The NFL has been around for over 100 years, leaving us with a lot of history and statistics to use as measurements for determining the best team!
Depending on which metrics you look at, there are a few ways to determine the best NFL teams of all time. Whether you’re looking only at hard data, a specific year’s talent and performance, or a team’s legacy and your personal connection, you might come up with a different answer than another football enthusiast!
| Ranking | Year | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1972 | Miami Dolphins |
| 2 | 1985 | Chicago Bears |
| 3 | 2007 | New England Patriots |
| 4 | 1984 | San Francisco 49ers |
| 5 | 1978 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 6 | 1962 | Green Bay Packers |
| 7 | 1991 | Washington Redskins (now the Washington Commanders) |
| 8 | 1999 | St. Louis Rams (now the Los Angeles Rams) |
| 9 | 1994 | San Francisco 49ers |
| 10 | 1992 | Dallas Cowboys |
Let’s discover which factors to take into consideration when deciding the greatest NFL teams of all time.
What Is the Best NFL Team of All Time?
Football enthusiasts typically agree on this topic when you break it down to a yearly choice instead of franchises as a whole. While deciding the best team ever is more complicated because of all the factors that go into what makes a football team great, we can see which teams dominated in their respective years with ease.
Here are the NFL top 10 football teams of all time!
#1 1972 Miami Dolphins
In addition to a perfect season, the team outperformed all the other teams in terms of total offense, scoring offense, total defense, and scoring defense. Although the game has changed in many ways since this season, no other team has ever accomplished all these feats in just a single season to date!
The Dolphins overcame a detrimental ankle injury to their star leading quarterback, Bob Griese early in the season. Backup QB Morrall was able to cover 9 games and keep the team’s trajectory to victory. Overall, with the amount of leadership and teamwork required to earn those stats, score a perfect season, and secure the Super Bowl, there’s little doubt that the ‘72 Dolphins are the best football team of all time.
#2 1985 Chicago Bears
The only loss the Bears gave up in the regular season was to the Dolphins, which secured Miami’s continuous claim to fame as the only Super Bowl-winning team to also have a perfect season. In their otherwise perfect season, the Bears only gave up 198 points to opponents in total, which is not the lowest amount of points given-up ever but it’s quite low!
They went on to shut out their opponents in the divisional playoffs, defeating the New York Giants 21-0 and the Los Angeles Rams 24-0. In the big game, the Bears only allowed the New England Patriots to score 10 points, while the Bears defeated them with a sizzling 45 points. Chicago was on fire that year, making the ‘85 Bears one of the best NFL teams of all time.
#3 2007 New England Patriots
Even though the Pats fettered away their victory at the last second, losing to the New York Giants 17-14, their entire game -- from the start of the regular season up to the moment Giants player David Tyree took control and made the decisive touchdown -- was strong.
Had they won the big game, they would have been the second team (after the Dolphins) to achieve a perfect season and secure a Super Bowl win. And, they were the first team to accomplish a perfect regular season after it had been increased to 16 games. Additionally, they broke the record for most points scored in a regular season, racking up 589 over the 16 games. It was common that year to see the Pats winning games with scores like 56-10 and 38-14.
Even so, the Pats are tied with the Steelers for the most Super Bowl wins overall (6 each). Had they not choked on the last game, they surely would have gone down as the best NFL team in history!
Depending on the metrics you’re measuring, you may come up with a different answer than another football enthusiast. It’s generally accepted that Tom Brady is the greatest overall football player, with others like Jerry Rice, Jim Brown, and Walter Payton ranking just behind.
#4 1984 San Francisco 49ers
The first team to win 15 of the newly-established 16-game season, the ‘84 49ers are best known for Joe Montana pulling all the stops in Super Bowl XIX, ultimately securing the win.
#5 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers had a good run in the 70s, winning four Super Bowls between ‘75 and ‘80. so it’s hard to pick which year was their best. This year was home to one of the best NFL team formations –the “Steel Curtain” – consisting of “Mean” Joe Greene, L.C. Greenwood, Ernie Holmes, and Dwight White.
#6 1962 Green Bay Packers
The second year of victory in a row for Green Bay, this year’s team is known for being packed-full of future MVPs including Jim Taylor, Willie Davis, Henry Jordan, Ray Nitschke, Herb Adderley, and Willie Wood.
The NFL was first invented in 1920, and by that time there were already a few teams ready to join the association. There were 16 original teams, but only two (the Chicago Bears and the Arizona Cardinals) are still around today.
The Green Bay Packers were formed in 1921 and are the oldest team with their original name.
#7 1991 Washington Redskins (now the Washington Commanders)
After a couple of disappointing years, it was incredible for fans to see their team turn it around and have an amazing year. Strong offensive and defensive players combined with great teamwork helped them secure a healthy lead in scores against their opponents.
#8 1999 St. Louis Rams (now the Los Angeles Rams)
The Rams led an impressive season with an enviable amount of points, passes, and yards secured throughout. But, the thing that everyone was talking about most was that rookie starting QB Kurt Warner was dominating the field just two years after leaving his job as a grocery store clerk, among all the pros who had been training for years and years!
#9 1994 San Francisco 49ers
Steve Young faced off against the 49ers’ previous quarterback and Young’s old teammate, Joe Montana. Young was bringing the heat and led what may have been the greatest offense in NFL history. Combined with one of the best defenses of the season (ranked 6th), the team was formidable to the end.
#10 1992 Dallas Cowboys
Thanks to the team’s efforts, especially the Triplets (Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin), the Cowboys saw a season full of both offensive and defensive strength which led them to win Super Bowl XXVII. Today, they are one of the most popular football teams!
Who Is the Best Team in the NFL Today?
As we gear up for the 2024 season, experts and fans are already speculating about the power rankings and odds for Super Bowl LVIII.
The 49ers seem to be a safe choice for slot number 1, but nipping at their heels are the Chiefs, the Ravens, and the Bills.
What Is the NFL?
It’s a good idea to have more background information to make more informed opinions! Here are the basics of the NFL.
The NFL (National Football League) is the premier professional American football league in the world. The League makes it possible for the teams to coordinate and collaborate, running their respective franchises throughout the year, gain sponsors, train team members, pay players and staff, and participate in the nationwide championship tournament.
It was first established in 1920 with the help of Jim Thorpe. At the time, it was called the American Professional Football Association (APFA) and there were only 14 teams in the league across the US. By 1922, the association was renamed to the NFL.
Today, there are 32 teams organized into 2 conferences, with 4 divisions within each conference. The seasons run from September to February, ending with the Super Bowl, the biggest competition of the year where all 32 teams compete for the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
While the NFL and football as we know it (American Football) are primarily enjoyed by North Americans, they are slowly gaining popularity in other parts of the world.
In 2023, the Kansas City Chiefs were the most popular team in the NFL according to a survey. But, according to a different 2023 survey, the Green Bay Packers are the most popular!
Based on Google search data from 2017 to 2022, the Dallas Cowboys are the most-searched team globally.
The answer to this question depends on how you define "most known."
What Were the Original NFL Teams?
There were only 14 teams in the 1920 inaugural APFA season. Of those 14, only 2 remain today.
Inaugural NFL Teams
- Akron Pros
- Buffalo All-Americans (Later renamed Buffalo Bisons, then Buffalo Rangers)
- Canton Bulldogs
- Chicago Cardinals (Later renamed Arizona Cardinals)
- Chicago Tigers
- Cleveland Tigers
- Columbus Panhandles (Later renamed Columbus Tigers)
- Dayton Triangles
- Decatur Staleys (Later renamed Chicago Bears)
- Detroit Heralds
- Hammond Pros
- Muncie Flyers
- Rochester Jeffersons
- Rock Island Independents
The Akron Pros won this first season, and even though they didn’t have the most wins, they were the only team with no losses.
How to Determine the Best NFL Team
What’s most important to you when you think about ranking NFL teams?
For most people, it comes down to the number of championship wins. But, you also can’t forget about a team’s history and other more nuanced factors!
Here are the most popular ways people tend to measure the greatness of NFL teams.
Super Bowl Wins
The football league we know today first formed in 1920, but the first Super Bowl wasn’t until 1966. Plus, younger teams have had fewer shots at the championship than older teams.
So, while it’s a big deal for a team to win the Super Bowl and have the most wins, it’s not a 100% comprehensive look at their entire franchise history, for better or for worse.
Total Wins Across All Seasons/Championships
Currently, each team plays 17 games over the course of 18 weeks from September to January, which is the NFL season. There have been changes in how many games are played in the regular season several times over NFL history, so measuring "how many games" versus "percentage of games" is a false equivalence.
You can measure how the teams performed in terms of wins and losses during the regular season instead of or in addition to how they perform during the playoff season leading up to the Super Bowl.
Statistics
Beyond wins and losses, there are a ton of other stats that people love to measure about any sport. Within football, the most popular statistical categories are:
Offense: Passing, Rushing, Receiving, Scoring, and Downs
Defense: Passing, Rushing, Receiving, Scoring, Tackles, Downs, Fumbles, Interceptions
Within each category, there are specific stats like Attempts, Completed, %Completed, and Yards Gained.
Franchise History & Fanbase
In the same vein of team lineage, many people look to a team’s legacy as a key factor when determining the most popular NFL teams.
Were the coaches and players particularly intriguing or lovable by their fans? Did they overcome hardship together, even if they didn’t win games? Does the franchise have a deeper meaning to their fanbase or their hometown? Are the fans the most fanatical in the NFL now, or were they in the past?
These subjective things matter more to some people than any hard facts and statistics.
Talent and Leadership
Sometimes, players and coaches are so irrefutably remarkable that even their rivals can’t deny it. When teams have amazing teamwork and synergy, everyone stops and takes note. Even the biggest rivals can appreciate when a team member or coach is bringing the magic to team practice, the locker room, and the field!
List of All NFL Teams
There have been the same 32 NFL teams since 2002 when the Houston Texans joined the ranks. While there are a few stand-out teams that keep showing up in “best-of” lists, the majority of franchises have won at least one Super Bowl.
| NFC | AFC |
|---|---|
| Arizona Cardinals | Baltimore Ravens |
| Atlanta Falcons | Buffalo Bills |
| Carolina Panthers | Cincinnati Bengals |
| Chicago Bears | Cleveland Browns |
| Dallas Cowboys | Denver Broncos |
| Detroit Lions | Houston Texans |
| Green Bay Packers | Indianapolis Colts |
| Los Angeles Rams | Jacksonville Jaguars |
| Minnesota Vikings | Kansas City Chiefs |
| New Orleans Saints | Las Vegas Raiders |
| New York Giants | Los Angeles Chargers |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Miami Dolphins |
| San Francisco 49ers | New England Patriots |
| Seattle Seahawks | New York Jets |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Washington Commanders | Tennessee Titans |
There are 12 teams that have never won a Super Bowl: Jacksonville Jaguars, the Houston Texans, the Detroit Lions, the Cleveland Browns, the Arizona Cardinals, the Los Angeles Chargers, the Tennessee Titans, the Atlanta Falcons, the Carolina Panthers, the Cincinnati Bengals, the Buffalo Bills, and the Minnesota Vikings.
The only teams to have never even appeared in a Super Bowl game are the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Houston Texans, the Detroit Lions, and the Cleveland Browns.
For many fans and football enthusiasts, determining the best team comes down to a mixture of cold, hard data and subjective sentimentality.
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Great article!
Thank you, Lisa!
Great teams.
I think Dallas cowboys have had the best players in all time history to my opinion
Great teams.
Thank you, Annette!
I wanna know who is the best player in 2022 – So can you tell me?
Hello Lincoln! Based on several resources, the best player of 2022 was Tom Brady! 🏈
why though?
why though? your thing