Pat Riley reportedly has struck a deal with Chiefs over “three-peat” phrase if they win the Super Bowl
The Kansas City Chiefs play the Philadelphia Eagles at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana on February 9.
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Pat Riley permits usage of three-peat (Images via Yardbarker/Speakers.com)
The Kansas City Chiefs stand on the brink of NFL history as they prepare to face the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl. If they emerge victorious, they will become the first team to achieve an unprecedented third consecutive championship. This feat is even more significant because they will reportedly be allowed to use the term “three-peat” to celebrate their triumph.
For over three decades, the phrase “three-peat” has been synonymous with legendary NBA coach and Miami Heat team president Pat Riley. Riley trademarked the term in 1988 when his Los Angeles Lakers were chasing a third straight championship.
Since then, he has maintained the rights to the phrase, earning significant licensing fees from sports franchises and brands that wish to use it. The NFL has reportedly struck a deal with Riley to license the term should the Chiefs win on Sunday. While the exact financial terms have not been disclosed, past agreements suggest the price could be significant.
In 1998, when Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls secured their second three-peat, Riley reportedly received $600,000. Adjusted for inflation, that amount would exceed $1.16 million today.
Despite the hefty licensing fees, this sum is a drop in the bucket for the NFL, which generates billions in revenue each year. Riley himself has stated that he donates most of the proceeds from his trademark to charity, making this agreement a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Pat Riley successfully trademarked the phrase “three-peat” when he and the Lakers were trying to win their third-straight NBA title in 1989.
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) February 4, 2025
The NFL has just struck a deal with Riles & Co. to use the phrase on merchandise if the Chiefs win Super Bowl LIX. pic.twitter.com/DMyrCWRSyR
The legacy of three-peats in American sports history
The term “three-peat” has transcended basketball and become a coveted achievement across all sports. Riley’s original claim to the phrase was inspired by the Lakers’ dominance in the late 1980s, but it has since been used by teams in various leagues, from the Chicago Bulls in the NBA to the New York Yankees in Major League Baseball.
The ability to win three consecutive championships is a rare feat, and only the greatest teams have managed to accomplish it. The Montreal Canadiens and the New York Islanders of the NHL took home three consecutive titles before the name was floated around.
In the NFL, eight different teams have won back-to-back titles excluding the Kansas City Chiefs. Among the rest eight, the Chiefs are the first to reach the Super Bowl in the third year as well.
For the Chiefs, this moment represents more than just another Super Bowl win. Thanks to their deal, if the Kansas City Chiefs clinch the title, they will be able to wield the phrase “three-peat” without legal complications. The world will know the answer to the question that has been hanging in the sweet air since last March in just about three days.
Related: Patrick Mahomes admits Super Bowl loss to Tom Brady’s Bucs still haunts him
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Mohammed Bazim
(471 Articles Published)