NEW ORLEANS — Trent McDuffie can’t bear in mind the yr. All he remembers of his first Tremendous Bowl reminiscence was cheering in opposition to the New England Patriots.
So when the Patriots misplaced in a Tremendous Bowl to the Giants, McDuffie relentlessly teased his youthful brother, who was rooting for New England. From hoping to see the autumn of 1 soccer dynasty, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ cornerback is now in place to maintain one other one going.
Virtually 20 years after the Patriots established themselves because the dominant NFL pressure, the Chiefs have develop into the league’s new evil empire, taking the most-hated torch from the Patriots whereas making an attempt to perform one thing even the NFL’s biggest dynasty by no means did.
The Chiefs can develop into the primary staff to win three consecutive Tremendous Bowls on Sunday in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles in Tremendous Bowl LIX. Kansas Metropolis is embracing its position because the NFL antihero in a rematch of the 2022 Tremendous Bowl that the Chiefs gained.
“Being the villain comes with its personal profound respect,” mentioned McDuffie, who’s already a two-time Tremendous Bowl champion at 24 years outdated. “No one hates the staff that isn’t successful. You hate the staff that’s profitable. So for me, being referred to as the villain simply tells me we’re being profitable.”
Followers groan in regards to the staff’s overexposure in commercials and media. They accuse referees of favoritism. The fatigue grows extra every time the Chiefs — who’re taking part in of their fifth Tremendous Bowl within the final six years — strong-arm AFC rivals Baltimore or Buffalo away from long-awaited breakthroughs.
“Sports activities fandom has this love ingredient, but additionally has this hate ingredient,” mentioned Mike Lewis, a advertising and marketing professor at Emory College and writer of “Fandom Analytics.” “We hate our rivals.”
It’s not simply that the Chiefs win, Lewis mentioned, preserving different devoted AFC fan bases out. It’s that they’ve reached dynasty degree on the sector and their star gamers have develop into ubiquitous off it.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is a pitchman for insurance coverage, shampoo and ketchup. He usually bundles his commercials with Andy Reid, his mustachioed head coach. Tight finish Travis Kelce is relationship Taylor Swift, the world’s most well-known pop star, and hosts a weekly podcast along with his brother that’s among the many three hottest sports activities podcasts on Apple and Spotify.
“[The Chiefs] get all the eye on this planet,” Lewis mentioned. “So for lots of followers, for the hardcore followers who view the Chiefs as rivals, it’s nearly like they get their noses rubbed into it again and again.”
The Chiefs’ latest success has helped the staff leap from the underside third of Lewis’ annual fandom rankings into the high 5 this yr, signaling their arrival as a strong model for the NFL. They have been as soon as a small-market staff that hadn’t gained a Tremendous Bowl in 50 years. Their quarterback appreciated ketchup on his steak and gave the impression of a inexperienced frog Muppet. Reid, who spent 14 seasons because the Eagles head coach, might by no means appear to win the massive one.
The Patriots have been equally an underdog staff.
Whereas Tom Brady guided the Patriots to 6 Tremendous Bowl wins and the Buccaneers to 1, he by no means achieved a three-peat because the Chiefs might do Sunday.
(Ronald Martinez / Getty Photographs)
Earlier than Tom Brady married a supermodel and gained seven Tremendous Bowls, he was the sixth-round draft choose who was thrown into motion due to an harm to starter Drew Bledsoe. It felt proper for a rustic reeling from the 9/11 terrorist assaults that the staff named the Patriots would win the following Tremendous Bowl, knocking off the Rams’ “Best Present on Turf.” It was New England’s first league championship.
“We have been the darlings,” former Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi mentioned.
That sentiment began to shift in 2007, Bruschi famous. Whereas the Patriots accomplished the league’s first 16-0 common season, the fan response throughout away video games grew extra hostile because the successful continued.
Now an NFL analyst for ESPN, Bruschi sees the comparisons between his Patriots and in the present day’s Chiefs however doesn’t perceive the hate. As somebody whose personal quest for a historic three-peat was spoiled, Bruschi relishes the possibility to witness unprecedented excellence as a result of he respects the work required to drag it off.
The Chiefs are returning the sentiment.
“I feel greater than something,” Mahomes mentioned, “I respect the greatness [of the] Patriots extra now once I see how exhausting it was to do what they did.”
On Sunday, Mahomes will develop into simply the third quarterback to begin 5 Tremendous Bowls, becoming a member of Brady and Joe Montana. Not but 30 years outdated, Mahomes can develop into the fourth quarterback to win 4 Tremendous Bowls, tying Montana and Terry Bradshaw. Brady, who will likely be calling the sport for Fox, set the usual with seven.
Mahomes, who grew up a Dallas Cowboys fan, admitted he was rooting in opposition to Brady’s Patriots throughout their dominant run. Now atop the league, Mahomes mentioned he’s grown snug taking part in the villain, however his teammates have a unique phrase for the position.
“He’s extra like a superhero, man,” Chiefs operating again Kareem Hunt mentioned. “All of the dude does is win, and if you wish to be mad at him for successful soccer video games, go forward. However that’s a superhero to me.”
Workers author Sam Farmer contributed to this report.