The Kansas City Chiefs will play in the Super Bowl for the first time since 1970 — ending one of the NFL’s longest appearance droughts.
The Chiefs (14-4) — who reached the 2020 game after defeating Tennessee 35-24 for the AFC Championship — will face the San Francisco 49ers (15-3) on Feb. 2, 2020, at Miami Gardens, Fla. The 49ers defeated Green Bay 37-20 in the NFC Championship Game Sunday to reach the Super Bowl, which they last played in 2013, losing to Baltimore. San Francisco won NFL titles in 1995, '90, '89, '85 and '82.
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It will be Kansas City’s third chance at the title.
The Chiefs lost in 1967 in the first AFL-NFL Championship Game — nope, it wasn't called the Super Bowl yet — to the Lombardi Packers 35-10. Three years later, one year after the New York Jets shocked Baltimore to lay claim to the AFL being equal to the long-established NFL, Kansas City was back. This time, it was known as the Super Bowl — indeed, Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt is credited with coming up with the name.
Kansas City, representing the AFL, defeated the 13-point favorite Minnesota Vikings for the championship in 1970 (Super Bowl IV) at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans behind the MVP performance of quarterback Len Dawson.
Another drought broken is Andy Reid’s return to the championship game. Reid goes back to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2004 season, when his Eagles lost to New England. That gap is second longest to Dick Vermeil's hiatus.
Here’s a look at every NFL team’s Super Bowl appearance drought, from the Falcons to the Lions — who have been waiting the longest to reach the NFL’s title game:
1 - New England Patriots
Last appearance: Defeated Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta
Last title: 2019
1 - Los Angeles Rams
Last appearance: Lost to New England in Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta
Last title: 2000 (as St. Louis Rams)
2 - Philadelphia Eagles
Last appearance: Defeated New England in Super Bowl LII
Last title: 2018
3 - Atlanta Falcons
Last appearance: Lost to New England in Super Bowl LI
Last title: 0 championships in 54 seasons
4 - Denver Broncos
Last appearance: Defeated Carolina in Super Bowl 50
Last title: 2016
4 - Carolina Panthers
Last appearance: Lost to Denver in Super Bowl 50
Zero championships in 25 seasons
5 - Seattle Seahawks
Last appearance: Lost to New England in Super Bowl XLIX
Last title: 2014
7 - Baltimore Ravens
Last appearance: Defeated San Francisco in Super Bowl XLVII
Last title: 2013
8 - New York Giants
Last appearance: Defeated New England in Super Bowl XLVI
Last title: 2012
9 - Pittsburgh Steelers
Last appearance: Lost to Green Bay in Super Bowl XLV
Last title: 2009
9 - Green Bay Packers
Last appearance: Defeated Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLV
Last title: 2011
10 - Indianapolis Colts
Last appearance: Lost to New Orleans in Super Bowl XLIV
Last title: 2007
10 - New Orleans Saints
Last appearance: Defeated Indianapolis in Super Bowl XLIV
Last title: 2010
11 - Arizona Cardinals
Last appearance: Lost to Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLIII
Last title: 1947 NFL Championship
13 - Chicago Bears
Last appearance: Lost to Indianapolis in Super Bowl XLI
Last title: 1986
17 - Oakland Raiders
Last appearance: Lost to Tampa Bay in Super Bowl XXXVII
Last title: 1984
17 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last appearance: Defeated Oakland in Super Bowl XXXVII
Last title: 2003
18 - Houston Texans
Zero Super Bowl appearances in 18 seasons
20 - Tennessee Titans
Last appearance: Lost to St. Louis in Super Bowl XXXIV in Atlanta
Last title: 1961 AFL Championship
24 - Dallas Cowboys
Last appearance: Defeated Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XXX
Last title: 1996
25 - Los Angeles Chargers
Last appearance: Lost to San Francisco in Super Bowl XXIX
Last title: 1963 AFL Championship
25 - Jacksonville Jaguars
Zero Super Bowl appearances in 25 seasons
26 - Buffalo Bills
Last appearance: Lost to Dallas in Super Bowl XXVIII in Atlanta
Last title: 1965 AFL Championship
28 - Washington Redskins
Last appearance: Defeated Buffalo in Super Bowl XXVI
Last title: 1992
31 - Cincinnati Bengals
Last appearance: Lost to San Francisco in Super Bowl XXIII
Zero championships in 52 seasons
35 - Miami Dolphins
Last appearance: Lost to San Francisco in Super Bowl XIX
Last title: 1974
43 - Minnesota Vikings
Last appearance: Lost to Oakland in Super Bowl XI
Last title: 1969 NFL Championship
51 - New York Jets
Last appearance: Defeated Baltimore in Super Bowl III
Last title: 1969
54 - Cleveland Browns
Zero Super Bowl appearances in 54 seasons
Last title: 1964 NFL Championship
54 - Detroit Lions
Zero Super Bowl appearances in 54 seasons
Last title: 1957 NFL Championship
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