The Kansas City Chiefs have fought back to beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime and win their third Super Bowl in five years.
The 49ers came into the first Super Bowl held in Las Vegas as the slight favourites and were twice on the brink of victory at Allegiant Stadium.
A last-gasp field goal by the Chiefs made it 19-19 to send the game into overtime, and although the 49ers edged back in front, Patrick Mahomes’ touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman meant defending champions Kansas City cemented their status as the first NFL dynasty since the New England Patriots.
The Chiefs have reached four of the past five Super Bowls and became the first team to win back-to-back titles since the Patriots in the 2003 and 2004 seasons.
At 28, Mahomes has become the sixth quarterback in NFL history to win three or more Super Bowls, while Andy Reid has become the fifth coach to win three or more.
While Kansas City’s win over the Philadelphia Eagles last season was a high-scoring epic, this will be seen as a classic by anyone who likes to see defenses get on top, with San Francisco leading 10-3 at half-time.
But Mahomes still proved the difference, steering the Chiefs within range to make their game-tying field goal before keeping alive the drive which resulted in Hardman’s touchdown.
That condemned the 49ers and their coach Kyle Shanahan to another painful defeat.
The Chiefs began their Super Bowl streak with a fourth-quarter fightback against San Francisco in 2020 and their latest win came in the second Super Bowl to go to overtime, the first saw the Patriots produce a record comeback in 2016 before beating the Atlanta Falcons, whose offensive coordinator was Shanahan.
The 49ers remain five-time Super Bowl winners but have now lost in the big games three times since their last NFL title in 1995.
Follow us on:
