As the Kansas City Chiefs enter the 2023 season, they do so once again as the defending champs. While they haven't won successive championships (yet), the truth is that no team comes even close to matching the consistent success of the Chiefs in the last decade, especially since Patrick Mahomes was drafted back in 2017.
The Chiefs have hosted the last five conference championship games, showcasing a rare run of dominance in the AFC—the conference with a far greater amount of challenges and contenders than its counterpart. They've folded up the division in many years by midseason, and they've claimed seven straight AFC West titles overall. Andy Reid has only missed the postseason once in his tenure with K.C., and Mahomes has won 80 percent of his regular-season games in that span.
Even after the Chiefs traded away Tyreek Hill last year, the Chiefs offense continued to set records and dominate opponents and the team hoisted the Lombardi Trophy for the second time in four seasons. Looking back, the Chiefs were close to one more Super Bowl appearance if not for an ill-timed offsides penalty on Dee Ford.
We're not sure at what point a team can start to officially claim they are a dynasty, but that moment is clearly in view for longtime Seattle Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright. He appeared recently on Good Morning, Football and told the truth about what's happening in Kansas City as Mahomes enters his prime years.
K. J. Wright is spitting 100 percent facts about the Chiefs! 🔥pic.twitter.com/WgmRQcr0ZK
— Brad Henson Productions (@BradHensonPro) May 25, 2023
Here's the full statement from the video above:
"When I look at Patrick Mahomes, when I look at Travis Kelce, these guys are one in a generation type of offense. It's gonna be hard to stop these guys. They don't mess up. They don't beat themselves. Year in and year out, they don't let the Super Bowl hangover get to them. They find a way to get back and come poised. When you look at this Chiefs team, guys, we're looking at a dynasty. This team is going to be here for a very, very long time. They're gonna own this division. Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes... it's a beautiful sight to see."
You won't see us disagreeing anytime soon with Wright. It's silly to actually hear announcing counterparts say otherwise, all in the name of trying to draw some attention. (One prime example being the Chargers' ability to "win" every offseason for the last several years.) What's going to be scary is that the Chiefs are about as young as any other team with a strong defensive core set to grow together for the next half-decade. That should only help an offense anchored by Hall of Fame talents.