Winning one Super Bowl is tough. Winning two? That’s legendary. But what about making it to three in a row? That’s a feat reserved for a select few teams in NFL history. With the Kansas City Chiefs aiming to make history in 2024 by not only appearing in but winning three consecutive Super Bowls.
Let’s look back at the rare instances when teams have reached the Big Game three times in a row- and how close some others have come.
Has Any NFL Team Played in Three Consecutive Super Bowls?
Yes, but it’s an exclusive club. Only three teams in NFL history have reached the Super Bowl three straight times, and all of them hail from the AFC East. Interestingly, no NFC team has ever accomplished this feat. Here’s a closer look at these historic runs:
Miami Dolphins (1971-1973):
The Dolphins were the first team to accomplish this milestone. Coached by Don Shula, Miami appeared in three consecutive Super Bowls, starting with SB VI in the 1971 season. While they lost that game to the Dallas Cowboys, they bounced back dominantly. The Dolphins went undefeated in the 1972 season, capping it off with a win in Super Bowl VII. They followed it up with another championship in Super Bowl VIII, solidifying their place in history as the first team to win back-to-back titles during a three-year stretch.
Buffalo Bills (1990-1993):
The Bills hold the unique distinction of playing in four straight SBs, a streak unmatched in NFL history. Under head coach Marv Levy, Buffalo dominated the AFC from 1990 to 1993, winning each of their AFC Championship Games decisively. Unfortunately, their Super Bowl performances told a different story. The Bills lost all four games, with the first defeat coming on a missed field goal in Super Bowl XXV and the subsequent losses being more one-sided. Despite the heartbreak, their consistency in reaching the Super Bowl is a remarkable achievement.
#OTD in 1991 Jim Kelly throws for 339, Thurman rushes for 117, Lofton goes 7/149 and Reed 4/122 in the Buffalo Bills 44-34 win over the Dolphins. "I've got a feelin', Buffalo's going to the Super Bowl." Raiders up next pic.twitter.com/NdbX7FFvoj
— ThisDateInBuffaloSportsHistory (@BuffSportsHstry) January 12, 2024
New England Patriots (2016-2018):
Led by the iconic duo of head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady, the Patriots made three straight SB appearances during the 2016-2018 seasons. They kicked off this run with an unforgettable comeback victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI. While they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII, they bounced back the following year, defeating the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII. The Patriots’ sustained dominance during this era is a testament to their excellence.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
Also Read: Where Is This Year’s Super Bowl? Here’s Everything You Need To Know About The Venue
Which Teams Have Nearly Achieved the Feat?
While only three teams have made it to three consecutive Super Bowls, several others have come close. These teams won back-to-back conference titles but couldn’t quite make it three in a row:
AFC Teams:
- The Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos each won back-to-back AFC titles twice. The Broncos also reached the SB three times in four years from 1986 to 1989.
- The Kansas City Chiefs have already gone to the SB twice in the last five seasons in back-to-back years. They won it all in the 2019 and 2020 seasons, lost in the AFC Championship Game in 2021, and then won back-to-back titles again in 2022 and 2023.
- The Patriots have come close several times outside of their 2016-2018 run, including three appearances in four years during the early 2000s.
NFC Teams:
- The Dallas Cowboys played in back-to-back SB three times and made three appearances in four years twice.
- The Green Bay Packers represented the NFC in the first two SB and won the NFL Championship the year before, which would have made it three straight had the Super Bowl existed then. They also won consecutive NFC titles in 1996 and 1997.
- The San Francisco 49ers, Washington Commanders, Minnesota Vikings, and Seattle Seahawks have all appeared in two straight Super Bowls.
- The Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles hold the unfortunate distinction of losing three straight NFC Championship Games.
Has Any Team Won Three Straight Super Bowls?
No team has ever completed a SB three-peat. The Green Bay Packers came closest, winning three consecutive NFL championships in 1965, 1966, and 1967, but the first title came before the Super Bowl era.
In the Super Bowl era, several teams have flirted with the elusive three-peat:
- New England Patriots: They won three titles in four years between the 2001 and 2004 seasons.
- Dallas Cowboys: They captured three championships in four years during the 1990s.
- Pittsburgh Steelers: They won four Super Bowls in six years from 1974 to 1979.
If the Chiefs can win SB LIX in February 2025, they will become the first team to hoist the Lombardi Trophy three years in a row, cementing their dynasty as one of the greatest in NFL history.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes reacts to Travis Kelce's record breaking Week 17: 'I wanted to do it at Arrowhead' https://t.co/u21kzNT6Rt pic.twitter.com/1dhvko65qh
— Chiefs Wire (@TheChiefsWire) December 27, 2024
Making it to three straight Super Bowls is a monumental achievement, and the Kansas City Chiefs are on the brink of joining this exclusive club. With Patrick Mahomes leading the charge, the Chiefs could not only make history but also redefine what it means to dominate in the modern NFL. Will they rise to the challenge? The 2024 season holds the answer.
Also Read: How NFL Teams Earn A Spot In The Super Bowl? A Complete Guide To The Playoff Process
\
