How comebacks defined Chiefs’ Super Bowl run, and what that says about this season
When the Chiefs unveiled their Super Bowl LIV rings in a ceremony last week at Arrowhead Stadium, anyone might have been mesmerized or blinded by the ornamentation.
Starting with 60 diamonds (representing 60 seasons) set inside an arrowhead-shaped adornment. And the letters “KC” created in yellow-gold shimmer with 16 custom-cut rubies (standing for 10 AFC division titles and six playoff appearances under coach Andy Reid).
With another 50 diamonds surrounding the rubies and logo that signify the 50 years between Super Bowl victories.
And yet more, as described by Josten’s, which made the rings:
“The symbolism continues on the ring top. An additional 122 diamonds cascade along the ring top edges, calling to mind the 100th season of the NFL, and the team’s 22 playoff appearances in franchise history. Two marquise diamonds represent the two Super Bowl victories, and four baguette rubies on the top and bottom ring edges symbolize four straight AFC West titles from 2016 to 2019. Wrapping it all up, the words WORLD CHAMPIONS crafted from contrasting yellow gold, appear on the ring’s outermost edges.”
To say nothing of the brimming left side (including personalization) and right side (a tribute to CHIEFS KINGDOM featuring the 31-20 final score of the Super Bowl victory over San Francisco).
For all that, though, the essential story of that ring is what you can’t see on the outside and is commemorated within: the comebacks etched inside depicting the final scores and deficits faced.
Just like the essential story of those who made up that team — a story to be found within themselves as the first in NFL history to come back from double-digit deficits in every playoff game.
(Heck, for good measure, they might even have inscribed in something about Patrick Mahomes returning after what initially appeared to be a devastating knee injury suffered at Denver.)
All of which is no mere point of nostalgia as the Chiefs prepare to begin defense of their first Super Bowl title starting Thursday with the NFL opener against visiting Houston — which led the Chiefs 24-0 only to trail at halftime in a 51-24 loss in the AFC Divisional Round.
For all the glitter of the Chiefs offense and its embarrassment of riches with the likes of Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill, the signature of the breakthrough was the resolve on the inside — the stuff that reflected a culture and chemistry that figures to bolster them again this season given the remarkable continuity of personnel and coaching staff.
Now, even with minimal changes, every team’s personality is different from year to year.
Elements of fortune and what the other team does are part of the equation, too — such as the ill-considered fake punt by Houston from its own 31-yard-line with a 24-7 lead that Daniel Sorensen sniffed and snuffed out.
And from the canceling of preseason games to the scaled-back offseason approach, it’s hard to gauge the impact the pandemic may have — both going into the season and as it unfolds.
But this dynamic was a trend when it mattered most, not coincidence.
And with so many of the players back that shaped the mindset, including defenders Tyrann Mathieu, Frank Clark and Chris Jones, and with a tone set by the ever-steady Reid and indomitable Mahomes, that disposition would seem to be in their DNA.
Even if Reid would rather not test the bounce-back aspect much.
“Well, you never want to put yourself in that position,” he said, smiling. “But if you are, I have the confidence our guys will keep banging until we get it right.”
Subtle as that might sound, that notion is fundamental to the point.
Citing policy, the Chiefs declined a request to interview Shaun Tyrance, the team clinician. But Andrew Jacobs, a longtime Kansas City sports psychologist, spoke to The Star over the summer about the state of mind that goes into comebacks.
Jacobs, who among many others has worked with the Royals, the University of Kansas and the U.S. Olympic team, recalled watching the Houston game and telling his son “there’s nothing to worry about” when the Chiefs trailed 24-0.
Because through his decades of his work, observations of the Chiefs since they arrived in Kansas City and individual sessions with some Chiefs over the years, he believed they had the poise to continue believing and focusing exclusively on effort and execution.
And he knows the tone set by Reid, both in terms of how he prepares his teams but also how unflappable he is.
No panic. No retreat. No surrender.
“OK, they’re down 24-0, and did you see Andy Reid freaking out on the sidelines? Did you see anybody freaking out?” Jacobs said. “No, because they believe in what they’re doing. There’s three quarters left. Plenty of time. Take it one play at a time, one step at a time.”
Moreover, (and this is me, not Jacobs, explicitly saying perhaps this is a phenomenon in itself), a transcendent force like Mahomes radiates hope, even belief, that anything can be overcome.
That’s in part because of his sheer talent, in part from his preparation and animated by his drive and leadership — something Jacobs has a further sense of through working with former Chiefs center Mitch Morse.
Through some combination of upbringing and inherent personality and experiences, it seems Mahomes has learned not to be scared.
Of success, certainly, or failure.
So he’s not been apt to be distracted by the sorts of pressures that might make others freeze up or seize up, like, say, trailing 20-10 midway through the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl before unleashing “Jet Chip Wasp” changed everything.
Instead, he appears to relish the challenge and summons everyone along. And that figures into something else at hand in the collective soul.
“It’s the trust in your teammates, trust in yourself and belief in what you’re doing,” Jacobs said. “It’s a comfort zone (when) you believe in the process, you trust the process, you trust what’s going on.”
Something that rings true from last season ... and certainly could be pivotal to any potential sequel.