KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Five years ago, after the Kansas City Chiefs celebrated a dramatic victory over the San Francisco 49ers in their first Super Bowl in 50 years, defensive tackle Chris Jones found himself at a press conference discussing his future. Back then, Jones was about to enter free agency for the first time, and he confidently expressed his aspirations for the team. “Next year we’re coming back,” he proclaimed with a smile. “We’re coming back for a repeat.”

This season, the Chiefs have their sights set on a third consecutive championship, and Jones has been a pivotal figure throughout this exhilarating journey. Instead of exploring free agency in January 2020, he decided to remain in Kansas City after being franchise tagged. In March, he signed an even larger long-term contract, which could potentially lead to him finishing his career with the team. Currently, he stands among six veteran players who will take the field for their seventh consecutive AFC championship game when the Chiefs compete against the Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.

Reflecting on his time with the team, the 30-year-old Jones humorously noted, “I’m getting old. It’s fun, though. It’s a challenge that requires hard work, commitment, belief, and a lot of encouragement throughout the season. There needs to be a lot of unselfishness among the team to accomplish this.” He elaborated with an analogy from a chapel message: “We had this message about climbing the mountaintop. You don’t want to stay up there because the air is too thin. So you go back down. But the joy is in climbing to the mountaintop.”

Few teams have successfully dethroned the Chiefs. Over the past six years, they have clinched four AFC championships, with their two losses occurring in overtime — once against the Patriots during their inaugural title run in 2019 and another time against the Bengals three years later. Once they reach the Super Bowl, only Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have managed to stop Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs from securing the Lombardi Trophy.

Mahomes is another key player who has been part of all seven championship games. He made waves in his first season as a starter, setting records and earning the first of his two NFL MVP awards. In that fateful playoff game against the Patriots, he amassed 295 passing yards and threw three touchdown passes despite the heartbreaking loss, which still serves as motivation for his future pursuits. “Of course, you want to win three in a row,” Mahomes acknowledged. “But building memories with the team and the community each year is special. I look back at all the Super Bowls we’ve won and cherish those moments we’ve created together.”

Fans have seen plenty of seasoned players on this incredible journey. Besides Jones and Mahomes, four-time All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce has also made his presence known in all seven AFC title games, notably catching seven passes for 117 yards and a touchdown in last Saturday’s victory against Houston. Additionally, defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi, long snapper James Winchester, and kicker Harrison Butker have been essential members of the team throughout these playoff runs.

While there have been many standout players contributing to the Chiefs’ successes, the core six players who have remained through it all have collectively participated in 945 games for the franchise, with 121 of those in the playoffs, where even one slip-up could have jeopardized their remarkable streak. The value of experience cannot be understated, especially as the postseason heats up in late January.

“The experience matters,” remarked Chiefs coach Andy Reid. “It’s especially important for the younger players, as we can share the urgency of the situation with them. It’s a single-elimination format. That’s easier said than done when it comes to honing in your focus for each snap during practice. You just have to remain concentrated and try to divert distractions as best as you can.”