It’s official: the Kansas City Chiefs are a dynasty, with a 25-22 comeback win over the San Francisco 49ers in what was a thrilling conclusion to SuperBowl LVIII. History has repeated itself, with the 49ers losing to the Chiefs in yet another Superbowl. The previous time this happened was in the 2019 Superbowl when the Chiefs beat the 49ers 31-20. This is now the fourth Super Bowl win in the team’s history, with the previous three being in 1970, 2020 and 2023.
The road to get here was not easy for either team. The San Francisco 49ers went 12-5 this season, ending up at the top of their division in the National Football Conference (NFC) West. The Chiefs had an equally hard-fought season, ending with an 11-6 record and also ending up at the top of their respective division as well in the American Football Conference (AFC) West.
Many fans and spectators alike expected great things from both teams, with a performance that did not disappoint, particularly in the season leading up to the Super Bowl.
“Mahomes is the kind of quarterback everyone wants. But the Niners this year have a really good team holistically. They have strength at so many positions and Purdy has really risen to the challenge in so many ways,” said John Gill, professor of Christian studies.
Rising to the challenge is an understatement for a player like Brock Purdy, especially for a quarterback whose nickname is Mr. Irrelevent, the nickname given to the player who is picked last in the NFL Draft. Going from the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft to becoming the starting quarterback for the 49ers in the Super Bowl says everything anyone needs to know about this player’s grit and determination.
This attitude is reflected in many fans of the 49ers, who have seen this team and quarterback fight so hard to get to this moment.
“He’s saying ‘I’m here and I deserve to be here’,” said Kaiden Joseph, senior biomedical science major and native to the Bay area. “It’s definitely the underdog story because Mahomes is favored to win, and also, he’s had the spotlight before, so he is kind of used to this.”
Even though the Chiefs may have had a little extra star talent to help add to their team hype leading up to the game, the pride that the 49ers fans have in their team cannot be overstated.
“Growing up as a 49er fan, it’s always been a dream to see your team go there,” said Aaron Brown, junior history major. “We got everybody rooting for us and everyone else rooting for Taylor Swift.”
While this underdog story did not have the happy conclusion many 49er fans were looking for, the Chiefs made history by being one of only nine teams in the league to win back-to-back Super Bowls.
The Kansas City Chiefs will be looking to continue making history next season as they chase an elusive third Super Bowl win, something no NFL team has ever been able to do three times in a row. The 49ers hope to maintain what they have built this year as they begin the long road of getting back to the Super Bowl next year for another chance at victory. Even though they may have lost the Super Bowl, many fans are still optimistic about the future of the team.
“Patrick Mahomes is one of the best quarterbacks in the league and of the future, but Brock Purdy is the new future for us 49ers fans,” Brown said.
Even though Brock Purdy and Patrick Mahomes may have been competing against one another on one of the biggest stages in the nation, they still both keep sight of what is important in life.
Patrick Mahomes spoke on his faith and what it means to him in the sport in an interview before playing the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII.
“I just thank God for those opportunities, and I thank God for letting me be on a stage where I can glorify Him. The biggest thing I pray for is that whatever happens, win or lose success or failure, I’m glorifying him,” Mahomes said.
Whether or not you’re a major football fan, the Super Bowl is still a major cultural and social event for many people across the country. It is a reminder of how sports can bring together people from all walks of life, no matter the team or city.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a Raiders fan or a 49ers fan, everyone is hyped. It’s gonna bring everyone in the Bay Area together,” Joseph said.
