Even though the Kansas City Chiefs want that Super Bowl title, they need to remember their fans yearn for it as much as they do.
Despite the optimism for a great future with Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes at the helm, why am I still uneasy regarding the Kansas City Chiefs? Perhaps I have years of heartache to thank.
Now, if you’re wondering if this is about me and my feelings for the Chiefs, the answer is maybe.
Probably.
I’m sure that I can’t be the only fan who feels this way or has felt this way at some point in time. Being a Chiefs fan for basically all my life has been an experience to say the least, although it’s been littered with great wins, heartbreaking losses, and the inevitable post-season loss.
You know what I’m talking about.
My fandom was solidified during the Marty Schottenheimer era, and as much as I loved him, the team could just never quite get there.
Of course, when your last Super Bowl was back in 1969, what do you expect? Under Schottenheimer, the Chiefs almost made it to the Super Bowl in 1993, only to lose to the Buffalo Bills.
Then, after that, it was back to years of either not making the post-season, or earning a playoff bid just to fall shy of the title.
Don’t forget about the tenures of Gunther Cunningham, Dick Vermeil, Herm Edwards, Todd Haley, and Romeo Crennel, because despite some shiny moments, those might be considered less than great years.
Think about it. The Chiefs only made the post-season three times from 2001 to 2012.
Throughout these years, there have been great players. There’s no denying that.
The squads just haven’t been overall great teams, and it takes a team to win and make it through to the Super Bowl.
So for me, when we were able to steal Andy Reid for head coach, hope was kickstarted again in the Chiefs Kingdom.
Then they got Alex Smith.
Okay.
Not a superstar quarterback, but I wasn’t down on him since he could actually play decently.
Yet that always, “yeah, but…” saying would enter my mind. No matter how great they were doing under Reid, I was still waiting.
Then they drafted Mahomes. I had some idea of what he could do since I live in Big 12 country and have had the opportunity to see him play. Watching him being able to transition to the NFL has been a great moment for me, and I think history might also say eventually it was a pivotal moment for the Chiefs.
With Reid at the helm, the Chiefs have only missed the post-season once, which is not bad so far, but still, there are those pesky post-season losses left to put to bed.
The hope with Reid, Mahomes, and the rest of the crew is that there isn’t another repetition of almost making it to the Super Bowl, and then languishing in mediocrity for seasons afterward.
Something tells me that no one on this current team is intent on seeing something like that happen. I hope they’re mad after this past season’s loss against the New England Patriots.
The Chiefs’ suggestion to change the overtime rules shows they are serious about this. Add in the draft, players added to the team, and intense focus on making the defense better, and the future is looking pretty good for the Chiefs.
Why am I saying all of this? Because while I feel that nagging dread deep down that something bad is going to happen (also known as waiting to see if the other shoe is going to drop), this team has shown that they mean business.
No dropping any more shoes.
The Chiefs seem to be back on track, and they have gained a lot of new fans in the process. So whether you’re a long time fan, a band-waggoner, or somewhere in-between, you should be proud of this team.
I know I am.
Our hope as fans is that the players recognize we need a Super Bowl win as much as they do. The Chiefs Kingdom has waited a long time for this, and we’re ready to go.
