Love Them or Hate Them The Chiefs Are America’s Team, Whether You Like It or Not

When you’re as dominant as Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, winning more often than not and chasing history with a Super Bowl three-peat on the line, you inevitably become the target of envy. That’s just part of the package when you’re consistently on top.

The Chiefs are now preparing for yet another AFC Championship game, a continuation of their reign following back-to-back Super Bowl victories and three titles in five years. Of course, this level of excellence doesn’t come without backlash. As Kansas City gears up for another playoff run, the Chiefs’ dominance has rubbed many the wrong way.

For one, the Chiefs’ success has flooded TV screens with an ever-growing number of commercials, with head coach Andy Reid, Mahomes, and star tight end Travis Kelce becoming familiar faces on and off the field. And let’s not forget Kelce’s connection to pop sensation Taylor Swift, a link that has introduced a whole new audience to the NFL, sparking new conversations and adding fuel to the fire.

But beyond all the on-field glory, the Chiefs’ rising popularity has bred a level of resentment. Are people just fed up with them for the sake of it?

One voice voicing this frustration is Marlon Humphrey, an All-Pro cornerback for the Baltimore Ravens who, after sitting out of this year’s playoffs, took to social media to share his thoughts.

Humphrey posted on X: “I have no reason of saying this other than being a hater… The Bills or whatever NFC team gotta beat the Chiefs. We can’t let them keep getting away with this.”

Though some might think this comes from a place of bitterness after the Ravens’ AFC title loss to Kansas City last year, it’s not just personal. This type of sentiment appears to reflect the broader feeling among many NFL fans who are simply tired of the Chiefs’ dominance.

Take, for example, the Texans’ loss to Kansas City in this year’s divisional playoffs. Two penalties for roughing the passer on Patrick Mahomes sparked more conspiracy theories and complaints from those who argue that the quarterback gets preferential treatment. Will Anderson’s penalty for touching Mahomes on a third-down play was a critical moment in the game, as it kept the Chiefs’ drive alive and resulted in a field goal. Later, a second penalty on Henry To’oTo’o for unnecessary roughness, in which he hit a teammate more than Mahomes, extended another drive that ended in a touchdown.

Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans afterward lamented, “We knew coming into this game it was us versus everybody,” alluding to the sense of unfairness some feel when it comes to officiating against Mahomes and the Chiefs.

Despite these complaints, the penalties were confirmed as correct by the NFL’s senior VP of officiating, Walt Anderson. Still, critics of Mahomes argue that he receives a similar level of protection that Tom Brady did during his career, fueling a larger narrative that the star quarterback benefits from “ticky-tack” calls.

However, it’s worth noting that Mahomes doesn’t always escape criticism. In fact, there’s the infamous moment when Kadarius Toney lined up offsides, resulting in a costly penalty that frustrated Mahomes himself.

Still, the narrative of Chiefs’ dominance continues to take shape. Many people I’ve spoken to—without any prompting—expressed their desire to see Kansas City fall in this weekend’s game. It’s clear that some just want to see them lose. But despite all the hate, the Chiefs’ games are unmissable. They’ve become one of the most-watched teams in the NFL, with a higher viewership than even the Dallas Cowboys, who have been stuck in a decades-long championship drought.

For example, the Chiefs’ regular-season loss to Buffalo in November drew an average of 31.2 million viewers, the highest for any NFL regular-season game since 2007, excluding major holiday games. Even their Christmas Day blowout against the Pittsburgh Steelers attracted 24.1 million viewers, one of the most-streamed NFL games to date.

So, while some fans are tired of the Chiefs’ success, there’s no denying it: Kansas City has become “America’s Team,” not just for the fans who adore them, but for those who simply love to hate them. And as the Chiefs continue their quest for greatness, they’ll keep captivating fans—and critics—alike.