 million deal in 2020.
Patrick Mahomes & Travis Kelce’s contracts give the Chiefs a dynastic foundation through at least 2025. Tyreek Hill will likely get a contract extension as well, though that is not entirely a given. I failed to mention that the Chiefs also have a Hall of Fame coach, stellar defense, and solid offensive line supporting their foundational players. Add all of that up, and there’s reason to be optimistic about the Chiefs establishing the NFL’s next great dynasty in the next decade. Winning Super Bowl LV by defeating Tom Brady on the road would establish the Kansas City Chiefs as contenders for the NFL’s next great dynasty. Regardless of the Super Bowl LV outcome, the future looks bright for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Comments