Information about Nfl Championship

Throughout its history, the National Football League and other leagues have used several different formats to determine their league champion, including a period of interleague match-ups determining a true world champion.

The NFL first determined champions through end-of-season standings, but switched over to a playoff system in 1933. The rival All-America Football Conference and American Football League, which have since merged with the NFL (some AAFC teams in 1950 and all ten AFL teams in 1970 respectively), began using the playoff system since the creation of their respective leagues.

From 19661969 prior to the AFL-NFL merger, the NFL and the AFL held a "world championship" game. The game was first called the AFL-NFL World Championship Game later renamed the Super Bowl. The Green Bay Packers won the most of these World Championship Games with two victories.

Since 1970, the modern era NFL has become the only major professional football league in the United States, and its current league championship game is called the Super Bowl. The Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, and San Francisco 49ers have all won five Super Bowls. However, all three franchises trail the Packers who have captured an overall twelve league titles (NFL and Super Bowl) in their illustrious history. The current defending champion of the NFL is the Indianapolis Colts who won Super Bowl XLI over the Chicago Bears.

1920 – 1932: The early years

For a list of NFL standings champions prior to 1933, see List of NFL end-of-season champions


At its inception in 1920, the NFL had no playoff system or championship game. The champion was the team with the best record during the season, determined by winning percentage, with ties omitted. This sometimes led to very odd results, as teams played anywhere from eight to twenty league games in a season, and not all teams played the same number of games.

In the 1932 season, the Chicago Bears and the Portsmouth Spartans tied with the best regular-season winning percentages (although the Green Bay Packers had four more wins).

To determine the champion, the league voted to hold the first playoff game in Chicago at Wrigley Field. Because of severe winter conditions before the game, and fear of low turnout, the game was held indoors at Chicago Stadium which forced some temporary rule changes.

The game was played on a modified 80-yard dirt field, and Chicago won 9-0, winning the league championship. The playoff game proved so popular that the league reorganized into two divisions for the 1933 season, with the winners advancing to a scheduled championship game.

A number of new rule changes were instituted, many inspired by the 1932 indoor championship game: the goal posts were moved forward to the goal line, every play started from between the hash marks, and forward passes could originate from anywhere behind the line of scrimmage (instead of five yards behind).

1933 – 1966: The advent of the postseason

1933 – 1966: NFL Championship Game

For a list of NFL Championship Games and winners, see List of NFL champions
Starting in 1933, the NFL decided its champion through a single postseason playoff game, called the NFL Championship Game. During this period, the league divided its teams into two groups, through 1949 as divisions and from 1950 onward as conferences.
  • Divisions (1933–1949): Eastern and Western
  • Conferences (1950–1952): American and National
  • Conferences (1953–1966): Eastern and Western
The home team for the NFL Championship Game was determined by a yearly rotation between the conferences (or divisions), not by regular-season records. If there was a tie for first place within the conference, an extra playoff game determined which team would play in the NFL Championship Game. (This occurred nine times in these 34 seasons: 1941, 1943, 1947, 1950 (both conferences), 1952, 1957, 1958, and 1965.)

This last occurred during the 1965 season, when the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Colts tied for first place in the Western Conference at 10-3-1. Green Bay had won both its games with Baltimore during the regular season, but because no tie-breaker system was in place, a conference playoff game was held on December 26 (the scheduled date for the NFL championship game). The Cleveland Browns, the Eastern champion at 11-3-0, did not play this week. The playoff pushed the championship game to January 2, 1966, the first time the NFL champion was crowned in January. Green Bay won both post-season games at home, beating the injury-riddled Colts (with third-string QB Tom Matte) in overtime by a field goal, and taking the title 23-12 on a very muddy field (in Jim Brown's final NFL game).

For the 1960 through 1969 seasons, to compete with the rival American Football League's championship games, the NFL staged an additional postseason game called the "Playoff Bowl" (aka the "Bert Bell Benefit Bowl" or the "Runner-up Bowl"). These games matched the second-place teams from the two conferences; the CBS television network advertised them as "playoff games for third place in the NFL." All ten of these consolation games were played in the Orange Bowl in Miami in January, the week after the NFL championship game. The NFL now classifies these contests as exhibition games and does not include the records, participants, or results in the official league playoff statistics. The Playoff Bowl was discontinued after the AFL-NFL merger; the final edition was played in January 1970.

Starting with the 1934 game the winning team received the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy. The trophy was named after Ed Thorp, a noted referee, rules expert, sporting goods dealer. Thorp died in 1934 and a large, traveling trophy was made that year, passed along from champion to champion each season with each championship team's name inscribed on it. Teams would also receive a replica trophy. The trophy was last awarded to the Minnesota Vikings in 1969. The actual trophy however is now missing.[1]

1946 – 1949: AAFC Championship Game

For a list of AAFC Championship Games and winners, see List of AAFC champions


The All-America Football Conference was created in June of 1944 to compete against the NFL. Even though the league outdrew the NFL in attendance, the continuing dominance of the Cleveland Browns led to the league's downfall.

For its four seasons, the league was divided into two divisions: Eastern and Western (1946–1948) and a single division in 1949. The site of the championship game just as in the NFL was determined by divisional rotation except for 1949 when the remaining teams with the best record hosted the game.

The Browns behind the guiding of Otto Graham won all four of the league championship games. A playoff game was played in 1948 to break a tie between the Baltimore Colts and Buffalo Bills (AAFC) and in 1949 to set up a championship game between the Browns and the San Francisco 49ers.

In 1948, the Browns became the first professional football team to complete an entire season undefeated and untied — 24 years before the 1972 Miami Dolphins of the NFL would accomplish the task, but this feat is not recognized by NFL record books. Unlike the AFL statistics which are treated as NFL statistics, records of the AAFC and its teams (most of which folded) are not recognized. However, individual AAFC player statistics are included in Pro Football Hall of Fame records, and the defunct conference is memorialized in the Hall.

1960 – 1966: AFL Championship Game

For a list of AFL Championship Games and winners, see List of AFL champions


With its creation in 1960, the AFL determined its champion via a single playoff game between the winners of its two divisions, the Eastern and Western. The AFL Championship games featured classics such as the 1962 double-overtime championship game between the Dallas Texans and the defending champion Houston Oilers. At the time it was the longest professional football championship game ever played. Also in 1963, an Eastern Division playoff was needed to determine the division winner between the Boston Patriots and Buffalo Bills.

1966 – 1969: NFL vs. AFL - The beginning of the Super Bowl era

For a list of AFL Championship Games and winners, see List of AFL champions
For a list of NFL Championship Games and winners, see List of NFL champions
For a list of AFL-NFL World Championship games, see List of AFL-NFL World champions


In 1966, the success of the rival AFL, the spectre of the NFL's losing more stars to the AFL, and concern over a costly "bidding war" for players precipitated by the NFL's Giants' signing of Pete Gogolak, who was under contract to the AFL's Buffalo Bills, led the two leagues to discuss a merger. Pivotal to this was approval by Congress of a law (PL 89-800) that would waive jeopardy to anti-trust statutes for the merged leagues. The major point of the testimony given by the leagues to obtain the law was that if the merger were permitted, "Professional football operations will be preserved in the 23 cities and 25 stadiums where such operations are presently being conducted." The merger was announced on June 8, 1966, and became fully effective in 1970.

After expanding to enfranchise the New Orleans Saints in 1967, the NFL split its 16 teams into two conferences with two divisions each: the Capitol and Century Divisions in the Eastern Conference, and the Coastal and Central Divisions in the Western Conference. The playoff format was expanded from a single championship game to a four-team tournament, with the four divisional champions participating. The two division winners in each conference met in the "Conference Championships," with the winners advancing to the NFL Championship Game. Again, the home team for each playoff game was determined by a yearly divisional or conference rotation.

The AFL on the other hand, raised its total franchise number to nine in 1966 with the Miami Dolphins, joining the Eastern Division and a tenth team, the Cincinnati Bengals in 1968. The league kept using the one-game-playoff format except when division tie-breakers were needed. With the addition of the Bengals to the Western Division in 1969, the AFL adopted a four-team playoff to determine its champion.

Following the NFL and AFL Championship Games for the 1966 through 1969 seasons, the NFL champion played the AFL champion in Super Bowls I through IV, the only true inter-league championship games in the history of professional football. The first two of these games were known as the AFL-NFL World Championship Game, as the title Super Bowl was not chosen until 1968. Thus the third AFL-NFL matchup was dubbed "Super Bowl III" and the first two matches were retronamed as Super Bowls I and II. The first two games were convincingly won by the NFL's Packers, the last two by the AFL's New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs, leaving the leagues even at 2-2 in "World Championship" competition when they subsequently merged.

All participants in those four AFL-NFL championship games were either AFL champions or NFL champions in the record books, no matter the outcome of the Super Bowl. Three of the four league champions who lost one of the first four Super Bowls would eventually win at least one. The exception, as of 2006, is the Minnesota Vikings.

1970 – present: The Super Bowl era

For a complete list of post-merger Super Bowl winners, see List of Super Bowl champions.

Post Merger

After the 1969 season and Super Bowl IV, the AFL and NFL fully merged and underwent a re-alignment for the 1970 season. Three of the pre-merger NFL teams were transferred to the AFC (Browns, Colts, and Steelers) to level the conferences (AFC and NFC) at 13 teams each; each conference split into three divisions. Since there was now only one league, the Super Bowl became a league championship and the winner is the NFL champion.

With only six division winners in the newly merged league, the NFL designed an eight-team playoff tournament, with four clubs from each conference qualifying. Along with the three division winners in each conference, two wild card teams (one from each conference), the second-place finishers with the best records in each conference, were added to the tournament. The first round was named the "Divisional Playoffs", with the winners advancing to the "Conference Championships" (AFC & NFC). Two weeks later, the AFC and NFC champions met in the Super Bowl, now the league's championship game. Thus, Super Bowl V in January 1971 was the first Super Bowl played for the NFL title.

With the introduction of the wild card, a rule was instituted to prohibit two teams from the same division (champion and wild card) from meeting in the first-round (Divisional Playoffs). This rule would remain in effect through the 1989 season. More significantly, the home teams in the playoffs were still decided by a yearly divisional rotation, not on regular-season records (excluding the wild-card teams, who would always play on the road). This lack of "home-field advantage" was most evident in the 1972 playoffs, when the undefeated Miami Dolphins played the AFC Championship Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who had recorded three losses during the regular season, at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh.

Beginning in 1972, tie games were included in the computing of each team's winning percentage. Each tie was now counted as half of a win and half of a loss, rather than omitted from the computation.

The institution of "home-field advantage"

In 1975, the league modified its 1970 playoff format by instituting a seeding system. The surviving clubs with the higher seeds were made the home teams for each playoff round. The three division champions in each conference were seeded first through third based on their regular-season records, with the wild-card team in each conference as the fourth seed.

Teams that earned the top seed became known as clinching "home-field advantage" throughout the playoffs, since they would play all of their playoff games at their home stadium (except for the Super Bowl, played at a neutral site).

However, the league continued to prohibit meetings between teams from the same division in the Divisional Playoffs. Thus, there would be times when the pairing in that round would pit the first seed versus the third, and the second versus the fourth. This system is identical to that now in use by Major League Baseball.

Further playoff expansion

The league expanded the playoffs to 10 teams in 1978, adding a second wild-card team (a fifth seed) from each conference. The two wild-card teams from each conference (the fourth and fifth seeds) would play each other in the first round, called the "Wild Card Playoffs." The division winners (the first three seeds) would then receive a bye to automatically advance to the Divisional Playoffs, which became the second round of the playoffs. In the divisional round, much like the 1970 playoff format, teams from the same division were still prohibited from playing each other, regardless of seeding. Under the 1978 format, teams from the same division could meet only in the wild-card round or the conference championship.

A players' strike shortened the 1982 season to nine games. The league used a special 16-team playoff tournament for that year. The top eight teams from each conference qualified (ignoring the divisional races -- there were no division standings, and in some cases 2 teams from the same division did not play each other at all that season). The playoffs reverted to the 1978 format in the following year.

In 1990, the NFL expanded the playoffs to twelve teams by adding a third wild-card team (a sixth seed) from each conference. The restrictions on intra-division playoff games during the Divisional Playoffs were removed. However, only the top two division winners in each conference (the 1 and 2 seeds) received byes and automatically advanced to the Divisional Playoffs as host teams. The 3 seed, the division winner with the worst regular season record in each conference, would then host the 6 seed in the Wild Card Playoffs.

In 2002, the NFL realigned into eight divisions, four per conference, to accommodate a 32nd team, the Houston Texans. The playoffs remained a 12-team tournament, with four division winners (the 1, 2, 3, and 4 seeds) and two wild cards (the 5 and 6 seeds) from each conference advancing to the playoffs. Again, only the top two division winners in each conference would automatically advance to the Divisional Playoffs, while everybody else had to play in the Wild Card round. Furthermore, the league still maintains the names "Wild Card Playoffs", "Divisional Playoffs", and "Conference Championships" for the first, second, and third rounds of the playoffs, respectively.

A proposal to expand the playoffs to 14 teams by adding a third wild card team (a seventh seed) from each conference, and only giving the 1 seeds the bye in the first round, was tabled by the league owners in 2003.[2]

List of various league/world championship game systems



Current NFL Championship systemWorld Championship systemDefunct league championship system


League Official Name Common Name First year Last year Trophy name Most successful clubs
(# titles)
NFL(Old) NFL Championship Game(Old) NFL Championship19201969Ed Thorp Memorial TrophyGreen Bay Packers (9)
Chicago Bears (8)
New York Giants (4)
AAFCAAFC Championship GameAAFC Championship19461949AAFC TrophyCleveland Browns (4)
AFLAFL Championship GameAFL Championship19601969AFL TrophyKansas City Chiefs (3)
Buffalo Bills (2)
Houston Oilers (2)
AFL
NFL
AFL-NFL World Championship GameWorld Championship of Pro Football
AFL-NFL World Championship Game
Super Bowl
19661969World Championship Game TrophyGreen Bay Packers (2)
New York Jets (1)
Kansas City Chiefs (1)
NFLSuper Bowl
"(Modern) NFL Championship"
Super Bowl
World Championship
(Modern) NFL Championship
1970Vince Lombardi TrophyDallas Cowboys (5)
San Francisco 49ers (5)
Pittsburgh Steelers (5)

Undefeated regular seasons and "perfect seasons" in professional football

Perfect Season
League Season Franchise Regular Season Post Season Result(s) Recognition
Wins Losses Ties Pct. Finish
NFL1934Chicago Bears13001.0001st NFL WestLost NFL Championship (Giants) (13-30)NFL: Yes
HOF: Yes
1942Chicago Bears11001.0001st NFL WestLost NFL Championship (Redskins) (6-14)NFL: Yes
HOF: Yes
AAFC1948Cleveland Browns14001.0001st AAFC WestWon AAFC championship (Bills) (49-7)NFL: No
HOF: Yes
NFL1972Miami Dolphins14001.0001st AFC EastWon Divisional Playoffs (Browns) (20-14)
Won Conference Championship (Steelers) (21-17)
Won Super Bowl VII (Redskins) (14-7)
NFL: Yes
HOF: Yes

Championships by Franchise

  • After the 1970 AFL-NFL merger and the emergence of the Super Bowl, all AFL and NFL league championship games prior to merger are listed along with the AFC and NFC conference championship games, respectively, in the NFL's official records, but are recorded as league titles for each victorious franchise between 1920 and 1969. The Super Bowl victories for each franchise between 1966 and 1969 are looked upon as "World Championship titles" not league titles so they are not included in most NFL lists due to their short time span.

Most successful professional football franchises in league titles (1920 – present)

These are the championships of professional American football leagues that are recognized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but not necessarily the National Football League official record books. (*): Defunct NFL franchises

Current franchises that have not won a League Championship

Cincinnati BengalsAtlanta Falcons
Jacksonville JaguarsCarolina Panthers
Houston TexansSeattle Seahawks
New Orleans Saints

Most successful professional football franchises in AFL-NFL world championships (1966 – 1969)

Franchise AFL-NFL World Championships League Season(s) Opponent(s) (League)
Green Bay Packers2NFL1966, 1967Kansas City Chiefs (AFL), Oakland Raiders (AFL)
New York Jets1AFL1968Baltimore Colts (NFL)
Kansas City Chiefs1AFL1969Minnesota Vikings (NFL)

Championship games per season

Below is a list of Professional Football champions per season as recognized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

KEY:
  • (#) – the number of league championships won during the Pre-Super Bowl era including the NFL, AAFC, and American Football League.
  • (#)the number of Super Bowl Championships in the Super Bowl era.
  • (#)the total number of league championships won.
  • (#)the number of world championships won; these were only available during the first four Super Bowls, which were interleague matches.

APFA/NFL Standings Champions (1920 – 1932)

''(For the first thirteen seasons, the APFA/NFL did not hold a championship game except in 1932 when a playoff game was held, the precursor to the championship game; from 1920–1971, the NFL did not officially include tie games in the winning percentage.)

Season League Team Win Loss Tie Pct.
1920[11]APFAAkron Pros (1) (1)
8
0
3
1.000
1921APFAChicago Staleys[12] (1) (1)
9
1
1
.900
1922NFLCanton Bulldogs (1) (1)
10
0
2
1.000
1923NFLCanton Bulldogs (2) (2)
11
0
1
1.000
1924NFLCleveland Bulldogs (1) (1)
7
1
1
.875
1925NFLChicago Cardinals (1) (1)
11
2
1
.846
1926NFLFrankford Yellow Jackets (1) (1)
14
1
2
.933
1927NFLNew York Giants (1) (1)
11
1
1
.917
1928NFLProvidence Steam Roller (1) (1)
8
1
2
.889
1929NFLGreen Bay Packers (1) (1)
12
0
1
1.000
1930NFLGreen Bay Packers (2) (2)
10
3
1
.769
1931NFLGreen Bay Packers (3) (3)
12
2
0
.857
1932NFLChicago Bears (2) (2)
7
1
6
.875

NFL Championship Game (1933 – 1945)

(The NFL starts having a championship game, which would continue until 1969.)

Season League Winning Team Score Losing Team Location Attendance
1933NFLChicago Bears (3) (3)23–21New York GiantsWrigley Field26,000
1934NFLNew York Giants (2) (2)30–13Chicago BearsPolo Grounds35,059
1935NFLDetroit Lions (1) (1)26–7New York GiantsUniversity of Detroit Stadium15,000
1936NFLGreen Bay Packers (4) (4)21–6Boston RedskinsPolo Grounds (New York, NY)29,545
1937NFLWashington Redskins (1) (1)28–21Chicago BearsWrigley Field15,870
1938NFLNew York Giants (3) (3)23–17Green Bay PackersPolo Grounds48,120
1939NFLGreen Bay Packers (5) (5)27–0New York GiantsWisconsin State Fair Park (West Allis, WI)32,279
1940NFLChicago Bears (4) (4)73–0Washington RedskinsGriffith Stadium36,034
1941NFLChicago Bears (5) (5)37–9New York GiantsWrigley Field13,341
1942NFLWashington Redskins (2) (2)14–6Chicago BearsGriffith Stadium36,006
1943NFLChicago Bears (6) (6)41–21Washington RedskinsWrigley Field34,320
1944NFLGreen Bay Packers (6) (6)14–7New York GiantsPolo Grounds46,016
1945NFLCleveland Rams (1) (1)15–14Washington RedskinsCleveland Municipal Stadium32,178

NFL Championship Game and AAFC Championship Game (1946 – 1949)

(Between 1946 and 1949 both the NFL and AAFC were in operation with the merger of the AAFC into the NFL taking place in 1950.)

Season League Winning Team Score Losing Team Location Attendance
1946AAFCCleveland Browns (1) (1)14–9New York YankeesCleveland Municipal Stadium41,181
NFLChicago Bears (7) (7)24–14New York GiantsPolo Grounds58,346
1947AAFCCleveland Browns (2) (2)14–3New York YankeesYankee Stadium60,103
NFLChicago Cardinals (2) (2)28–21Philadelphia EaglesComiskey Park30,759
1948AAFCCleveland Browns (3) (3)49–7Buffalo BillsCleveland Municipal Stadium22,981
NFLPhiladelphia Eagles (1) (1)7–0Chicago CardinalsShibe Park36,309
1949AAFCCleveland Browns (4) (4)21–7San Francisco 49ersCleveland Municipal Stadium22,550
NFLPhiladelphia Eagles (2) (2)14–0Los Angeles RamsLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum27,980

NFL Championship Game (1950 – 1959)

(Between 1950 and 1959 the NFL was the only operating league with former AAFC franchises the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, and Baltimore Colts joining the NFL. The number in the parenthesis is total number of NFL championships and the bolded number in parenthesis is the total number of league championships.)

Year League Winning Team Score Losing Team Location Attendance
1950NFLCleveland Browns[13] (1) (5)30–28Los Angeles RamsCleveland Municipal Stadium29,751
1951NFLLos Angeles Rams (2) (2)24–17Cleveland BrownsLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum57,522
1952NFLDetroit Lions (2) (2)17–7Cleveland BrownsCleveland Municipal Stadium50,934
1953NFLDetroit Lions (3) (3)17–16Cleveland BrownsBriggs Stadium54,577
1954NFLCleveland Browns (2) (6)56–10Detroit LionsCleveland Municipal Stadium43,827
1955NFLCleveland Browns (3) (7)38–14Los Angeles RamsLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum85,693
1956NFLNew York Giants (4) (4)47–7Chicago BearsYankee Stadium56,836
1957NFLDetroit Lions (4) (4)59–14Cleveland BrownsBriggs Stadium55,263
1958NFLBaltimore Colts (1) (1)23–17 (OT)New York GiantsYankee Stadium64,185
1959NFLBaltimore Colts (2) (2)31–16New York GiantsMemorial Stadium57,545

AFL Championship Game and NFL Championship Game (1960 – 1965)

(The NFL was joined by the American Football League from 1960 to 1969 with the AFL merging with the NFL in 1970. The number in the parenthesis is total number of NFL or AFL championships and the bolded number in parenthesis is the total number of league championships.)

Season League Winning Team Score Losing Team Location Attendance
1960AFLHouston Oilers (1) (1)24–16Los Angeles ChargersJeppesen Stadium32,183
NFLPhiladelphia Eagles (3) (3)17–13Green Bay PackersFranklin Field67,325
1961AFLHouston Oilers (2) (2)10–3San Diego ChargersBalboa Stadium29,556
NFLGreen Bay Packers (7) (7)37–0New York Giants"New" City Stadium39,029
1962AFLDallas Texans (1) (1)20–17 (2OT)Houston OilersJeppesen Stadium37,981
NFLGreen Bay Packers (8) (8)16–7New York GiantsYankee Stadium64,892
1963AFLSan Diego Chargers (1) (1)51–10Boston PatriotsBalboa Stadium30,127
NFLChicago Bears (8) (8)14–10New York GiantsWrigley Field45,801
1964AFLBuffalo Bills (1) (1)20–7San Diego ChargersWar Memorial Stadium40,242
NFLCleveland Browns (4) (8)27–0Baltimore ColtsCleveland Municipal Stadium79,544
1965AFLBuffalo Bills (2) (2)23–0San Diego ChargersBalboa Stadium30,361
NFLGreen Bay Packers (9) (9)23–12Cleveland BrownsLambeau Field50,777

AFL-NFL World Championship Game (The Super Bowl) (1966 – 1969)

(From 1966 to 1969 both NFL and AFL champions meet in the first and so far only World Championship games to decide a champion between leagues, the series ended NFL two, AFL two.)[3]
Season League Game Winning Team Score Losing Team Location Attendance
1966AFL Kansas City Chiefs (2) (2)31–7Buffalo BillsWar Memorial Stadium42,080
NFL Green Bay Packers (10) (10)34–27Dallas CowboysCotton Bowl74,152
 IGreen Bay Packers (1)35–10Kansas City ChiefsLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum61,946
1967AFL Oakland Raiders (1) (1)40–7Houston OilersOakland Coliseum53,330
NFL Green Bay Packers (11) (11)21–17Dallas CowboysLambeau Field50,861
 IIGreen Bay Packers (2)33–14Oakland RaidersMiami Orange Bowl75,546
1968AFL New York Jets (1) (1)27–23Oakland RaidersShea Stadium62,627
NFL Baltimore Colts (3) (3)34–0Cleveland BrownsCleveland Municipal Stadium78,410
 IIINew York Jets (1)16–7Baltimore ColtsMiami Orange Bowl75,389
1969AFL Kansas City Chiefs (3) (3)17–7Oakland RaidersOakland Coliseum53,561
NFL Minnesota Vikings (1) (1)27–7Cleveland BrownsMetropolitan Stadium46,503
 IVKansas City Chiefs (1)23–7Minnesota VikingsTulane Stadium, New Orleans80,562

Super Bowl Championship (1970 – present)

(With the merger of the AFL with the NFL, the Super Bowl became the NFL's championship game. The number in the parenthesis is total number of Super Bowl championships and the bolded number in parenthesis is the total number of league championships.)
Further information: List of Super Bowl champions


Season League Game Winning Team Score Losing Team Venue City
1970NFLVBaltimore Colts (1) (4)16–13Dallas CowboysMiami Orange BowlMiami
1971NFLVIDallas Cowboys (1) (1)24–3Miami DolphinsTulane StadiumNew Orleans
1972NFLVIIMiami Dolphins (1) (1)14–7Washington RedskinsLos Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles
1973NFLVIIIMiami Dolphins (2) (2)24–7Minnesota VikingsRice StadiumHouston
1974NFLIXPittsburgh Steelers (1) (1)16–6Minnesota VikingsTulane StadiumNew Orleans
1975NFLXPittsburgh Steelers (2) (2)21–17Dallas CowboysMiami Orange BowlMiami
1976NFLXIOakland Raiders (1) (2)32–14Minnesota VikingsRose Bowl StadiumPasadena
1977NFLXIIDallas Cowboys (2) (2)27–10Denver BroncosLouisiana SuperdomeNew Orleans
1978NFLXIIIPittsburgh Steelers (3) (3)35–31Dallas CowboysMiami Orange BowlMiami
1979NFLXIVPittsburgh Steelers (4) (4)31–19Los Angeles RamsRose Bowl StadiumPasadena
1980NFLXVOakland Raiders (2) (3)27–10Philadelphia EaglesLouisiana SuperdomeNew Orleans
1981NFLXVISan Francisco 49ers (1) (1)26–21Cincinnati BengalsPontiac SilverdomePontiac
1982NFLXVIIWashington Redskins (1) (3)27–17Miami DolphinsRose Bowl StadiumPasadena
1983NFLXVIIILos Angeles Raiders (3) (4)38–9Washington RedskinsTampa StadiumTampa
1984NFLXIXSan Francisco 49ers (2) (2)38–16Miami DolphinsStanford StadiumStanford
1985NFLXXChicago Bears (1) (9)46–10New England PatriotsLouisiana SuperdomeNew Orleans
1986NFLXXINew York Giants (1) (5)39–20Denver BroncosRose Bowl StadiumPasadena
1987NFLXXIIWashington Redskins (2) (4)42–10Denver BroncosJack Murphy StadiumSan Diego
1988NFLXXIIISan Francisco 49ers (3) (3)20–16Cincinnati BengalsJoe Robbie StadiumMiami
1989NFLXXIVSan Francisco 49ers (4) (4)55–10Denver BroncosLouisiana SuperdomeNew Orleans
1990NFLXXVNew York Giants (2) (6)20–19Buffalo BillsTampa StadiumTampa
1991NFLXXVIWashington Redskins (3) (5)37–24Buffalo BillsMetrodomeMinneapolis
1992NFLXXVIIDallas Cowboys (3) (3)52–17Buffalo BillsRose Bowl StadiumPasadena
1993NFLXXVIIIDallas Cowboys (4) (4)30–13Buffalo BillsGeorgia DomeAtlanta
1994NFLXXIXSan Francisco 49ers (5) (5)49–26San Diego ChargersJoe Robbie StadiumMiami
1995NFLXXXDallas Cowboys (5) (5)27–17Pittsburgh SteelersSun Devil StadiumTempe
1996NFLXXXIGreen Bay Packers (3) (12)35–21New England PatriotsLouisiana SuperdomeNew Orleans
1997NFLXXXIIDenver Broncos (1) (1)31–24Green Bay PackersQualcomm StadiumSan Diego
1998NFLXXXIIIDenver Broncos (2) (2)34–19Atlanta FalconsPro Player StadiumMiami
1999NFLXXXIVSt. Louis Rams (1) (3)23–16Tennessee TitansGeorgia DomeAtlanta
2000NFLXXXVBaltimore Ravens (1) (1)34–7New York GiantsRaymond James StadiumTampa
2001NFLXXXVINew England Patriots (1) (1)20–17St. Louis RamsLouisiana SuperdomeNew Orleans
2002NFLXXXVIITampa Bay Buccaneers (1) (1)48–21Oakland RaidersQualcomm StadiumSan Diego
2003NFLXXXVIIINew England Patriots (2) (2)32–29Carolina PanthersReliant StadiumHouston
2004NFLXXXIXNew England Patriots (3) (3)24–21Philadelphia EaglesALLTEL StadiumJacksonville
2005NFLXLPittsburgh Steelers (5) (5)21–10Seattle SeahawksFord FieldDetroit
2006NFLXLIIndianapolis Colts (2) (5)29–17Chicago BearsDolphin StadiumMiami Gardens

Footnotes

1. ^ For more information on the trophy visit [1]
2. ^ For more information on the proposed playoff expansion visit [2]
3. ^ This table lists all of the league championships won by these franchises between 1920 and 1969. Between 1966 and 1969 the winners of the NFL and AFL met in the so far only true world championship game, the Super Bowl, which after 1970 became the new NFL Championship Game. The winners of those games are not listed on this table but a separate one.
4. ^
5. ^ Official NFL record books do not recognize the 4 AAFC Championships by the Cleveland Browns franchise. However, the Pro Football Hall of Fame does list them as apart of the 8 total league championships by the Browns
6. ^
7. ^
8. ^
9. ^
10. ^
11. ^ No official standings were maintained for the 1920 season, and the championship was awarded to the Akron Pros in a league meeting on April 30, 1921. Clubs played schedules that included games against non-league opponents.
12. ^ became the Chicago Bears in 1922
13. ^ When the Browns joined the NFL in 1950, their championship victory was their first in their NFL tenure hence why the number one is in parenthesis, but the bolded number is five, which reflects both NFL and AAFC championships.
14. ^




Sport American football
Founded 1920
CEO Roger Goodell (Commissioner)
No. of teams 32, divided into two sixteen-team conferences, each of which consists of four four-team divisions.
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The All-America Football Conference (AAFC) was a professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League (NFL) from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL’s most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many of the nation’s best players,
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Sport American Professional Football
Founded 1959
First Season 1960
Last Season 1969
No. of teams 8 (1960), 9 (1966), 10 (1968-1969)
Country  United States

Merged 1970, with NFL

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The 1950 NFL season was the 31st regular season of the National Football League. The merger with the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) expanded the league to 13 teams. Meanwhile, television brought a new era to the game.
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The 1970 NFL season was the 51st regular season of the National Football League, and the first one after the AFL-NFL Merger.

The merger forced a realignment between the combined league's clubs.
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The 1966 NFL season was the 47th regular season of the National Football League, and the season after which was played Super Bowl I, though it was called the AFL-NFL World Championship Game. The league expanded to 15 teams with the addition of the Atlanta Falcons.
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Regular season September 21, 1969 - December 21, 1969
Champions Minnesota Vikings
'''Pro Bowl January 18 1970

The 1969 NFL season was the 50th regular season of the National Football League, and the last one before the AFL-NFL Merger.
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The AFL-NFL merger of 1970 was the merger of the two major professional American football leagues in the United States at the time: the National Football League (NFL) and the American Football League (AFL).
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Green Bay Packers
Year founded: 1919

Helmet Logo
City Green Bay, Wisconsin

Team colors Green, Yellow, and White
Head Coach Mike McCarthy
Owner Green Bay Packers, Inc.
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Motto
"In God We Trust"   (since 1956)
"E Pluribus Unum"   ("From Many, One"; Latin, traditional)
Anthem
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Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League (NFL). It and its ancillary festivities constitute Super Bowl Sunday, which over the years has become the most-watched U.S. television broadcast of the year, and has become likened to a de facto U.S.
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Dallas Cowboys
Year founded: 1960

Helmet Logo
City Irving, Texas
Other nicknames America's Team, The Boys
Team colors Silver, Navy Blue
Head Coach Wade Phillips
Owner Jerry Jones


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Pittsburgh Steelers
Year founded: 1933

Helmet Logo
City Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Team colors Black and Gold
Head Coach Mike Tomlin
Owner Dan Rooney

Mascot Steely McBeam

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San Francisco 49ers
Year founded: 1946

Helmet Logo
City San Francisco, California
Other nicknames Niners, The Red And Gold, Bay Bombers
Team colors Cardinal red, metallic gold and black
Head Coach Mike Nolan
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Indianapolis Colts
Year founded: 1953

Helmet Logo
City Indianapolis, Indiana
Other nicknames The Horseshoes
Team colors Speed Blue and White
Head Coach Tony Dungy
Owner Jim Irsay


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Super Bowl XLI

1 2 3 4 Total
6 10 6 7 29
14 0 3 0 17
Date February 4 2007
Stadium Dolphin Stadium
City Miami Gardens, Florida
MVP Peyton Manning, Quarterback, Colts
Favorite Colts by 6.
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Chicago Bears
Year founded: 1919

Helmet Logo
City Chicago, Illinois
Other nicknames Da Bears, The Monsters of the Midway
Team colors Midnight Navy and Burnt Orange
Head Coach Lovie Smith
Owner
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Regular season September 26 1920 - December 18 1920
Champions Akron Pros
'''Pro Bowl

The 1920 NFL season was the inaugural regular season of the National Football League.
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Regular season September 18 1932 - December 11 1932
Champions Chicago Bears
'''Pro Bowl The 1932 NFL season was the 13th regular season of the National Football League.
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Chicago Bears
Year founded: 1919

Helmet Logo
City Chicago, Illinois
Other nicknames Da Bears, The Monsters of the Midway
Team colors Midnight Navy and Burnt Orange
Head Coach Lovie Smith
Owner
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Detroit Lions
Year founded: 1930

Helmet Logo
City Detroit, Michigan

Team colors Honolulu Blue, Silver, and Black
Head Coach Rod Marinelli
Owner William Clay Ford, Sr.
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Green Bay Packers
Year founded: 1919

Helmet Logo
City Green Bay, Wisconsin

Team colors Green, Yellow, and White
Head Coach Mike McCarthy
Owner Green Bay Packers, Inc.
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1932 NFL Playoff Game was the first ever playoff game held by the National Football League (NFL), the major professional American football sports league in the United States.
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City of Chicago

Flag
Seal
Nickname: "The Windy City", "The Second City", "ChiTown", "Hog Butcher for the World", "City of the Big Shoulders", "The City That Works"
Motto: "Urbs in Horto
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Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales.
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Chicago Stadium was a famed and historic indoor sports arena in Chicago, Illinois. The Stadium hosted the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL from 1929-1994 and the Chicago Bulls of the NBA from 1967-1994.
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Regular season September 17 1933 - December 10 1933
Champions Chicago Bears
'''Pro Bowl

The 1933 NFL season was the 14th regular season of the National Football League.
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line of scrimmage is an imaginary transverse line crossing the football field across its narrower dimension, beyond which a team cannot cross until the next play has begun.
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<onlyinclude>This is a list of National Football League champions prior to the 1970 AFL-NFL Merger, that is, all the franchises that have won the championship of the National Football League.
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Regular season September 17 1933 - December 10 1933
Champions Chicago Bears
'''Pro Bowl

The 1933 NFL season was the 14th regular season of the National Football League.
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