Chiefs Finally Win One. Brady and Belichick Appear Primed for a Rematch.

One of the keys to that run was one of Brady’s favorite receivers, Rob Gronkowski. Gronkowski retired last year, but he made a splash this week partying with fans on South Beach. On Sunday, he was shown yucking it up with Brady and other Patriots elected to the N.F.L.’s team of the top 100 players in its history.

Not going anywhere means Brady will be back giving fits to the Chiefs, 49ers and every other team next season.

Still, Brady, perhaps the best-known player of his generation, is hardly the face of the league anymore. Peyton Manning and Favre appeared in more national ad campaigns during their playing days, and their aw-shucks demeanor endeared them to fans across the country. Brady and his celebrity wife are more secluded from view.

There was daylight Sunday for a breakthrough.

Right on cue, Mahomes, last year’s most valuable player and one of the league’s biggest stars, overcame a rough start in his Super Bowl debut to engineer a stunning fourth-quarter comeback to lead the Chiefs to their first Super Bowl title in a half-century. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, once Tom Brady’s understudy in New England, faltered down the stretch. Chiefs 31, 49ers 20. Season over. New era underway. Maybe.

After the game, Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark declared the Patriots dynasty dead.

Mahomes is the new face of the league. At 24, he is the second-youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl. He has appeared in national advertisements for Head Shoulders and State Farm insurance. He had the top-selling jersey this season.

Last week, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was asked if winning the Super Bowl would make Mahomes the new face of the N.F.L. “I think he already is if you ask me,” he said.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/03/sports/football/super-bowl-brady.html?emc=rss&partner=rss