The Kansas City Chiefs have touched down in Las Vegas ahead of their bid to write Super Bowl history against the San Francisco 49ers next weekend.
It has been almost 20 years since a team last retained the Vince Lombardi trophy, with the 2005 New England Patriots the last back-to-back champions on record – but Kansas City has the chance to change that next Sunday.
After winning last season’s showpiece, Andy Reid’s team are now set to lock horns with NFC champions San Francisco at Super Bowl LVIII, where they will aim to keep their hands on the NFL’s big prize for at least another year.
And ahead of their quest for history, the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce made their grand arrivals in Vegas exactly one week before their battle with the Niners.
Kelce is expected to be cheered on at Allegiant Stadium by girlfriend Taylor Swift, who appears set to wrap up the latest leg of her Eras Tour in Tokyo and make the near 9,000-mile trip to Sin City.
The Kansas City Chiefs have touched down in Las Vegas ahead of next weekend’s Super Bowl
Travis Kelce was amongst those spotted arriving ahead of the NFL showpiece next Sunday
Kelce and Patrick Mahomes have the chance to make history with the Chiefs in Vegas
Mahomes is looking to clinch his third Super Bowl crown at Allegiant Stadium next Sunday
Kelce also made the trip at the same time girlfriend Taylor Swift attended the Grammys awards
The tight end is seeking his third Super Bowl triumph with Kansas City next weekend
A member of the flight crew held out a Chiefs flag as the team touched down on Sunday
A group of Elvis impersonators were there to greet the Chiefs upon arrival in Vegas
Next weekend’s showpiece promises to be an epic one as Kansas City looks to wrtie history
The 49ers are hoping their opponents don’t enjoy a two-year stranglehold on the Super Bowl
Swift has attended a number of her boyfriend’s Chiefs game since their romance began last summer, with the pop star even making it onto the field after last weekend’s Conference Championship victory over the Ravens in Baltimore.
As Kelce arrived in Vegas on Sunday night, Swift was sweeping up her 13th and 14th Grammy Award wins over in Los Angeles.
The singer and songwriter won awards for Best Pop Vocal Album and Album of the Year at Crypto.com Arena, where she was also seen sharing a warm embrace with New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
The Kansas City tight end’s Super Bowl schedule means he is unable to head to the ceremony and support his girlfriend, who has been nominated for a number of awards.
Meanwhile, Mahomes has arrived in Vegas for his fourth Super Bowl appearance amid news of his father’s arrest for driving under the influence over in Texas.
Patrick Mahomes Sr, 53, was arrested by the Tyler Police Department on at least his third DWI on Saturday night.
He is being held on a $10,000 bond. Mahomes Sr., who is a 6’4 former professional baseball pitcher, is currently in custody at the Smith County Jail.
Back in San Francisco, hundreds of fans showed up in the pouring rain to see the 49ers bus depart for the airport.
Mahomes arrived in Vegas amid news of his father’s arrest for driving under the influence
Patrick Mahomes Sr. has been arrested for driving while intoxicated – just a week before his son’s fourth Super Bowl appearance
As Kelce arrived in Vegas on Sunday night, girlfriend Taylor Swift was sweeping up her 13th and 14th Grammy Award wins
The likes of Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey were later seen touching down in Vegas themselves as they get set to collide with the reigning champions.
The Niners are seeking revenge next weekend after suffering defeat to Kansas City in their last Super Bowl outing back in 2020.
Some of their integral players were part of that loss, including Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Kyle Juszczyk.
But since then they have also drafted Purdy and traded for McCaffrey and Chase Young, with the trio producing incredible form this year to make San Francisco a Super Bowl favorite early into the regular season.
The Chiefs have claimed some huge scalps on their latest run to the Super Bowl, dumping out tournament favorites the Ravens last time out.
Mahomes got the better of his quarterback showdown with MVP frontrunner Lamar Jackson, having also defeated arch-rival Josh Allen’s Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round.
Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers also arrived in Vegas later on Sunday evening
Christian McCaffrey departs the 49ers team plane in Las Vegas ahead of Super Bowl LVIII
Reid’s men navigated their way past the Miami Dolphins in arctic conditions in the Wild Card round.
As for the 49ers, they produced the third largest comeback in a conference title game against the Detroit Lions last time out.
Trailing 17 points at halftime, Purdy and co turned the tables after the interval to seal a 34-31 victory and book their place in the Super Bowl.
They had previously edged out a thriller against the Green Bay Packers after earning a bye in the Wild Card Round as the top seed in the NFC.
