The Chiefs land back in Kansas City with Lombardi trophy but without NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes

The Kansas City Chiefs have returned back home, just a day after being crowned as the new Super Bowl champions, with head coach Andy Reid seen stepping off the plane with the Lombardi trophy in his hands.

There was no Patrick Mahomes on board, though, with the star quarterback opting to head to Disneyland with his family instead of heading home with his teammates.

Per KMBC, players and staff are thought to have touched down in Missouri shortly after 4.45 p.m. on Monday, following a thrilling 38-35 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday.

This year’s Super Bowl LVII is the second championship that the Chiefs have won in just five years with Mahomes as their field general. The team’s first title under its star player came at the end of the 2019 season against the San Francisco Giants. 

But without Mahomes on Monday, Chiefs players and staff got off their United plane to hop onto buses before being escorted by police back to Arrowhead Stadium.

On their way there, Chiefs fans greeted the team from either side of the road.

The Kansas City Chiefs team plane is given a water salute after arriving back home on Monday

The Kansas City Chiefs team plane is given a water salute after arriving back home on Monday

Chiefs defensive end Carlos Dunlap waves the team's flag as they land back in Kansas City

Chiefs defensive end Carlos Dunlap waves the team’s flag as they land back in Kansas City

Chiefs players then disembarked the aircraft all together before hopping on several buses

Chiefs players then disembarked the aircraft all together before hopping on several buses

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, 64, exits the team's United plane with the Super Bowl Trophy

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, 64, exits the team’s United plane with the Super Bowl Trophy

Reid wore a Chiefs shirt to complement his post-Super Bowl look while holding the big prize

Reid wore a Chiefs shirt to complement his post-Super Bowl look while holding the big prize  

Reid showed off the Vince Lombardi trophy to Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas (far right)

Reid showed off the Vince Lombardi trophy to Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas (far right)

Lucas took pride in holding the trophy in front of Kansas City Sports Commission & Foundation President and CEO Kathy Nelson (far right)

Lucas took pride in holding the trophy in front of Kansas City Sports Commission & Foundation President and CEO Kathy Nelson (far right)

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce returned home after beating his older brother, Jason, on Sunday

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce returned home after beating his older brother, Jason, on Sunday

Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones was also snapped walking towards a bus at the airport

Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones was also snapped walking towards a bus at the airport

Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton came off the team's aircraft with a cowboy hat and his hands full

Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton came off the team’s aircraft with a cowboy hat and his hands full

The Chiefs’ quick return home is tied to city officials releasing the 2023 Super Bowl Parade route, which almost as identical as the team’s 2020 parade route. 

Starting at noon on Wednesday, a double-decker bus is expected to bring Chiefs players and staff to Grand Boulevard in downtown Kansas City. 

The team is then expected to stroll down 6th Street and circle around other parts of the city’s downtown before turning on Pershing Road and ending at Union Station. 

Hundreds of thousands of fans are expected to be present for the parade, especially to hear the team’s rally at around 1.45 p.m. in front of Union Station.

Mahomes, who surely won’t miss his team’s bus parade in two days’ time, finished with 182 yards passing and three touchdowns by the end of Sunday night.

He was especially brilliant while playing with a hurt ankle in the second half: 13-of-14 for 93 yards and two touchdowns. 

The league’s MVP also had 44 yards rushing, including his 26-yard sprint with just over two minutes left in a 35-all game as Kansas City was driving for the go-ahead score. 

Mahomes’ run enabled Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker to then convert a 27-yard field goal with eight second to go, killing any hope of a late Eagles comeback. 

Harrison Butker converted a 27-yard field goal with 8 seconds left on Sunday to win it for KC

Harrison Butker converted a 27-yard field goal with 8 seconds left on Sunday to win it for KC

Chiefs cornerback L'Jarius Sneed came off the Chiefs plane with new Dolce & Gabbana attire

Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed came off the Chiefs plane with new Dolce & Gabbana attire

Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco only wore Kansas City gear after Sunday's Super Bowl win

Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco only wore Kansas City gear after Sunday’s Super Bowl win

Nelson gave a speech to Chiefs players and coaching staff after they disembarked the plane

Nelson gave a speech to Chiefs players and coaching staff after they disembarked the plane

Reid sat on the Chiefs' team bus with the Super Bowl Trophy by his side - the third of his career

Reid sat on the Chiefs’ team bus with the Super Bowl Trophy by his side – the third of his career

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes preferred to celebrate Sunday's Super Bowl win at Disneyland

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes preferred to celebrate Sunday’s Super Bowl win at Disneyland 

However, Philly fans argue that a questionable late penalty on team cornerback James Bradberry with less than two minutes proved to be an anti-climatic ending to an exciting game that saw the Chiefs claw back form a 10-point halftime deficit.

The Chiefs were driving and faced third-and-eight at the Eagles 15-yard line with 1:54 remaining when Mahomes threw an incomplete pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster. But officials flagged Bradberry for defensive holding, which negated the incompletion and, more importantly, gave the Chiefs a first down. 

Replays showed that Bradberry made light contact with Smith-Schuster, though it didn’t appear to affect the play much. The player did admit to have grabbed his opponent’s jersey after the game.

Kansas City was able to essentially run out the clock from that point forward. Chiefs running back Jerick McKinnon made a smart move on the ensuing down, purposefully sliding two yards short of the goal line instead of scoring a touchdown. 

Mahomes then was able to kneel twice as the clock ran down after the Eagles used their final timeout. Butker then converted the game’s decisive field goal.  

Players on the Chiefs celebrate with the the Vince Lombardi at State Farm Stadium on Sunday

Players on the Chiefs celebrate with the the Vince Lombardi at State Farm Stadium on Sunday

source: dailymail.co.uk