The Kansas City Chiefs have won the Super Bowl three times in the last five seasons. It is a run that few teams have managed in NFL history.
That dominance also extends to the AFC West division, featuring teams that have been synonymous with winning in the past. But who has the most Super Bowl wins in the division?
Who has the Most Super Bowl Wins in the AFC West?
The Chiefs now have the most Super Bowl wins with five, not even counting their success in the AFL (American Football League). Since the NFL-AFL merger, winning the Super Bowl has become the most important thing. All but one team in the division has won the Super Bowl, with the Raiders and Broncos having three apiece but the Chargers still looking for their first win.
The AFC West and its Super Bowl Legacy
Though the NFC East leads with a whopping 13 winning seasons, the AFC West is the next division in line with 10 titles. Teams like the Chiefs, Broncos, and Raiders have been led by a litany of hall of fame members well into February and the biggest game in the league.
Detailed Breakdown of Each Team’s Super Bowl Wins
Let’s take a look at each of the teams that have won a Super Bowl in the division. Each of the 10 winning games is memorable for each of the respective teams. That said, let’s break it down and see how these teams managed to win the top prize in the league.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs first won their first title since the AFL-NFL merger with a Super Bowl IV win. With the introduction of Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs have become the most dominant team in the NFL. They have won three Super Bowls in five seasons. They have remained arguably the best team in the league each year and will for a long time to come.
The best of the best. pic.twitter.com/AZtBKVqD7B
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) April 14, 2024
Denver Broncos
The Broncos haven’t had a competitive team in a while, but they have won three Super Bowls since 1997. Led by John Elway, one of the best Broncos players of all time, the Denver team won back-to-back Super Bowls in 1997 and 1998, bringing the first championships to Denver in ages.
In 2015, the Broncos tied the Raiders for the most Super Bowls in the western division with three. Now, the Broncos odds have not been favorable in the last years, but who knows when it can change?
⏳⏳⏳ pic.twitter.com/0gV4KnKW0W
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) April 16, 2024
Las Vegas Raiders
Before the Broncos and Chiefs became dominant for stretches, the best AFC West team was easily the Raiders. Now in Las Vegas, the former Oakland Raiders put fear in other teams like no team in NFL history. They haven’t won a Super Bowl since the 1980s and have been arguably the worst AFC West team over the last two decades. Still, they are one of the original dominant AFC West teams.
Head down. Eyes up.#RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/kntrhCYUPn
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) April 16, 2024
Who Shaped the Super Bowls?
Each Super Bowl won has included a notable name or two. Each of these games has been impacted by some of the most memorable players and coaches in league history, most notably those below.
Coaches
The Raiders had John Madden. The Broncos had Mike Shanahan. The Chiefs now have Andy Reid, one of the greatest coaches in NFL history. Coaches are proving to be more and more valuable, especially during high-pressure games.
Reid recently tied Joe Gibbs and Bill Walsh by winning his third Super Bowl with the Chiefs. Though the Raiders have moved more than they’ve won of late, Tom Flores is just behind Reid with wins in two Super Bowl games.
Key Players
For the then-Oakland Raiders, the 1980 team was led by names like Jim Blunkett, Lester Hayes, and Art Shell. As the Los Angeles Raiders, Howie Long, Marcus Allen, and Plunkett left a mark.
For the Broncos, Elway is the first name that comes to mind. Peyton Manning and the 2015 champions as well. But the real MVP for the Broncos may have been running back Terrell Davis, a keep component in the 1997 and 1998 wins.
For the Chiefs, how could it be anyone other than Mahomes? The roster has changed exponentially, but Mahomes has been the constant. On defense, Chris Jones has been an impact player as well but Mahomes gets the spotlight.
Mahomes directing the Chiefs offense in 2021
Memorable Super Bowl Matches Involving AFC West Teams
The first that jumps to mind is the first Broncos win. Facing the Green Bay Packers, the image of Elway being spun like a helicopter to get that extra yard will live on forever. The Broncos emerged victorious, the first of two Super Bowls won in three years.
Mahomes and the Chiefs have also had some memorable moments. A shootout with the Eagles in 2023 and a 10-point come-from-behind win over the 49ers in 2020 are likely just the beginning. The endings of those games have been some of the most dramatic in history.
The Impact on Team and Regional Fan Base
As the Chiefs have shown, there can be criticisms of the franchise but so long as the team keeps winning. The Chiefs now have one of the biggest fanbases in the league while the Chargers have returned to the bottom of the division after years of being a team on the cusp.
Winning a Super Bowl does magical things for a franchise. Look at the New England Patriots. Once a team in dire straights, they won a whopping six Super Bowls and are among the most valuable franchises in the NFL these days.
Final Thoughts and Future Outlook
The Chargers are rebuilding. The Broncos seem to be lost somewhere between rebuilding and contending. The Raiders aren’t much further ahead than the Chargers. The Chiefs are dominant and have moved into dynasty talk. The AFC West belongs to the Kansas City Chiefs but has a lot of history yet to make.
