The Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs don’t have the longest history, but they have an interesting one. When they do meet, their games tend to matter to some degree; though what is even more interesting, is that Andy Reid is 7-1 in these matchups, as the head coach for both teams. With Super Bowl 59 marking just the 12th time these two franchises have faced off, the matchup is becoming one of the NFL’s most significant cross-conference rivalries.
From Andy Reid’s return to Philadelphia to the heartbreaking loss in Super Bowl 57, let’s take a look at the history of the Eagles vs Chiefs.
Eagles vs Chiefs History 101: The Early Years
In week six of the 1972 season, the Chiefs dropped a shocking 21–20 decision at home to the lowly \ Eagles, who entered the game 0–5 and won only once more (also a one-point victory, over the Houston Oilers, who finished 1–13). It was the only time the Eagles and Chiefs met until 1992, and Kansas City did not visit Philadelphia until 1998.
Eagles vs Chiefs History 102: The ’90s
On October 11, 1992, the Chiefs hosted the Eagles at Arrowhead Stadium, securing a 24–17 victory. This matchup was notable as it marked the first meeting between the two teams since October 22, 1972, ending a 20-year gap.
The Chiefs’ offense was led by quarterback Dave Krieg, who completed 20 of 26 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Christian Okoye contributed significantly on the ground, rushing for 69 yards and a touchdown. For the Eagles, quarterback Randall Cunningham threw for 201 yards and one touchdown but was intercepted twice. Running back Herschel Walker added a rushing touchdown.
The game was evenly contested, with both teams exchanging leads. However, the Chiefs’ defense made crucial plays, including two interceptions, which helped secure their win.
This victory improved the Chiefs’ season record to 4–2, while the Eagles suffered their first loss of the season, falling to 4–1.
Nearly 6 years later, on September 27, 1998, the Chiefs narrowly defeated the Eagles 24–21 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. Chiefs running back Donnell Bennett was instrumental in the victory, scoring three rushing touchdowns. Quarterback Rich Gannon contributed significantly, completing 17 of 25 passes for 262 yards. For the Eagles, running back Duce Staley had a standout performance, rushing for two touchdowns and catching a 17-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Rodney Peete. Despite a late-game touchdown that brought the Eagles within three points, the Chiefs’ defense held firm to secure the win.
Eagles vs Chiefs History 201: The Andy Reid Era
The Andy Reid Era of the Eagles vs Chiefs history began in the 2001 season when Reid would go undefeated against the Chiefs as the Eagles’ head coach.
On November 29, 2001, the Eagles defeated the Chiefs 23–10 at Arrowhead Stadium. Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb completed 18 of 26 passes for 269 yards, throwing two touchdowns and one interception. Running back Duce Staley was a key contributor, rushing 25 times for 80 yards and catching four passes for 66 yards, including a 46-yard touchdown reception. For the Chiefs, quarterback Trent Green completed 21 of 35 passes for 213 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Running back Priest Holmes had 18 carries for 76 yards and was also the leading receiver, with eight catches for 100 yards. The Eagles’ defense limited the Chiefs to 291 total yards and forced two turnovers, contributing to the victory.
On October 2, 2005, the Eagles mounted a remarkable comeback to defeat the Chiefs 37–31 at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs started strong, building a 17–0 lead in the first quarter, which included a 3-yard touchdown run by Priest Holmes and an 8-yard touchdown pass from Trent Green to Eddie Kennison. The Eagles’ first points came from a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown by cornerback Sheldon Brown, though the subsequent extra point attempt was missed. The Chiefs quickly responded with a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Dante Hall, extending their lead to 24–6.
However, the Eagles rallied, with quarterback Donovan McNabb connecting with Terrell Owens for a 7-yard touchdown pass just before halftime, narrowing the deficit to 24–13. In the second half, McNabb threw two more touchdown passes, including a 1-yard pass to tight end Mike Bartrum and a 1-yard pass to tight end L.J. Smith. A key moment occurred when Eagles kicker Todd France successfully made a 44-yard field goal, giving Philadelphia its first lead at 27–24. The Eagles’ defense played a crucial role in the comeback, forcing four turnovers, including two interceptions by Sheldon Brown. McNabb finished the game with 369 passing yards and three touchdowns, while Owens had 11 receptions for 171 yards and a touchdown. The victory improved the Eagles’ record to 3–1 for the season.
Finally, on September 27, 2009, the Eagles hosted the Chiefs at Lincoln Financial Field and secured a 34–14 victory. Starting quarterback Kevin Kolb, filling in for the injured Donovan McNabb, delivered an impressive performance by completing 24 of 34 passes for 327 yards and two touchdowns. This achievement made Kolb the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for over 300 yards in each of his first two career starts. Rookie running back LeSean McCoy, stepping in for the injured Brian Westbrook, contributed significantly with a 5-yard rushing touchdown. Wide receiver DeSean Jackson showcased his big-play ability, hauling in a 64-yard touchdown pass from Kolb.
The Eagles’ defense played a pivotal role in the win, limiting the Chiefs to 14 points and forcing multiple punts. Kansas City’s offense struggled to find a rhythm, with quarterback Matt Cassel completing 14 of 18 passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns, both in the red zone. Despite these efforts, the Chiefs couldn’t overcome the Eagles’ early lead. This victory improved Philadelphia’s record to 2–1, while Kansas City fell to 0–3.
Eagles vs Chiefs History 202: The Andy Reid Era Moves to Kansas City
The next time the teams met, the Eagles vs Chiefs history only changed one head coach. Andy Reid was still there, except now he was the Chiefs head coach and he would win another 4 times before dropping a game to go 7-1 in this match-up.
Between 2013 and 2023, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs faced each other five times, with the Chiefs winning four of these matchups.
On September 19, 2013, the Chiefs defeated the Eagles 26–16. The Chiefs secured another victory on September 17, 2017, with a score of 27–20. In their next meeting on October 3, 2021, the Chiefs continued their winning streak against the Eagles, ending the game at 42–30.
The most notable encounter occurred on February 12, 2023, during Super Bowl LVII. In a thrilling game, the Chiefs emerged victorious over the Eagles with a close score of 38–35.
The most recent matchup took place on November 20, 2023, when the Eagles managed to break their losing streak against the Chiefs, securing a 21–17 victory.
These games highlight the competitive nature of the rivalry between the two teams over the past decade.
Eagles vs Chiefs History: Super Bowl 59
For the 12th time, these teams meet. Can the Eagles flip the script from 2 years ago and walk away as Super Bowl Champions, dropping Andy Reids record in these matchups to 7-2? Or will Andy Reid continue his dominance as the head coach of both these teams, improve to 8-1, and become the first head coach to take a team to a threepeat championship?
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