Here’s how past NFL teams have fared in playoffs when going for a Super Bowl three-peat
With the NFL playoffs about to begin, the Chiefs have Super Bowl aspirations. There’s nothing new about that.
It’s been the case each year that Patrick Mahomes has been the Chiefs’ starting quarterback.
The Chiefs also enter the playoffs as the defending Super Bowl champions — again, they’ve been in that boat before.
But this postseason is decidedly different.
The Chiefs are going for the first Super Bowl three-peat in NFL history. Only eight other teams (seven franchises) have won consecutive Super Bowl titles, and three of them failed to make the playoffs the next season.
That makes this year’s Chiefs team just the sixth in NFL history to enter the postseason with a shot at a Super Bowl three-peat. Three teams lost in the conference title game to the team that ended up winning the Super Bowl.
None came closer than the 1990 San Francisco 49ers, who were one play away from having a chance to play for a third straight Super Bowl championship.
“It’s by far the toughest loss I’ve ever had,” safety Ronnie Lott told reporters after losing to the Giants that day.
Here’s a look at how teams fared in the playoffs (if they reached the postseason) after winning two straight Super Bowl championships:
New England Patriots 2003-04
Won Super Bowl XXXVIII and Super Bowl XXXIX
2005 season: The Patriots fell to 6-5 after a 26-16 loss to the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. But New England won four straight and clinched the AFC East title. After beating Jacksonville in a Wild Card game, the Patriots lost 27-13 at Denver, ending their three-peat hopes.
Denver Broncos, 1997-1998
Won Super Bowl XXXII and Super Bowl XXXIII
1999 season: John Elway retired after winning a second straight Super Bowl and Brian Griese took over as the Broncos’ quarterback. Denver lost its first four games and finished with a 6-10 record, missing the playoffs. The Chiefs swept the season series against the Broncos.
Dallas Cowboys, 1992-1993
Won Super Bowl XXVII and Super Bowl XXVIII
1994 season: The Cowboys won eight of their first nine games and claimed the NFC East title with a 12-4 record. They were the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs and thumped Green Bay 35-9 in an NFL Divisional playoff game before losing 38-28 to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. The 49ers won the Super Bowl. Dallas won another Super Bowl title the following year.
San Francisco 49ers, 1988-1989
Won Super Bowl XXIII and Super Bowl XXIV
1990 season: San Francisco won its first 10 games and rolled to the NFC West title with a 14-2 record. After beating Washington 28-10 in the NFC Divisional round, the 49ers’ three-peat hopes ended with a 15-13 loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Giants at home. New York’s Matt Bahr made a 42-yard field goal as time expired to deny the 49ers a return to the Super Bowl.
Pittsburgh Steelers, 1978-1979
Won Super Bowl XIII and Super Bowl XIV
1980 season: Started strong with a 4-1 record, but the Steelers then lost three straight. They followed with three straight wins but lost three of their final five games and ended with a 9-7 record. That was third best in the AFC Central and Pittsburgh missed the playoffs.
Pittsburgh Steelers, 1974-1975
Won Super Bowl IX and Super Bowl X
1976 season: Pittsburgh ripped off nine straight wins after starting the season with a 1-4 record. The Steelers won the AFC Central with a 10-4 record, then downed the Colts 40-14 in an AFC Divisional Round playoff game. The three-peat hopes ended with a 24-7 loss to the Raiders in the AFC Championship Game. Oakland later won Super Bowl XI over the Vikings.
Miami Dolphins, 1972-1973
Won Super Bowl VII and Super Bowl VIII
1974 season: The Dolphins finished the regular season with an 11-3 record, and two of those losses were by three points. Miami’s hopes of a three-peat were dashed in a 28-26 loss to Oakland. It’s been dubbed the “Sea of Hands” game as the Raiders scored with less than a minute to play on a pass from Ken Stabler to Clarence Davis.
Green Bay Packers, 1966-1967
Won Super Bowl I and Super Bowl II
1968 season: Coach Vince Lombardi had left Green Bay to become coach/general manager/part owner in Washington, and his absence was felt in Wisconsin. The Packers won their first game of the 1968 season, the only time they were above .500. Green Bay finished with a 6-7-1 record, third best in the NFC North behind the Vikings and Bears.
This story was originally published January 9, 2025 at 12:55 PM.
