Super Bowl LVIII will be the ninth instance of a Super Bowl rematch deciding the league’s champion. The first iteration of this matchup, between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs, was four years ago in Super Bowl LIV. The 49ers were ahead 20-10 midway through the fourth quarter, but the Chiefs won 31-20 to claim the Lombardi Trophy. It was the first Super Bowl win of Patrick Mahomes’ career.
Now, Mahomes is going for his third, while the 49ers are trying to avoid a three-game losing streak in Super Bowl appearances. San Francisco won’t be the first team trying to get payback against a franchise that denied them immortality in years past. Does history favor the 49ers, or does this hint at the Chiefs repeating as champions?
Every Previous Super Bowl Rematch
Super Bowl XIII: Steelers vs. Cowboys
Two of the NFL’s most storied franchises were locks to meet in a Super Bowl at some point, considering that they each have eight appearances. Dallas and Pittsburgh hold the honor of the first-ever Super Bowl rematch after the Steelers won Super Bowl X 21-17 three years prior.
Super Bowl XIII finished as the highest-scoring Super Bowl ever at the time, as Terry Bradshaw and Roger Staubach combined for seven touchdown passes. The Steelers won again, their third title at the time. Bradshaw took home the first of consecutive Super Bowl MVPs that day.
Super Bowl XVII: Redskins (currently the Commanders) vs. Dolphins
Most people know the story of the 1972 Miami Dolphins, who beat Washington in Super Bowl XII to finish 17-0. Well, 10 years later, these franchises collided again at the end of a strike-shortened 1982 campaign. Only two players from the 1972 rosters, both Dolphins, were active in this game, and it showed.
Super Bowl MVP John Riggins ran all over Miami for 166 yards and a touchdown. Washington won the game 27-17, capturing their first title. In the second Super Bowl rematch, the first game’s loser got sweet revenge.
Super Bowl XXIII: 49ers vs. Bengals
San Francisco is familiar with Super Bowl rematches, and their first foray came against the Cincinnati Bengals. In Super Bowl XVI, the 49ers captured their first Lombardi Trophy by beating the Bengals in Detroit. This time, they had to get it done in Miami.
Although Jerry Rice finished as Super Bowl MVP thanks to 11 catches, 215 yards, and a score, it was Joe Montana who ripped Cincinnati’s heart out again. The Super Bowl XVI MVP had to lead his team 92 yards in 3:10 with all three timeouts remaining. While most people were stressed, he was fixated on John Candy sitting in the stands. Montana threw a go-ahead touchdown with 35 seconds left and the rest is history.
Super Bowl XVIII: Cowboys vs. Bills
For those who remember the Buffalo Bills of the 1990s, it’s impossible to forget that they lost four straight Super Bowls. So, the answer to what happened in this Super Bowl rematch is obvious. Dallas followed up a 52-17 win in Super Bowl XVII with a 30-13 victory in Super Bowl XVIII. Buffalo led 13-6 at halftime, but Super Bowl MVP helped the Cowboys run away with the game in the second half. This is the only time that a Super Bowl rematch occurred in consecutive seasons.
Super Bowl XXX: Cowboys vs. Steelers
A Super Bowl rivalry so nice that they decided to do it thrice. No teams have ever met for the Lombardi Trophy three times except these franchises. In round three, the Cowboys finally left with a victory, 27-17. Cornerback Larry Brown became one of the few defensive players to win Super Bowl MVP thanks to a pair of interceptions.
Super Bowl XLVI: Giants vs. Patriots
Get ready for a lot of Tom Brady, beginning with his second crack at Eli Manning, Tom Coughlin, and the New York Giants. Big Blue was one of the few true foils of New England’s insane dynasty, which began with Super Bowl XLII spoiling the Patriots’ bid at perfection. In the 2011 regular season, the Giants also beat the Patriots, setting up a massive Super Bowl rematch that postseason.
Except, New York came out on top again, 21-17. Eli Manning was Super Bowl MVP once more, delaying New England’s inevitable march toward a fourth title. Every team has its kryptonite, and for this era of New England football, it was the Giants.
Super Bowl LII: Eagles vs. Patriots
Tom Brady and Bill Belichick found themselves against another familiar NFC East opponent, the Philadelphia Eagles, in Super Bowl LII. The only difference is that they beat the Eagles 24-21 in Super Bowl XXXIX. In round two, Philadelphia exacted revenge.
The Eagles won their first Super Bowl, 41-33, thanks to the heroics of backup QB Nick Foles. Brady set the record for most individual passing yards in a single Super Bowl performance, but to no avail. This Super Bowl rematch was another instance of the first game’s loser coming out on top the second time.
Super Bowl LIII: Patriots vs. Rams
The most recent Super Bowl rematch before this season had 17 years between them. The initial game, Super Bowl XXXVI, featured “The Greatest Show on Turf” St. Louis Rams against some upstart QB named Tom Brady from New England. It was the year that the legend began.
So, decades later, the Aaron Donald-led Los Angeles Rams would bring the story to an end, right? Wrong, as one the more boring title games in recent memory finished with a 13-3 Patriots victory. Los Angeles got their Lombardi Trophy a few years later but fell short in their Super Bowl rematch.
The Verdict
History gives a bit of a glimpse into San Francisco’s quest for a sixth Super Bowl. The team which lost the previous matchup went 4-4 in the Super Bowl rematch. However, if the second bout was within five years of the first, the team that won the first game also won the second each time. If that trend were to continue, the Kansas City Chiefs would be celebrating yet again. Let’s see if the 49ers can defy those odds.