There’s no argument against the Kansas City Chiefs putting together the greatest three-year run in NFL history — if they defeat the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 59.
That would give Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs three straight titles and they would become the first NFL team to accomplish the feat. But how do the Chiefs rank among the greatest three-year runs in NFL history before the big game?
A team must have participated in two Super Bowl games in three years to qualify for this list.
49ers from 1988-90 currently rank at the top of the list
The 1988-90 San Francisco 49ers had a team like no other before the Chiefs came into the picture. They have to battle to win their first Super Bowl, a 20-16 last-minute victory over the Bengals.
But they steamrolled to the back-to-back version. They whipped the Vikings (41-13) and Rams (30-3) before putting a 55-10 beat-down on the poor Broncos in the Super Bowl.
And in 1990, the 49ers made another run. They pounded Washington (28-10) to reach the NFC Championship game against the New York Giants. And they held a 13-9 lead going into the fourth quarter. Still ahead 13-12 with the clock closing in on the two-minute mark, a 49ers fumble gave the Giants one last chance. They took advantage with Matt Bahr’s game-winning 42-yard field goal.
San Francisco had a record of 38-10 over three regular seasons. The 49ers went 7-1 in the playoffs.
Here’s the rest of the rankings, heading into Super Bowl 59:
No. 2
New England Patriots (2016-18)
Record: 38-10
Titles: 2106, 2018
Note: Lost in the Super Bowl in 2017 to the Eagles by a score of 41-33.
No. 3
Kansas City Chiefs 2022-24
Record: 40-11
Titles: 2022-23
Note: Will play the Eagles in Super Bowl 59 on February 9.
No. 4
Kansas City Chiefs 2021-23
Record: 37-14
Titles: 2022-23
Note: Lost 2021 AFC title game to Bengals, 27-24
No. 5
Miami Dolphins 1971-73
Record: 36-5-1
Titles: 1972-73
Note: Lost in 1971 Super Bowl, 24-3 to Dallas
No. 6
Dallas Cowboys 1992-94
Record: 37-11
Titles: 1992-93
Note: Lost to 49ers (38-28) in NFC title game in 1994
No. 7
Denver Broncos 1996-98
Record: 39-9-0
Titles: 1997-98
Note: Lost 30-27 to Jaguars in divisional round in 96
No. 8
New England Patriots 2014-16
Record: 38-10
Titles: 2014, 2016
Note: Lost in AFC Championship to Broncos, 20-18
No. 9
Dallas Cowboys 1991-93
Record: 36-12-0
Titles: 1992-93
Note: Lost to Lions 38-6 in divisional round
No. 10
Miami Dolphins 1972-74
Record: 37-5
Titles: 1972-73
Note: Lost to Raiders 28-26 in divisional round
No. 11
San Francisco 49ers 1987-89
Record: 37-10
Titles: 1988-89
Note: Lost in 2017 to Vikings in divisional round, 36-24
No. 12
New England Patriots 2003-05
Record: 38-10
Titles: 2003-04
Note: Lost 27-13 to Broncos in divisional round in 2005
No. 13
Pittsburgh Steelers 1974-76
Record: 32-9-1
Titles: 1974-75
Note: Lost 24-7 to Raiders in divisional round in 1976
No. 14
Pittsburgh Steelers 1977-79
Record: 35-11-0
Titles: 1978-79
Note: Lost to Broncos in 1977 divisional round, 34-21
No. 15
Pittsburgh Steelers 1978-80
Record: 35-13
Titles: 1978-79
Notes: Went 9-7 and missed playoffs in 1980
No. 16
New England Patriots 2002-04
Record: 37-11
Titles: 2003-04
Note: Went 9-7 and missed playoffs in 2002
No. 17
Pittsburgh Steelers 1973-75
Record: 32-9-1
Titles: 1974-75
Note: Lost to Raiders 33-14 in divisional round in 1973
No. 18
Green Bay Packers 1966-68
Record: 27-13-2
Titles: 1966-67
Note: Didn’t make playoffs in 1968 with a record of 6-7-1
No. 19
New England Patriots 2001-03
Record: 34-14
Titles: 2001, 2003
Note: Missed playoffs in 2002 with 9-7 record
No. 20
Denver Broncos 1997-99
Record: 32-16
Titles: 1997-98
Note: Missed playoff with 6-10 record in 99
No. 21
Washington Commanders franchise 1982-84
Record: 33-8-0
Title: 1982
Note: Lost in 1983 Super Bowl to Raiders, 38-9; lost 23-19 in divisional round to Bears in 1984
No. 22
Kansas City Chiefs 2018-20
Record: 38-10
Title: 2019
Note: Lost in 2020 Super Bowl, 31-9 to Tampa Bay; Lost AFC title game 37-31 to Patriots in 2018
No. 23
Kansas City Chiefs 2019-21
Record: 38-12
Title: 2019
Note: Lost 2020 Super Bowl to Tampa Bay; the Chiefs lost the 2021 AFC title to Bengals
No. 24
Kansas City Chiefs 2020-22
Record: 40-10
Title: 2022
Note: Lost Super Bowl to Tampa Bay; lost AFC title to Bengals
No. 25
New England Patriots 2015-17
Record: 39-9
Title: 2016
Note: Lost in AFC Championship in 2015 to Broncos, 20-18; Lost in 2017 Super Bowl to Eagles, 41-33
No. 26
New England Patriots 2017-19
Record: 36-12
Title: 2018
Note: Lost Super Bowl in 2017, 41-33 to Eagles; lost in 2019 Wild Card, 20-13 to Titans
No. 27
Seattle Seahawks 2012-14
Record: 36-12
Title: 2013
Note: Lost 30-28 to Falcons in Divisional round in 2012; Lost in 2014 Super Bowl to the Patriots, 28-24
No. 28
Seattle Seahawks 2013-15
Record: 35-13
Title: 2013
Note: Lost in 2014 Super Bowl to Patriots; lost in 2015 divisional round to Panthers, 31-24
For More Great Gridiron Heroics Content
Follow me on Twitter at @Matthew516Sport and follow us @GridironHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in NFL and College Football, click here!
Our Partners
