KC Chiefs are on the doorstep of history. What are other staggering sports records?
It’s fitting that hip-hop sensation Kendrick Lamar is headlining the Super Bowl LIX halftime show in New Orleans.
Lamar, who has won multiple Grammy Awards, released one of the top songs in 2024. His “Not Like Us” single has been featured in locker rooms, commercials, social media and stadiums across the world.
The song has a simple chorus. Lamar raps, “They not like us,” alongside a snappy combination of beats and melodies. In a way, the song represents the Kansas City Chiefs’ run toward a third consecutive Super Bowl victory.
The Chiefs are chasing a three-peat. It has never been done in the Super Bowl era stretching back to the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.
And, conversely, there has never been a team quite like the Chiefs.
KC became back-to-back champions in different ways. In 2022, the Chiefs had the top offense in the league. They went 14-3 and scored 29.2 points per game.
Things were different in 2023. The Chiefs finished 11-6 and had the daunting task of playing on the road during the playoffs. There were questions surrounding star quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Several wondered if the offense, which regressed to 15th in the league, would ever reclaim its form.
The Chiefs relied significantly on their defense. The second-ranked unit carried the team in the postseason and Mahomes silenced doubters with clutch plays on the road. It all resulted in another Super Bowl victory.
Now, KC is knocking on the doorstep of history. If the Chiefs can defeat the Philadelphia Eagles on Feb. 9 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, they will indeed be unlike the other teams in the sport.
Here’s a look at a few other records and milestones that remain rarefied in sports history.
Notable three-peats
The Chiefs are embarking on NFL history, but the notion of a three-peat is not foreign in professional sports.
In the NBA, there have been recent three-peats done by the Chicago Bulls (twice) and the Los Angeles Lakers. Those teams were headlined by superstars such as Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.
The Boston Celtics were famous for their championship run in the 1960s. And Major League Baseball has also seen multiple three-peats with the New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics.
The collegiate ranks have seen a few three-peats in multiple sports. Notable teams include UConn Huskies women’s basketball, the UCLA Bruins in men’s basketball and the Oklahoma Sooners in women’s softball (they’re looking for a four-peat this season).
My colleague Shreyas Laddha compiled a complete list for the pro sports ranks.
Notable individual milestones
There are some impressive marks that remain unchallenged across professional sports.
Many fans know about Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game with the Philadelphia Warriors (now relocated in Golden State). Other records that remain untouchable are Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak and Cal Ripken Jr.’s feat of 2,632 consecutive games played.
Some streaks are impressive, yet somewhat comical. NFL quarterback Jameis Winston threw 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in 2019. It was the first time an NFL player had done that for a season.
NHL player Joe Malone once scored seven goals in a game in 1920. And, it’s extremely unlikely to see a player throw three consecutive no-hitters (the record is two) or snap Eric Dickerson’s NFL rookie record of 1,808 rushing yards.
This story was originally published January 30, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
