For almost 20 years, the New England Patriots ruled the NFL like no other team. Over 19 seasons (2001-2019), they won 17 AFC East titles, made 17 playoff appearances, and reached nine Super Bowls, winning six. Their best team, arguably, was in 2007, when they went 18-0 before losing in the Super Bowl.
It’s no surprise that another team would eventually challenge their dominance, but what is surprising is how quickly it happened. The Patriots’ reign ended just as the Kansas City Chiefs began their rise. The Chiefs are now aiming for their fourth Super Bowl title and their third in a row, as they face the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
To be clear, the Chiefs haven’t quite matched the Patriots’ level of success yet. Over the last 12 years, Kansas City has been to five Super Bowls, winning three, and has made 11 playoff appearances with nine division titles. That’s an impressive run, but if they keep it up for another five years, then we can start comparing them to the Patriots.
As for quarterback Patrick Mahomes, while he’s building a career that could rival Tom Brady’s, he’s not there yet. Mahomes has three Super Bowl wins, while Brady has seven, six of them with New England. Mahomes is only 29, so there’s still time.
The debate about supremacy is getting especially interesting when it comes to the two head coaches: Andy Reid of the Chiefs and Bill Belichick of the Patriots.
Belichick, now 72 and coaching at the University of North Carolina, is considered one of the greatest coaches in NFL history. His six Super Bowl wins, his innovative game plans, and his two titles as a defensive coordinator with the New York Giants in the 1980s helped cement his legacy.
Reid, at 66, may never be as widely praised as Belichick, but he’s quickly building a case that his coaching career deserves similar recognition. Another Super Bowl win would bring him closer to matching Belichick’s legacy.
Right now, Belichick holds a significant advantage with six Super Bowl titles compared to Reid’s three. At the highest level of coaching, where winning championships is the expectation, that lead matters.
Belichick also has a head-to-head advantage over Reid in the Super Bowl. Two decades ago, the Patriots beat Reid’s Philadelphia Eagles, and Belichick also defeated Reid’s Chiefs in two other postseason matchups, including the AFC Championship game after the 2018 season.
Belichick coached for 29 seasons, with a record of 302-165 in the regular season and 31-13 in the playoffs. Reid, in 26 seasons, has a record of 273-146-1 in the regular season and 28-16 in the playoffs. Sunday’s game will mark Reid’s 45th postseason game, tying him with Belichick for the most all-time.
While Belichick still holds the edge, it’s not by much.
Here’s the twist
Much of Belichick’s success came with Tom Brady as his quarterback. During his five seasons in Cleveland and his six seasons without Brady in New England, Belichick went 36-44 and 45-54, respectively. Some context is needed here, though. For example, his 5-11 record in his first year with New England was part of a long-term plan that eventually paid off.
While Brady’s career is legendary, New England had plenty of other Hall of Fame talent, and its early Super Bowl victories were powered by a strong defense. The Patriots may have won more championships if Drew Bledsoe hadn’t been injured, allowing Brady to step in.
Even during Brady’s prime, Belichick’s coaching made a difference. He helped develop Brady into one of the NFL’s greatest players. However, after Brady left for Tampa Bay, Belichick couldn’t recreate that same success.
Reid, on the other hand, has done better without a franchise quarterback like Brady. While he didn’t start winning Super Bowls until Mahomes arrived, Reid’s record in both Kansas City and Philadelphia is impressive.
He went 224-130 with the Eagles, and reached the Super Bowl with Donovan McNabb as his quarterback. In Kansas City, Reid led the team to the playoffs four times in five years with Alex Smith at quarterback.
Both of these men are among the best coaches of all time. With Mahomes still in his prime, Reid is in a great position to keep building his legacy. A win on Sunday would add to that legacy, but even if the Chiefs don’t three-peat, they will be a favorite to win it all next season.
While Belichick is now coaching college football, Reid is closing the gap in a way many didn’t expect.
