Kansas City Chiefs Retain Favorites Tag After NFL Draft 2024
The Kansas City Chiefs, although heavily fancied last season, managed to beat the odds by accomplishing the rare feat of becoming back-to-back Championship winners.
The team, led by superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, was the first to lift the NFL title in consecutive years for almost two decades. The New England Patriots were the last to win back-to-back in 2003 and 2004.
Despite a “three-peat” being unheard of in the age of the Super Bowl, the Kansas City Chiefs are fancied to make the 2025 championship final at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans and once again lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Mahomes has already set his sights on another “W”. He’s played in the Super Bowl four times already in his first seven years in the league. Speaking in February he said he was going to do “whatever I can to be back in this game next year".
In an interview with skysports.com, he said the feat would be "legendary” because “no one has ever done it.” He acknowledged that only eight teams have won back-to-back but says the Chief are in a great position to go the distance three years in a row. “We felt like we had the best opportunity we've ever had. All you can do is come back next year with the best mindset and try to do it again.”
NFL Draft picks and free agency acquisitions boost the Chief’s chances
The Kansas City Chiefs are the current favorites to win Super Bowl 59, holding odds of around +550. Close on their heels are the San Francisco 49ers, with odds at +600. In the initial round of 2025 Super Bowl betting, one notable highlight was that the Chiefs were not the early favorites. Instead, the early frontrunner title was given to the 49ers, who were initially favored at +500. However, their odds have since adjusted to +600 following the NFL Draft and free-agent acquisitions.
Looking at some of the best gambling sites according to casinoalpha.com, which lists those offering bonus offers on casino games as well as those with sports betting like Betfred, Dragonbet, and Rhino, some bookmakers are still finding it difficult to split the 49ers and Chiefs. However, most agree their closest contenders will be the Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals, and Buffalo Bills. The longest odds are currently going to the New York Giants, Denver Broncos, and Carolina Panthers.
ESPN Power Rankings put the Chiefs on top
In espn.com’s latest Power Rankings list, pundit Adam Teicher praised the Chief’s recruitment of Xavier Worthy and Marquise Brown, the former through the draft, the latter via free agency. He said with those two additions the Super Bowl champions could have a chance of achieving their first 1,000-yard wideout since Tyreek Hill left Kansas for the Dolphins. While the Chiefs remain the team to beat he did put a question mark alongside Rashee Rice because of his fitness and noted the need for Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore to have bounce-back years after an indifferent 2023-2024.
As the Kansas City Chiefs aim for an unprecedented "three-peat" as favorites to win Super Bowl 59, it's going to make for a fascinating NFL season. Can the 49ers or perhaps a surprise team upset a potentially legendary championship-winning run for Patrick Mahomes' men? Time will tell.