Super Bowl 2024: Chiefs beat 49ers to defend title in overtime

The Kansas City Chiefs came from behind to edge the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in Las Vegas and win their third Super Bowl title in five years.

A late field goal by the Chiefs made it 19-19 to send the game into overtime, and despite the 49ers once again regaining the lead, Patrick Mahomes’ touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman meant defending champions Kansas City cemented their status as the new dynasty team in the NFL.

The 49ers came into the first Super Bowl held in Las Vegas as the slight favourites and were dominant for much of the game at Allegiant Stadium. But the Chiefs, who have reached four of the past five Super Bowls, once again inevitably came back to became the first team to win back-to-back titles since the Patriots in the 2003 and 2004 seasons.

At the age of 28, Mahomes is now just the sixth quarterback in NFL history to win three or more Super Bowls, while Andy Reid has become the fifth coach to win three or more.

For the Niners and their coach Kyle Shanahan, it was another painful defeat to a familiar foe. The Chiefs began their Super Bowl streak with a fourth-quarter fightback against San Francisco in 2020 and their latest win came in the second Super Bowl to go to overtime – the first saw the Patriots produce a record comeback in 2016 before beating the Atlanta Falcons, whose offensive coordinator was Shanahan.

San Francisco missed the chance to move to a record equalling six Super Bowl win and have now lost in the big game three times since their last NFL title in 1995.

With stars aplenty in Las Vegas and interest high, the US television audience expected to eclipse the record 115 million for Kansas City’s win over the Eagles last year.

Music superstar Taylor Swift, whose relationship with Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce has brought a wealth of new fans to the NFL, was centre of attention after making it from a show in Japan to be at the game. She helped to inspire Kelce, who, despite a frustrating first half, ended the game with 93 receiving yards, while his quarterback Mahomes passed for 333 yards, two touchdowns and claimed another Super Bowl MVP for his efforts.

Mahomes is now already one of the greatest players of all-time, but he and his Chiefs team are not done, and will be looking to go for a three-peat when the 2024 NFL season starts in September.

More to follow.