How many teams in professional sports have had a three-peat?

As you likely know, the Kansas City Chiefs are about to begin the defense of their 2023 Super Bowl title. It was the Chiefs’ second consecutive win in the big game and marks their third in the last five years. This, as you can probably guess, has only served to intensify the talk of a possible three-peat, something that will take more than Taylor Swift’s support to achieve. The Chiefs will of course begin their 2024 Campaign on Thursday night when they play host to the Baltimore Ravens in what promises to be an exciting rematch of last season’s AFC title game. Yet, what we’re really here to investigate is the number three which is as Del La Soul put it, is magic.

The big sporting three-peats

In the world of sports, achieving greatness is a monumental task, but sustaining it over time is an even greater feat. Enter the exclusive club of three-peat champions, where only the most exceptional teams earn membership proving their dominance while brushing frustrated opponents aside. To that end, here’s a look at some of these remarkable teams that have etched their names in history by conquering their respective sports not once, not twice, but three times in a row.

NFL three-peats never done

If you didn’t know, what the Chiefs are now aiming for is actually unprecedented. No team has, since the start of the Super Bowl era in 1967, has ever managed to win three consecutively. Tom Brady’s New England Patriots came close - it had to be him - winning in 2003 and 2004 but it was a case of close but no cigar as they Brady and Co. fell to the Denver Broncos in the following year’s Divisional Round. Prior to them, the following teams have also done the double:

That said, a special mention should be given to the Packers. They actually won three-straight championships (1966-68) with the first of those coming before the Super Bowl was launched. Interestingly, from those in the list above, none have managed to make it to the Super Bowl in the third season (Cowboys, Niners and Steelers getting as far as the Championship Game) so, even ending next season as runners-up would make history for the Chiefs.

NBA three-peats: Lakers, Bulls, Celtics

As you can probably imagine, to achieve the three-peat, there are more than likely going to be some iconic individuals strutting their stuff in the team. Just like Patrick
Mahomes is for the Chiefs in their current quest, we can safely say the same about Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant who were key to the cause as they led the LA Lakers to victory in the 2000, 2001, and 2002 NBA Championships.

Before them came the legend that is Michael Jordan. He took the Chicago Bulls to back-to-back-to-back titles in 1991, 1992 and 1993 before doing the same from 1996 to 1998. And if you think that was pretty dominant (and it was) then take a look further back, when the Boston Celtics crushed everyone that got in their championship winning way, taking eight titles on the trot between 1959 and 1966.

MLB three-peats: Yankees and Athletics

Although at least three consecutive titles in Major League Baseball has been achieved on four separate occasions, three of those do belong to the New York Yankees.

The famous franchise won the World Series 1936-39 (4), 1949-53 (5) and 1998-2000 (3). The only other team to have completed a three-peat were the Oakland Athletics, with the A’s beating the Reds, the Mets and the Dodgers from 1972-74.

European Champions League three-peats: Real Madrid twice

Across the pond, the top club soccer competition has seen the three-peat achieved by three different clubs. initially called the European Cup, Spanish giants Real Madrid won the first five editions, from 1956-1960. ‘Los Blancos’ would also win three consecutive titles from 2016-2018. The other two teams are Ajax of Amsterdam (1971-1973) and Bayern Munich (1974-1976), the Germans immediately matching the feats of the Dutch masters.