MONTEREY >> The memories of sitting down with her dad and watching Super Bowl IV, 55 years ago, in a small Missouri town are precious for Monterey’s Barbara Burke.

After the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Minnesota Vikings 23-7 for the title, Burke was certain there would be more opportunities for her beloved Chiefs to bring home another Lombardi Trophy. Burke patiently waited and waited until it became a part of her bucket list.

“I didn’t think I’d have to wait 50 years for them to get back” to the Super Bowl, Burke said. “It became a lifelong wish to see them win another Super Bowl.”

As the Chiefs attempt to three-peat Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Burke sometimes has to pinch herself.

“I’ve been hooked since watching that game with my dad as a child,” said Burke, the director of operations at Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey. “It hasn’t always been like this.”

Having lived in Monterey for over 30 years, Burke never lost her allegiance to the Chiefs, even through the lean years, when the franchise endured eight losing seasons between 2000-2012.

Sporting a Chiefs Kingdom Flag below her office desk, not to mention Chiefs earrings for this week’s big game, Burke is humbly basking in the team’s recent run of world titles.

“It’s very lonely being a Chiefs fan in Monterey,” Burke smiled. “I think I’ve met three fans in the 30 years I’ve lived here. This recent run has been so amazing.”

Burke, who grew up in a farming town outside Kansas City with a population of 1,000, realized at an early age that the highlight of the week was Sundays in the fall.

“It’s very special to be in an environment like that, where everyone is a Chiefs fan,” Burke said. “I do miss those moments. The people. That’s what we looked forward to.”

For as much success as Kansas City has had, Bruke witnessed eight straight playoff exits in the first round between 1994-2013, as the franchise went 20 years between winning a playoff game.

Before Patrick Mahomes arrived, the last two quarterbacks to engineer playoff wins for the Chiefs were former 49ers quarterbacks Joe Montana and Alex Smith.

Burke was already living in Monterey when Montana — who took San Francisco to four Super Bowl titles — arrived in Kansas City in 1993 in a trade.

“It was a godsend,” Burke said. “It gave me something in common with 49er fans. I knew a lot of people that rooted for Joe as a Chief. He was accepted. And Chiefs fans loved Alex Smith.”

Montana did take the Chiefs to the AFC title game in 1993, their first appearance since winning the Super Bowl in 1970.

In fact, Burke grew to embrace a list of 49ers quarterbacks as Montana, Steve Bono, Elvis Grbac and Smith all spent at least a season in Kansas City.

“My oldest daughter is a big 49ers fan,” Burke said. “It gave us some common ground. We both have gear in our house. It’s a rivalry within our family.”

Which made two of the last three Chiefs Super Bowl titles somewhat bittersweet, since they came at her daughter’s expense.

“I keep kind of a low profile,” Burke said.

Having been to roughly 30 Chiefs games at Arrowhead Stadium, Burke believes nothing has changed since she took in her first game two years after it opened in 1974.

“It’s the same as it is now — loud,” Burke said. “It’s been remodeled. It’s just an amazing place to take in a football game. The decibel level is piercing.”

The tailgating before kickoff outside the stadium almost feels like a holiday celebration, with fans filling the parking lot hours before the game, doing what the city is known for.

“A lot of fans will get there hours before kickoff and put out some amazing barbecues,” Burke said. “It’s just a great atmosphere. It’s been a few years since I’ve been back.”

When Burke reflects, the names Len Dawson, Jan Stenerud and Buddy Bell come to mind, players who took Kansas City to its first Super Bowl title in 1969.

“That’s who I grew up watching,” Burke said. “To me, this current group replicates those teams from the 1970s. There hadn’t been many Hall of Famers until now.”

One of her favorite players of all-time was the late Derrick Thomas, a linebacker in the 1990s and the Chiefs all-time sacks leader with 126.5, who died following a car accident in 2000.

Burke was grateful for the many years tight end Tony Gonzalez played in Kansas City, as well as former linebacker and current Carmel Valley resident Scott Fujita.

She also felt a Monterey Peninsula connection to Kansas City when Herm Edwards, a Monterey High grad, spent three years as the Chiefs head coach, taking them to the playoffs in his first season.

“He was from Monterey,” Burke said. “I was living here. He got us to the playoffs. But it was hard to see Herm go through the last two years.”

What Burke isn’t is a Swiftie.

“The (Taylor) Swift thing is interesting,” Burke said. “I think a lot of die-hard Chiefs fans get tired of the camera always being on her, and some announcers won’t let it go. But it’s brought a lot of new fans to the ‘Chiefs Kingdom,’ which is only a boost for the Chiefs.”

Burke just shrugs off hearing that the Chiefs have lived a charmed life this season with all the alleged calls going their way, and one-score games.

“Everyone seems to pick on the Chiefs for getting some of those calls,” Burke said. “I let it roll off my shoulders. They’re in the Super Bowl. Cry all you want.”

Yet, bring up the potential of a three-peat and Burke admits she gets goosebumps at the thought of the team she grew up watching alongside her dad making NFL history.

“I was fulfilled after they won the Super Bowl in 2019,” Burke said. “This is pretty amazing to have gone to five Super Bowls in six years. It does give me chills.”

From jerseys to slippers to flags and banners, Burke has accrued a house and work office full of red and gold Chiefs memorabilia.

“I have every Chiefs item you can imagine,” Burke said. “It’s the greatest gift that everyone keeps giving me during the holidays.”

Burke and her kids are planning to watch the Super Bowl at Buzzworks in San Francisco, where Chiefs fans congregate weekly to the sports bar to join forces.

As for who will win the game?

“Oh, come on,” laughed Burke. “I don’t think it will be high scoring, like the last time the Chiefs faced the Eagles in the Super Bowl two years ago. I’ll go with 20-13 Chiefs.”