Chris Jones amazed at how public perception has turned against the Chiefs
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- ESPN's 'The Kingdom' shows mounting skepticism toward Chiefs’ dominance.
- Chris Jones compares public backlash to previous sentiment around Patriots.
- Patrick Mahomes acknowledges success often triggers negative perceptions.
The third episode of the ESPN documentary “The Kingdom” includes a montage of talking heads bemoaning and/or doubting the Chiefs.
If there was a concurrent theme to the Chiefs’ quest for the first-ever Super Bowl three-peat in the 2024 season, it was online complaints and conspiracies that the referees help KC win. Also, fatigue over Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and his girlfriend, superstar singer Taylor Swift.
“Obviously, when you win a ton, some people don’t like you,” quarterback Patrick Mahomes says in the docuseries. “People look at you and they’re like, ‘You’re the villain,’ or (they’re) gonna hate on you because no one wants anyone to be at the top for that long.”
Since Mahomes became the Chiefs’ starting quarterback, they’ve advanced to the Super Bowl five times and thrice have lifted the Lombardi Trophy. The worst season in the Mahomes era has seen the Chiefs lose in the AFC Championship Game in overtime.
Defensive lineman Chris Jones played for the Chiefs for two seasons before Mahomes took over as the starter. In “The Kingdom,” Jones was amazed by the negativity being directed at the Chiefs.
“I don’t know why everybody be waiting on our downfall,” Jones said. “It’s become a norm now. We have become a new-age Patriots. It’s like, we used to be so loved, you know what I mean? Everybody was like, ‘Yeah, we love the Chiefs.’ Now, it’s like, ‘I’m tired of the Chiefs winning. Somebody else needs to win.’ You know what I mean? Then you got someone (that) was like, ‘Man, I feel like the Chiefs cheated.’”
Legendary NFL reporter Peter King said the hate directed toward the Chiefs is significant.
“I always think that when you get to be truly hated by a big part of the football fandom,” King said, “you’ve arrived.”
This story was originally published August 20, 2025 at 10:42 AM.
