The Kansas City Chiefs have defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in the longest ever Super Bowl, becoming the ninth team in NFL history to go back-to-back.
In a legacy defining final drive up the field in overtime, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes went for broke, finding Mecole Hardman for a touchdown in the corner with just three seconds left on the clock.
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The 49ers led 10-3 at halftime but timely field goals and a touchdown on the back of a costly fumble gave the Chiefs a slender 13-10 advantage heading into the last quarter.
Once again, Mahomes produced a masterclass in late-game management to steer Kansas City to victory in a thrilling finish.
Mahomes and Travis Kelce claimed their third Super Bowl rings, following triumphs in the 2019 and 2022 seasons. It’s the fourth Super Bowl win for the Chiefs.
The victory means Mahomes and Kansas City have taken over the mantle from Tom Brady and the New England Patriots as the NFL’s newest dynasty.
With three rings, Mahomes sits behind only Brady (7) and 49ers legend Joe Montana (4) on the list of quarterbacks with the most Super Bowl wins in history.
Meanwhile, San Francisco’s long title drought continues, with their last Super Bowl triumph coming way back in 1995.
The Niners’ punter Mitch Wishnowsky was aiming to become the first Australian to play in and win a Super Bowl.
He played an absolute blinder and nailed all of his punts but it wasn’t quite enough to get the 49ers over the line.
With the world watching Taylor Swift in the stands, her boyfriend Kelce went largely unsighted in the first half and took his anger out on Chiefs coach Andy Reid in a mid-game tantrum on the sidelines.
But Kelce got off the chain in the fourth quarter and overtime as he combined with Mahomes for crucial downs.
A jubilant Kelce screamed into the microphone with the trophy in his hand: “Viva Las Vegas!”
Mahomes, 28, was named Super Bowl MVP for the third time.
“The Kansas City Chiefs are never underdogs,” he said in his own mic drop moment.
Hardman said: “It feels great, but I blacked out when I caught the ball though. It feels awesome.”
2.34pm – 49ers back in front
Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey took the 49ers up the field but they settled for a field goal to take a 22-19 lead.
Now Patrick Mahomes can win it for Kansas City with a touchdown or the Chiefs can level the scores with a field goal and the game will continue.
San Francisco can win it with a turnover or a defensive stop.
2.15pm – We’re going to overtime
Mahomes drove up the field and the Chiefs kicked another field goal to tie things up at 19-19 and take the Super Bowl to overtime.
It’s only the second time in history a Super Bowl has gone to an extra period. The first unanswered score will win the game.
Overtime rules
– Both teams will have the opportunity to possess the ball
– If score is tied after each team’s first possession, next score wins the game
– 3 timeouts per team per period
– No coach’s challenges
2.06pm – 49ers take the lead
49ers rookie Jake Moody has nailed a clutch 53-yard field goal to give San Francisco a 19-16 lead with two minutes remaining.
The Chiefs will need a touchdown to win it or a field goal to take it to overtime.
1.55pm – Scores level
A field goal by Kansas City’s Harrison Butker has levelled the score at 16-16 midway through the fourth quarter.
The stage is set for quarterbacks Mahomes or Purdy to be the hero if they can orchestrate a touchdown.
1.41pm – 49ers score, regain lead
This is going down to the wire.
The 49ers lead 16-13 after Brock Purdy found Jauan Jennings, who managed to keep his feet and barge into the endzone for a crucial touchdown.
But San Francisco missed out on an extra point when their conversion kick was blocked.
1.24pm – Chiefs get their noses in front
And just like that the Chiefs lead 13-10 after showing their championship pedigree.
A 57-yard field goal reduced the deficit to four points before a costly mistake by San Francisco’s special teams unit flipped the Super Bowl on its head.
At first, it looked like Ray-Ray McCloud III was going to let the ball bounce from a punt. The 49ers would get the ball back, wherever the Chiefs’ punt landed.
But then McCloud tried and failed to collect the ball off the bounce and the Chiefs recovered.
That turnover was exactly what Mahomes needed.
Just one play after McCloud fumbled the punt, Mahomes connected with Marquez Valdes-Scantling for an easy 16-yard touchdown late in the third quarter.
It’s now all set up for Mahomes to steer the Chiefs home to another ring.
12.52pm – Aussie pulls off perfect play
Aussie Mitch Wishnowsky hasn’t put a foot wrong so far and the 49ers punter pulled off a superb play to pin the Chiefs on their own line.
As the second half got underway, Wishnowsky punted the ball high into the air, confusing the Chiefs defence and giving his team plenty of time to run down the field.
Wishnowsky’s teammate Chris Conley was waiting on the edge of the endzone and then collected the ball, giving San Francsico excellent field position.
“You cannot execute it better than that,” the ESPN commentator said.
“Conley got down there in a hurry, just turned and waited for the ball to bounce into his arms.
“That is a huge play by Wishnowsky.”
Popular ESPN football host Pat McAfee tweeted: “Mitch Wishnowsky with some PERFECTION on the biggest stage.
“Let’s GOOOOO BOYS. Punters and kickers are BALLLLIN.”
Australian media mogul Craig Hutchison posted: “The boys own story from Perth Mitch Wishowsky coming up big here under pressure and having an impact.
“Has a genuine shot at being the first Aussie punter with a @SuperBowl ring from here. He’s helping it happen. Wishnowsky is having a blinder and has nailed his four punts so far.”
A punter has never won the Super Bowl MVP but Wishnowsky could be half a chance here if it remains a lowscoring game.
12.09pm – Star’s Super Bowl over barely before it begins
Spare a thought for 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who bizarrely injured himself as he was jogging back onto the field with the rest of the San Francisco defense ahead of a new play.
Greenlaw jumped in place a few times before beginning to jog onto the field, but crumpled and quickly grabbed his left leg.
His 49ers teammates were emotional around him and he was subsequently carted off the field.
The NRL Physio account posted: “Probably one of the most cruel ways to suffer a significant injury, in a SuperBowl makes it even more so. Achilles rupture & 9 months recovery likely for Dre Greenlaw.”
Barstool Sports tweeted: “It appears Dre Greenlaw injured himself walking on to the field.”
11.51am – Trick play flips Super Bowl on its head
The San Francisco 49ers lead the Super Bowl 10-3 after a brilliant trick play saw star running back Christian McCaffrey score the first touchdown of the game.
49ers quarterback Brock Purdy threw the ball across field to wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who threw it back to McCaffrey.
The Chiefs defence parted like the red sea and McCaffrey waltzed through to the end zone as the bold play call came off.
11.37am – Raging Kelce accosts own coach
Travis Kelce is usually a cool-headed customer but the Chiefs tight end was furious when he was left off the field for the biggest play of the Super Bowl so far.
Kelce accosted 65-year-old Chiefs coach Andy Reid on the sidelines, screaming into his face and nearly knocking him over as he fumed at being left off the field for a crucial play call.
The moment came with Kansas City deep in 49ers territory, only for a fumble by Isiah Pacheco to blow a golden chance for a touchdown.
The reaction from viewers was swift and damning, with fans criticising Kelce for losing his cool.
Sport Illustrated’s Pat Forde wrote: “Kelce blindside blocking Andy Reid, um, wow.”
Kane Cornes tweeted: “Pull your head in Travis.”
Fox Sports NRL commentator Warren Smith said: “Only a post-game public apology to the coach and to the Chiefs organisation should keep Travis Kelce in Kansas City. There’s no excuse for this.”
11.29am – Chiefs blow early chance
The Chiefs had the best chance of the game so far when Patrick Mahomes threw a 53-year pass to Mecole Hardman.
But on the next snap, Isiah Pacheco fumbled and San Francisco managed to keep Kansas scoreless through three possessions.
11.21am – Record kick opens the scoring
San Francisco lead 3-0 early in the second quarter after rookie kicker Jake Moody nailed a 55-yard field goal.
That kind of distance is fairly regulation for kickers these days, but remarkably it is the longest field goal in Super Bowl history.
11.14am – Scoreless first quarter
It’s 0-0 after the opening quarter as the 49ers recovered from their early fumble to show they can go toe-to-toe with the Chiefs.
Aussie punter Mitch Wishnowsky got his first taste of the action with a regulation kick.
10.46am – Horror start for 49ers
The 49ers have had a horror start to the Super Bowl, turning the ball over on their first drive of the game.
After three first downs, they were in Kansas City territory before Leo Chenal ripped the ball out of Christian McCaffrey’s hands and George Karlaftis fell on the ball.
It was just McCaffrey’s third lost fumble this season in a brutal start for the star 49ers running back.
10.39am – Swift’s lucky charm to strike again?
Here we go. The Super Bowl is underway in Las Vegas.
The 49ers are the favourites but Kansas City are hoping Taylor Swift can be their lucky charm again. Kelce’s stats are up across the board when Swift attends his games.
The popstar is in the crowd at Allegiant Stadium and was spotted in a box with actor Blake Lively.
10.04am – AFL great relives heartbreak
St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt has appeared on ESPN’s pre-game coverage for the second year in a row after he moved with his family to America.
Asked to give his thoughts on the game, Riewoldt said young 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy would be feeling the pressure, and pushed back on claims teams should just be happy to play in the Super Bowl even if they go on to lose.
9am – Travis Kelce ready to go
Travis Kelce, aka Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, is ready to go after warming up on the field at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
The Kansas City tight end looked in good spirits as he aims to win his third Super Bowl ring.
8.50am – Chiefs star axed over Insta post
Kansas City wide receiver Kadarius Toney is not expected to play in Super Bowl 2024 against the 49ers, despite being taken off the Chiefs injury report this week.
Toney has not played since Week 15 of the season and created a stir during the AFC Championship game when he said he was “not hurt” during an expletive-filled Instagram Live video, despite the team saying he was out with a hip injury as well as personal reasons.
Toney claimed the audio was edited to seem like he was attacking the Chiefs and oddly blamed the New York Giants fans for the fiasco.
Toney was heard cursing and saying: “I’m not hurt, none of that. Hip, knee, nuh-uh.”
“It made it like I was attacking the one I love the most,” said Toney, who was drafted in the first round by the Giants in 2021 and has feuded with the fanbase since he was traded to the Chiefs last season.
“I never attacked the Chiefs. Never said anything about the Chiefs. Who I was referring to was the Giants fans, whoever people who might come at my live recording. I was referring to them, which I shouldn’t have.”
“We’ll see how that goes,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said in the lead up.
“He’s been practising and we’ll just see whether he’s up.”
8.40am – Super Bowl to be most watched ever
Super Bowl LVIII is expected to attract the most eyeballs in history, thanks to Taylor Swift bringing in a large female audience.
The Sun reports Swift has given the NFL a AUD$509 million boost with the cost of TV ad slots skyrocketing.
8.30am – Drake curse to strike again?
Canadian rapper Drake is renowned for placing mammoth bets on sporting games and he’s done it again for the Super Bowl.
Drake shared on Instagram he had bet USD$1.15 million (AUD$1.7million) on the Kansas City Chiefs, which would give him a payout of AUD$3.6 million if they win.