Phoenix, Arizona — The Kansas City Chiefs’ story naturally shifts to whether they can become the NFL’s next dynasty after winning their second Super Bowl (in three tries) during the past four seasons on Sunday night.
“You can call it whatever you want; you can call it a dynasty. All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce declared after his team’s Super Bowl 57 comeback victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, “All I know is we’re coming back next year.
“I can tell you right now that we’re attempting to obtain another one.”
Observed, Travis. When evaluating the Chiefs’ prospects for 2023, there is also little to suggest that their dynastic train is about to derail:
The quarterback’s position
How much more is there to say about Patrick Mahomes, a two-time league and two-time Super Bowl MVP? He has the entire offseason to recover from the high ankle injury that is still bothering him before he starts getting ready to confront what was always going to be the hardest opponent of his career: historical expectations. Mahomes already appears certain of a spot in the Hall of Fame even after six seasons (five as the starter). However, AFC West dominance, postseason victories, and even hosting conference title games won’t be considered sufficient measures of success going forward. It now moves to chase Tom Brady’s rings and records for Mahomes, who has nine years left on his current contract. The former is the actual task, while the latter appears to be doable at his record statistical pace given how the modern NFL is played. Regardless, the Chiefs are set at the position and very likely will be for at least another ten years.
Coaching circumstance
Next month, Andy Reid will turn 65, but he doesn’t appear to be planning on retiring, saying on Sunday, “If they’ll have me, I’ll remain around.” Only Bill Belichick (31) has more postseason victories in NFL history than his 22. Reid, the first player to win 100+ games with two different teams, tied Hank Stram on Sunday with 129 victories overall in Kansas City. He still needs eight victories, though, to surpass Stram as the franchise’s all-time leader in regular-season wins. Reid might have to continue the Chiefs’ winning ways without offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who is reportedly considering leaving Kansas City for another team (perhaps Washington) to bolster his credentials as a possible head coaching contender.
Itemization
This is a really good squad, especially with key contributors like Mahomes, Kelce, All-Pro DT Chris Jones, and C Creed Humphrey. The Chiefs could use a right tackle upgrade, more defensive line depth, and perhaps a game-changing wideout. Sure. But Kadarius Toney, a midseason signing that helped Kansas City win Super Bowl 57, might well end up succeeding WR Tyreek Hill, who was traded last year. The Hill trade also contributed to the presence of future talents like Trent McDuffie, George Karlaftis, Skyy Moore, Jaylen Watson, Isiah Pacheco, and others in the 2022 draft class. Options for a backup quarterback must be considered now that Chad Henne is retiring.
Unbiased parties
LT The primary bodyguard is Orlando Brown Jr., who guards Mahomes’ blind side. He played in 2022 with the franchise tag, but he did say on Sunday night that he intends to come back to Kansas City in 2023. Mecole Hardman, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jerick McKinnon, and S Additionally, the contracts for RT Andrew Wylie and Juan Thornhill are coming to an end. Although McKinnon became quite a weapon (9 receiving touchdowns in the regular season) and Thornhill is a dependable starter who is only 27 years old, each is likely eminently replaceable.
Salary Limit
The Chiefs are anticipated to enter free agency with around $7 million in reserve, according to OverTheCap. Mahomes, Kelce, and G Joe Thuney might be possibilities for reorganizations that free up additional room, particularly concerning keeping Brown.
2023 design
The Chiefs, the reigning champions, will select late in every round, including 31st and 63rd overall. They gave up a third-round pick in the Toney trade, but it already appears to be a possible theft.
Perspective
There is work to be done in the offseason, just like with any NFL team. However, there is no reason to believe an eighth straight AFC West title isn’t in the offing this year with Mahomes, Reid, and underappreciated GM Brett Veach at the helm. There is also a perfectly reasonable probability that this juggernaut will continue to be in the Super Bowl mix.
Will the NFL draft and free agency help the Chiefs’ attempt to win the Super Bowl again?
Phoenix, Arizona — The Kansas City Chiefs, who have won the Super Bowl twice in the last four seasons, appear to be eager to start preparing for their next foe.
History.
Travis Kelce, an All-Pro tight end, remarked after receiving ring number two, “It’s a completely different experience.” “I never in my life wanted a game as much as I wanted this one.
The main distinction is that it confirms your greatness. You can be fortunate once, but this wasn’t just good fortune. We took what we wanted.
“You can call it whatever you want; you can call it a dynasty. All I know is that we’ll be back the following year. I can tell you right now that we are attempting to obtain another one.
In today’s society of quick satisfaction, the term “dynasty” is sometimes used somewhat loosely. However, in K.C.’s case, there is a solid case to be made that this squad is on the verge of crossing the dynastic threshold and may perhaps have one foot there already.
But Kelce is probably also correct. All of these legitimate NFL dynasties—the 1960s Green Bay Packers, the 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers, the 1980s San Francisco 49ers, the 1990s Dallas Cowboys, and the present-day New England Patriots—won at least three titles throughout their tenures.
The Chiefs’ standard won’t likely be lowered given what Tom Brady and the Patriots accomplished during the salary-cap era of parity, even if they could lose both of their starting offensive tackles, Orlando Brown Jr. and Andrew Wylie, to free agency.
Brown, who covers Patrick Mahomes’ blind side and played the 2022 season under the franchise tag, sounded more like a man interested in legacy on Sunday night than he was in his next salary. Mahomes is the league MVP and the Super Bowl MVP.
Brown told the associated press, “Business is business, and I’m pretty sure I know I will be here next year, but we’ll see how things go. “But in terms of building a dynasty, the front office, these coaches, and the players that we commit to are crucial because everyone is on board and is aware of the long-term strategy. And when you have QB 15 (Mahomes), everything is feasible.”
The Chiefs were motivated this season by what they perceived as disrespect following the departure of star wide receiver Tyreek Hill in the previous summer. Mahomes said there were significantly more naysayers than usual attacking a team that has now won seven straight AFC West titles and participated in the AFC championship game five times while hosting it.
We will succeed as an offense, according to Mahomes, as long as Andy Reid is the offensive coordinator. “And I have faith in the defense team’s leaders.”
His two losses in the AFC Championship Game and the humiliating loss to Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl 55 served as further sources of motivation for him.
It made winning Super Bowl 57 more satisfying for Mahomes than Super Bowl 54.
You’ve coped with failure on this one, he added. “You know how difficult it is to win this game and return to this level.
It’s a brand-new club, and many of the players are rookies who stepped up. It just goes to show how much effort those players put in every day when they step up and make those plays in the second half. We’ll have many of those guys back next year because, fortunately, they are all still young.
And the rest of the league should be worried about it. With time and practice, players like Trent McDuffie, George Karlaftis, Leo Chenal, Jaylen Watson, Skyy Moore, and Isiah Pacheco—two of whom scored touchdowns in the second half to help fuel the team’s comeback from a 10-point first-half deficit to the Philadelphia Eagles—should only get better.
And in midseason trade-acquired second-year receiver Kadarius Toney, they might have a player with the skills to fill Hill’s vacuum.
The 27-year-old Mahomes claims that the heartbreaking losses and the guidance of more seasoned players in the locker room have helped him grow as a leader. Additionally, he has a contract that still has enough time and money left in it for him to agree to restructures that will enable Kansas City to keep a player of the caliber of Brown and perhaps pursue one or two other free agents, if not keep Wylie or another important player like third-down back Jerick McKinnon.
Underappreciated GM Brett Veach will find a way to make it work.
As difficult as the AFC appeared to be at the start of the 2022 season, there are now some serious doubts about groups like the Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns, and Las Vegas Raiders.
That imperial door might still swing wide open.
“I told you all this before, but after our first Super Bowl, we’re going back-to-back. Everyone chuckled, thinking I was speaking out of the side of my neck, said defensive tackle Chris Jones, an All-Pro. But the nucleus of this team, including Pat Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Frank Clark, has been extremely lucky.
“This place has a unique core.”
The 2022 Chiefs are the “most unselfish group I’ve ever been a part of,” according to Jones, a veteran of seven years who is coming off his greatest season.
He continued, “This team has a lot of fight in them.” “I firmly believe that we are capable of competing for another one. This group is unique. Do we maintain this core’s unity?
We have the potential to be truly unique.