Super Bowl LVIII Reaction: The Anatomy of a Dynasty

An image that will forever be in my memory is one of former New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi joyfully displaying three fingers toward a camera in the aftermath of Super Bowl XXXIX in February 2005. The Patriots had just defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 and confetti fell around Bruschi and others while they celebrated. The gesture was a distinct message. New England, led by Bruschi, Mike Vrabel, Willie McGinest, Rodney Harrison, and of course Tom Brady, had established themselves as the newest dynasty in the storied history of the National Football League. Their victory that evening was their third such Lombardi Trophy in four years, and their second in consecutive seasons. An alert was evidently signaled to all other football fans that New England was at the top of the mountain again. 

Almost twenty years later, we witnessed another such image unfold last night in Las Vegas. No, I'm not talking about Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce sharing a high-school sized kiss with the world's biggest pop star. Rather, I am referring to what head coach Andy Reid did in the moments after the game concluded when Kansas City beat the San Francisco 49ers. As soon as the Chiefs clinched said victory, Reid quickly shooed away the cameras that bombarded him on the field. His team had just pulled off the most probable improbable comeback in Super Bowl History (more on that later) but yet Reid wasn't facing the spotlight.

Instead, the cameras panned to onlookers and to the proverbial fallen faces of those in Niner gold. Minutes later, Chiefs Clark Hunt took to the podium along with Reid, Kelce, MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes, wide receiver Mecole Hardman, and various others. The presentation of the Vince Lombardi Trophy ensued. When Hunt later passed the trophy to Reid, the Chiefs head coach simply placed the trophy on the platform, as if to say, "Just another one for the pile." That image, although not as flamboyant as Bruschi's, spoke as loudly to the circumstance as any other feat would have. The Chiefs aren't playing to cement one dynasty now, they're playing for the long haul. Even Kelce, when he wasn't shouting into the microphone, verbally committed to such an effort. Mahomes echoed that too. 

However, the second act is a harder feat to follow. Weeks after New England won Super Bowl XXXIX, Bruschi suffered a stroke and retired four years later. The team went 10-6 the following regular season, and 9-8 over the next nine postseasons. Brady missed all of 2008 with an ACL injury. Between 2006 and 2013, the Pats' lost three conference title games and two Super Bowls, exposing themselves to criticism for not winning the big one again. Countless players and pundits echoed that the glory days were likely behind them. But like any good villain, New England stormed back in Brady's twilight, capturing three more Lombardis from 2014-2018. "Dynasty 2.0," as it is often referred to, silenced a lot of those doubts. Nowadays, the ten years in between their Super Bowl victories is an afterthought to many, and the Patriots get credit for their two-decade run of dominance regardless. 

Many will begin to make GOAT persuasions about Mahomes, and possibly for good reason. The Chiefs feel inevitable. There's an argument to be made that he could end his career with more titles than Brady, Joe Montana, and Terry Bradshaw. Their win last night felt like a foregone conclusion as soon as San Francisco's offense began to putter in the third quarter. That feeling only grew when special teams mistakes and perplexing coaching decisions plagued 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan. So in some respects, while most will call that win improbable, it felt more probable than ever. 

But the anatomy of a dynasty isn't only made up of feelings and photos. It's made up of facts and futures. Andy Reid is in his mid-60s, and seemingly has at least a few years left in the tank. Mahomes is only 28 and could easily play another 10 years if his body holds up. Kelce's years are numbered but he continues to play at a high level. Steve Spagnuolo's defense is young, athletic, and hungry. The other top teams in the AFC have routinely struggled to beat Kansas City in games that matter. Realistically, one could expect the law of averages to come to play as it did for New England, but would anyone be surprised at this point if the Chiefs three-peated or went on to win five-plus championships? 

After all, longevity is the key to a sustained sports dynasty. Michael Jordan took time off in between his three-peats that defined the 90s. Derek Jeter won a World Series in 1996 and 2009. Tom Brady won a Super Bowl in 2001 and 2020. In fact, Brady played so long that his career overlapped with his GOAT-heir Patrick Mahomes. Remarkably, Brady's last two Super Bowl victories came in postseasons during which he went head-to-head against Mahomes and won. Had those gone the other way, then we'd really be onto a debate. Could you imagine sports radio today if Brady and Mahomes each had five rings? The debate would be over and Pats fans would be left to find solace in Dunkin Donuts commercials. 

Over the next few days, we'll see the word dynasty thrown around. We'll probably see Chiefs players or fans line the streets in a parade and display three fingers in the same manner that Bruschi did after Super Bowl XXXIX.

Andy Reid was there that night coaching Philadelphia when the Pats' repeated as champs and established their reign. But now that Reid has established his own, what will come next? We'll have to wait and see.