By Ben CollinsBBC Sport in Phoenix, Arizona
The Kansas City Chiefs became NFL champions for the second time in four years after fighting back to claim a thrilling 38-35 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Chiefs trailed for much of Super Bowl 57 in Phoenix and were 27-21 down heading into the final quarter.
But despite limping after aggravating an ankle injury, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and veteran coach Andy Reid orchestrated a route back in front of 67,827.
Mahomes, who was named the season’s Most Valuable Player for a second time last week, made touchdown passes to Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore to put Kansas City in front for the first time.
The Eagles levelled after a third rushing touchdown by Jalen Hurts, followed by a two-point conversion by the third-year quarterback.
But a heroic 26-yard run by Mahomes made the ground for Harrison Butker to kick a game-winning field goal from 27 yards.
Mahomes’ performance saw the 27-year-old become the first player since 1999 to win the season MVP, the Super Bowl, and the Super Bowl MVP in the same season.
He has led the Chiefs to at least the AFC Championship game in all five seasons as a starter and many argued that, for the Reid-Mahomes era to be considered a dynasty, they had to win another Super Bowl.
“I am not going to say a dynasty yet, we are not done,” warned Mahomes.
“I told you nothing was going to keep me off the field. I want to thank my team-mates – we challenged each other and it took everybody.”
Reid said of Mahomes: “He wants to be the greatest player ever and that’s the way he goes about his business. And he does it humbly, there’s no bragging.
“The great quarterbacks make everybody around him better, including the head coach. So he’s done a heck of a job.”
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce added: “I’ve got Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, I have a great team, we had an unbelievable run.
“We were uncharacteristic in the beginning [of the game] but everyone had that look in their eye that they would leave it all out there on the field and that is what we did.”
Harrison Butker’s winning field goal came with just seconds left on the clockThe Chiefs celebrate on the winners’ podium
A historic and rare Super Bowl
It was both a historic and rare Super Bowl as the NFL’s showcase event came to Arizona’s state capital for a fourth time.
It was the first Super Bowl to feature two black quarterbacks and the first to feature brothers on opposing teams, namely Travis Kelce and his older brother Jason, the Eagles centre.
And it was rare because it featured the season’s best two teams and the best two players – Mahomes and Hurts.
The best Super Bowl stats
- Reid became the 15th coach to win multiple Super Bowls
- Mahomes became the 13th quarterback to win multiple Super Bowls
- Hurts became the first quarterback to rush for three touchdowns in a Super Bowl
- Hurts also set a Super Bowl record for rushing yards by a QB – 70
- Facing the team with the second most sacks in a single season in NFL history, the Chiefs’ offensive line didn’t allow Mahomes to be sacked once
About The Author