Is The Chiefs’ Dynasty a False One?

Years ago, the New England Patriots, led by their coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady, made a streak of Super Bowl appearances. With their team, the duo won six championship rings over seventeen years. This success built the most notorious dynasty in NFL history, which ended with Tom Brady leaving the Patriots to go to Tampa Bay as he sought to prove himself without Bill Belichick’s coaching. While the Patriots were always contenders during their prime, it wasn’t always guaranteed that they would make it to the Super Bowl. This gave everyone else some hope, which certainly kept the league interesting.

Since 2020, the Kansas City Chiefs have been building a dynasty of their own that may one day rival that of the Patriots. Under the leadership of quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the team has been in four Super Bowls so far, winning three of them. This season, though it’s still early days, they have yet to lose a game. During the Patriots’ reign, the non-Patriots fans developed a hatred towards them, but it was nothing compared to the hatred held for the Chiefs nowadays. The subjects of these attacks range from Patrick Mahomes’ voice to claims that the team isn’t deserving of their titles, but above all, it’s the overwhelming coverage of them by the NFL themselves. An organisation such as the NFL, with thirty-two teams total, should not be outwardly playing favourites.

The popular hashtag (#NFLfixed) appeared following the first game of the season, which was the Kansas City Chiefs versus the Baltimore Ravens. Many fans watched in outrage as the Ravens struggled to get a playoff without a flag being thrown. Lineman Ronnie Stanley of the Ravens was hit with the same penalty for illegal formations three times in just the first half, though many fans believe that the Chiefs’ lineman, Jawaan Taylor, was more guilty of the infraction. The game ended with a final throw from Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson to wide receiver Isaiah Likely in the end zone, which was called out-of-bounds by the referees, winning the game for the Chiefs. In the eyes of the non-Chiefs fans, this game was doomed for the Ravens from the start, even as they fought to keep the point difference close. Even retired wide receiver Torrey Smith, who began the night by posting on X asking fans to calm down, ended the night posting: “Update — These refs are TRIPPIN!”

The second game of the Chiefs’ season did not end without controversy. Playing against the Cincinnati Bengals, the lead kept switching back and forth. In the fourth quarter, Ja’Marr Chase caught a short pass and was swiftly taken down by Chiefs defensive back Trent McDuffie. Chase voiced to his coach and the referees that it was an illegal hit called a ‘hip-drop’, which is known to easily injure players. This outburst from Chase prompted a fifteen-yard penalty against the Bengals, making the game all the more nail-biting as they were trailing by one point. In the final forty seconds, Patrick Mahomes threw to Rashee Rice who was being closely covered by Bengals safety Daijahn Anthony. The ball went through Rice's hands, hitting Anthony in the face and bouncing upward. The referees called this a pass interference, leading the Chiefs to attempt a field goal and ultimately win the game 26-25. Though many people agree with the overall call, some have pointed out multiple instances of holding which were never called.

The Chiefs’ recent game against the Falcons ended with no call on a very clear pass interference by Bryan Cook who was already on top of Falcons receiver Kyle Pitts. The referee stated that he simply didn’t see it, but fans feel it was an obvious foul by the Chiefs which wasn’t called due to favouritism. Whether or not the Falcons would have won the game in the end is debatable, but the principles formed within the game angered fans. Whether or not the referees are aiding the Chiefs in their wins cannot be proven, and fans will continue to grow more and more resentful.

Another factor escalating the hatred towards the Chiefs is the way the NFL constantly brands them as a ‘dynasty’. While they are an impressive team with many wins under their belt, the Chiefs are nowhere near what Tom Brady and the New England Patriots once were; it is undoubtedly a case of premature branding. Moreover, the sheer volume of Chiefs content is overwhelming. As the reigning champions of the past two years, it’s understandable that the team is given more attention, but pair that with the recent global obsession with Taylor Swift and the Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce, and it’s almost impossible for a football fan to go a day without seeing something about the Kansas City Chiefs. People are tired of seeing Patrick Mahomes’ face as they’re trying to enjoy the US Open. If the NFL wants to establish a trusting relationship between the team and their fans, they need to stop pumping out Chiefs content and allow other talented players a turn in the spotlight. 

Thankfully, there is still a lot of football to be played in the 2025 season, and the Chiefs still have time to prove to fans that they are deserving of their wins and are not just getting lucky with rigged calls.

Image from WikiCommons