This Sunday when the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles it will mean more than just deciding who the Champions of the NFL are. The Chiefs have the chance to do what no team has done in the history of the league by winning a third Super Bowl trophy in a row.
The two teams had met previously in the big game two seasons ago with the Chiefs winning the first of their back to back titles. Just to return to this position where the 3-peat could be made possible took a season’s worth of miracles—carrying a separate record in itself.
The Chiefs have won an NFL record with 17 consecutive games decided by one score. The streak includes five games from the 2023 season, 11 in the 2024 regular season and the Chiefs’ 32-29 victory over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game.
All the stars have aligned so far for a franchise who has won 4 Super Bowls. Their first beginning in 1969, their most recent in 2024—a 50 year drought until 2019. A long time to wait to find themselves back on top.
For current Chiefs Punter Matt Araiza it’s taken two long years to find himself back on top of the football world—though it may have felt like 50 just the same.
The former SDSU Aztecs football star has battled his way back to the NFL after enduring a grueling sexual assault claim that found him free of any wrongdoing and prosecution. The San Diego district attorney’s office dropped all charges when evidence proved Araiza was not at the scene of the alleged victim’s claims.
The process however was one that took away his first year as a professional when the Buffalo Bills released Araiza one preseason game in to his rookie season after drafting the Ray Guy Award winner amid the allegations. The media and many of his local San Diego fans were quick to label him as guilty. His name on the internet and among social circles was paired with being a criminal.
There were times he wanted to give up his pursuit of being a professional footballer. There were rumors he would pursue other football leagues in hopes the NFL would reconsider signing him once his talents were put on full display again.
The New York Jets had brought in Araiza for workouts in May of 2023. But it wasn’t until 2024 that the Kansas City Chiefs officially signed him to a contract and began his comeback in the NFL. It was the kind of move that stands out and truly embodies just what makes this Chiefs franchise a two-time defending champion.
How sweet it must be for Matt and the Araiza family now in hindsight that he has been cleared of any wrongdoing, picked up by the best team in the league, defeated the franchise that drafted him and all those ‘fans’ that gave up on him.
Araiza who ranks in the top 12 of NFL Punters in yards per average at 48.8, 9th in longest punt of the year at 72 yards, 15th in punts inside the 25 yard line and 9th in fair catches, is one victory away from having the last laugh.
To his credit, Matt has carried himself in such an honorable way this season. All year he has chosen not to discuss the case or make the story larger than the team’s goals. A mature act when he could be grandstanding and reminding everyone of the hardships he had to overcome in getting back to the highest levels of the game. That is the kind of attitude that comes with a person confident in their abilities and grateful for their peace of mind.
Matt Araiza has lived and experienced things in his time that not many on this earth will ever have to deal with. His story reminds us that truly anything can happen to anyone in this unpredictable existence we call life.
We here at Sons of Montezuma were privileged to create NIL for Matt in his final season at SDSU. His sit down interview with us on the podcast was one we’ll always remember.
When the allegations came to surface, there was some pushback against us for not speaking out against them thru our social media and youtube platforms. As a business we are not legal professionals to comment on such serious matters. As fans we’ve never stopped rooting for the best for Matt Araiza and the Araiza family. Sometimes it’s just best to let the process play out and gain wisdom about a situation.
From being black-balled to becoming an example of true character—no matter what results come of Sunday’s big game Matt Araiza is already a survivor—he is already a winner.
“I think any fan of sports knows there are teams that find ways to lose and there are teams that find ways to win.” Araiza spoke with Compas on the Beat at SuperBowl media day. “Whether that’s the players, the culture, the coaching—whatever it is this obviously is a team that finds a way to win.”
We are so proud of Matt Araiza who is now one game away from being labeled an NFL Champion. But most importantly to us, we will always know him as Aztec4Life.
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