The Kansas City Chiefs overcame a 10-point deficit to become the first back-to-back Super Bowl champion in two decades as they defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime in Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas.
In a back-and-forth affair, the two teams were tied at 19 at the end of regulation. Jake Moody hit a 27-yard field goal in overtime to give the Niners a 22-19 lead.
But Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes, as he has so many times before, drove the Chiefs down the field, and with 13 seconds left in overtime, connected with receiver Mecole Hardman on a three-yard touchdown pass to give the Chiefs their third Super Bowl in the past five seasons, establishing Kansas City as a football dynasty.
“Really just the whole game, just our whole entire season, it was the defense keeping us in there, and the offense making plays when it counted,” said Mahomes, who threw for 333 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, and was awarded his third Super Bowl MVP award.
As Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce hoisted the Lombardi Trophy — with his girlfriend, pop superstar Taylor Swift, looking on — he said “the goal’s always been to get three. But we couldn’t get here without getting the two. And having the target on our back all year.”
Kelce started out slow in the first half, but came on strong in the second half and overtime, finishing with nine catches for 93 yards, including a critical seven-yard reception on the second-to-last play of overtime that set up Hardman’s winning touchdown.
