An NFL Dynasty

             A friend called over the weekend and our discussion meandered to the subject of the NFL Playoffs that got underway on Saturday.  My friend’s position is that the Chiefs are a dynasty; I do not yet have them in such a lofty status – – although another Super Bowl victory this year would elevate them.  At some point, my friend asked what I thought the Chiefs lacked in terms of “dynastic stature”.

My answer had two parts:

1. I think the “Brady/Belichick Patriots were a dynasty because of the longevity of the excellence there spreading over about 15-18 seasons.  Even in years when the Pats were not playing in the Super Bowl, they were serious contenders to have been participants.  The Chiefs are getting close to being today what the Patriots were in pre-COVID years, but I think they need more “aging” in that status.
2. I think dynasties produce a wide variety of “truly great players” – – not sort of great ones but really great ones – – and again the Chiefs are close but not quite there.

My friend accepted Part 1 but pushed back on Part 2.  So, I explained my feeling that the Chiefs roster of late had not produced a wide variety of great players, that did not detract from the greatness of several individual players – – Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Chris Jones to be specific.  I believe that all three of those players will be in the Hall of Fame sometime in the future but as a way to draw a comparison, I suggested a look back at the Steelers’ dynasty in the 1970s.

• QB = Terry Bradshaw – – Hall of Fame
• RB = Franco Harris – – Hall of Fame
• WR = Lynn Swann and John Stallworth – – both in the Hall of Fame
• OL = Mike Webster – – Hall of Fame
• DL = Joe Greene – – Hall of Fame [Aside:  The rest of the “Steel Curtain” front four were awfully close to Hall of Fame caliber too.]
• LB = Jack Ham and Jack Lambert – – both in the Hall of Fame
• DB = Mel Blount and Donnie Shell – – both in the Hall of Fame

The only position group not represented here is Tight End; I could not recall who was a tight end for the Steelers in the 1970s but I used Google to check and the only Steelers’ tight end from that era that I can remember even when presented with a list was Bennie Cunningham who was a good player but not a Hall of Fame caliber player.

The thing about the 10 players cited above, is that they came from every position group on the team; there were no significant weaknesses on those Steelers’ teams.  As of now, I do not see the same spread of greatness over the rosters of the Chiefs over the past several seasons.  Now, if someone wanted to compare the Steelers of the 1970s to the Bill Walsh/George Siefert Niners teams of the 80s and early 90s, I think that would be an interesting discussion.

I’ll close today with some observations by Chuck Noll – – the guy who coached those Steelers in the 1970s:

“Everyone’s job is important, but no one is indispensable.”

And …

“Before you can win a game, you have to not lose it.”

And …

“The critics are always right. The only way you shut them up is by winning.”

But don’t get me wrong, I love sports………