These Football Squads Showed The Game At Its Finest
While debating if the Kansas City Chiefs are the new New England Patriots, take a look back at some of the greatest individual teams and dynasties throughout NFL history. Almost all of these earned the label of “America’s team” at some point.
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1983 Los Angeles Raiders
The Raiders football franchise has a chaotic history, to say the very least. After all, they began in Oakland, moved to Los Angeles in 1982, back to the bright side of the bay in 1995, and then to Las Vegas in 2020.
1983 Los Angeles Raiders
One of the best times in franchise history, though, was their 1983 team, whose season concluded with them triumphantly winning the Super Bowl 38-9 against the team now referred to as the Washington Commanders. Their key feature was a dominant offense led by running back Marcus Allen who broke the record for rushing yards.
1999 St Louis Rams
Former Rams quarterback Kurt Warner’s meteoric rise to fame was dramatized in a Christian-themed film called American Underdog from a few years ago. This is an indication as to what a big deal the Rams’ 1999 season, where Warner led them to a Super Bowl victory, was.
Sean Daly, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
1999 St Louis Rams
Warner’s quarterback skills weren’t the only thing that made the Rams such a great team, as they were also aided by running back Marshall Faulk as well as wide receivers Isaac Bruce and Tory Holt. Even with the great offensive skill, the Super Bowl game ended up coming down to one play, which depended on the defensive skill of linebacker Mike Jones.
Baer Tirkel, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1971 Dallas Cowboys
The first of the Dallas Cowboys franchise’s five Super Bowl victories was from the 1971 squad. The shift for the team seems to be thanks to the quarterback Roger Staubach, who became the team’s starter around the half-point of the season.
1971 Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys’ dominance that year was thanks to an equally strong offense and defense. In what will become a running theme of the list, the latter even earned the nickname of the “doomsday” defense.
2006 Indianapolis Colts
The height of quarterback Peyton Manning’s fame was undeniable in 2006 when he led the Indianapolis Colts to their first Super Bowl victory since the early 1970s. The victory lap was getting to host Saturday Night Live months later, where he received praise for being one of the best athletes to do the gig.
2006 Indianapolis Colts
Another member of the 2006 Colts who earned a spot in the hall of fame was wide receiver Marvin Harrison, who provided essential offensive finesse. The team has still never been as good since, as no more Super Bowl wins occurred in the following years.
Djmunden, CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
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1975 Pittsburgh Steelers
Before he was doing goofy mugging faces on Fox NFL Sunday or as Matthew McConaughey’s father in Hollywood romcoms, quarterback Terry Bradshaw was one of America’s favorite football players. After all, he was the face of the 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers dynasty.
Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1975 Pittsburgh Steelers
In 1975, one of four Super Bowl victories for the team during the 1970s, it helped that their winning game against the Dallas Cowboys was such an exciting affair. Wide receiver Lynn Swann was the game MVP for his 61-yard touchdown score which helped the Steelers win at the very end.
Malcolm Emmons, Wikimedia Commons
1996 Green Bay Packers
Would Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre have been asked to cameo in There’s Something About Mary as himself were it not for the Green Bay Packers’ impressive 1996 season? Named MVP of the league that year, it was undeniably his peak as a player.
David Wilson, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1996 Green Bay Packers
The Packers also boasted the league’s best defense that year, with pass rusher Reggie White and safety LeRoy Butler providing essential support. Return specialist Desmond Howard stole the actual Super Bowl for the team, though, especially his 99-yard touchdown run which cemented the team’s win.
David Wilson, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1989 San Francisco 49ers
The last of the four Super Bowls won by the 80s San Francisco 49ers, the 1989 squad bore a special distinction for blowing out the Denver Broncos 55-10 during the championship game. You may even remember a joke about it in a Simpsons episode.
1989 San Francisco 49ers
As for why this 49ers squad was so particularly good, look no further than its star players. The face of the team was certainly wide receiver Jerry Rice who scored 17 touchdowns that season, eclipsing the fame of even quarterback Joe Montana.
1973 Miami Dolphins
Beyond the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Miami Dolphins were the team to embody the 1970s image of the NFL best. Though, looking at the Super Bowl victories the team achieved, it articulates a certain philosophy of football which is maybe out of fashion nowadays.
1973 Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins’ approach to football time was not necessarily favoring a high-scoring offense but rather an extremely formidable defense. During the Super Bowl that year, quarterback Bob Griese set the record fewest pass attempts by a starter, emphasizing that the team was about players that weren’t heavy on flash.
2019 Kansas City Chiefs
Remember wide receiver Travis Kelce before they cut to Taylor Swift at every game? The beginning of the Kansas City Chiefs dynasty may have seen them at their very best, even if many of the same players still remain, like quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
2019 Kansas City Chiefs
A great reason why this Chief season sticks out so much was the triumphant comeback they pulled in the Super Bowl game when they scored three touchdowns within the span of five minutes to take back the lead.
All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1986 New York Giants
There’s been a lot of focus so far on quarterbacks, wide receivers, and running backs, but in the case of the 1986 New York Giants, you’ve got to highlight the head coach. Coach Bill Parcells belongs in the Hall of Fame for his strong leadership and philosophy to football.
US Air Force, Wikimedia Commons
1986 New York Giants
While it wasn’t a Super Bowl game, many point out the strength of the 1986 Giants in how they gave the dynasty of the 80s, the 49ers, a 49-3 whooping in a playoff game. They then shut out their next playoff opponent, Washington, showing just how strong their defense was.
1966 Green Bay Packers
Speaking of influential coaches, you really can’t discuss the image of professional football without referencing Vince Lombardi. The Packers coach led the team to victories in the first two Super Bowl games ever played.
1966 Green Bay Packers
Quarterback Bart Starr certainly served as the face of the 1966 Packers team alongside Lombardi, but the defense was likely what made this such a legendary squad. After all, they allowed only an average of 11.6 points per game to be scored against them.
2016 New England Patriots
Finally, the list arrives at the highly divisive New England Patriots who, without a doubt, were the dynasty of 21st-century football with six Super Bowl rings to their name. The 2016 squad saw their penultimate victory under the guidance of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.
Alexander Jonesi, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
2016 New England Patriots
The Super Bowl won by the 2016 Patriots squad was notable for taking place amidst a highly contested political atmosphere where they were seen as the team sympathetic to newly elected President Donald Trump. The second notable element was the comeback victory they pulled after being down a whole 20 points going into halftime.
SAB0TEUR, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1998 Denver Broncos
The 1998 season was, without a doubt, bittersweet for the Denver Broncos. While it concluded with their second consecutive Super Bowl victory, it also marked the last season for veteran quarterback John Elway, who had been the team's face for 15 seasons.
Tech. Sgt. Scott M. Ash, Wikimedia Commons
1998 Denver Broncos
Elway was appropriately given the MVP distinction of his very last game, as he threw two touchdowns and passed 336 yards. The defense met him at his level in that championship game, forcing four turnovers against the Atlanta Falcons.
1976 Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders were always on the verge of Super Bowl glory throughout the mid-1970s, but coach John Madden’s squad hit their stride during the 1976 season. The team pulled off a triumphant victory against the Minnesota Vikings to finally claim Super Bowl victory.
Unknown author, Wikimedia Commons
1976 Oakland Raiders
The Raiders’ Super Bowl performance was extra impressive considering how well their offense played against the Vikings’ defensive line, which had intimidatingly been deemed the “Purple People Eater” by fans and media. The Raiders’ offense went about rushing 266 yards against the behemoth.
1992 Dallas Cowboys
Winning three Super Bowls in the 1990s, the Cowboys had sped past an 80s fallow period to reclaim the glory of their 70s heyday. Yet it was likely the first title they won that saw the team at their peak.
Erik Daniel Drost, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1992 Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys at the time were all about the extremely impressive offense they had accumulated. The team was led by quarterback Troy Aikman, running back Emmitt Smith, and wide receiver Michael Irvin.
Ron St. Angelo, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
1984 San Francisco 49ers
Logging a highly impressive regular season going into Super Bowl XIX, the San Francisco 49ers were still considered the underdog when up against Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins. Yet, winning 38-16, they showed that they deserved to be taken just as seriously.
George Gojkovich, Getty Images
1984 San Francisco 49ers
As for what made the 1984 San Francisco 49ers squad so formidable, the defense played a large role. They even shut out two of their opponents, the Chicago Bears and the New York Giants, during that year’s playoff run.
Ryan Schreiber, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1985 Chicago Bears
Super Bowl XX was one of the most humiliating defeats in history, with the New England Patriots falling 46-10 against the Chicago Bears. It was a sign of just how much of a juggernaut the Windy City’s team was at the time.
1985 Chicago Bears
The 1985 Bears’ defense is generally considered one of the very best in NFL history. Defensive end Richard Dent, in particular, was seen as the team’s leader, racking up a highly impressive number of tackles and sacks.
Detroit Lions/Oscar Mayer/Claussen, Wikimedia Commons
1978 Pittsburgh Steelers
The peak of the 70s Steelers dynasty had to be their 1978 squad, which saw a high level of unity between the offense and defense. The defense in particular had earned the nickname of “The Steel Curtain”.
George Gojkovich, Getty Images
1978 Pittsburgh Steelers
The offense, led by star quarterback Terry Bradshaw, was known to score around an average of 30 points per game. The team wasn’t just an excellently rounded squad, but also, frankly, fun to watch for fans and haters alike.
George Gojkovich, Getty Images
1972 Miami Dolphins
Not losing a single game during the regular season or in the playoffs, the 1972 Miami Dolphins are easily considered the best NFL team of all time. Some chalk it up to not just an excellent roster of players and coaching staff, but the motivation the team felt going into the season after a humiliating Super Bowl defeat to the Dallas Cowboys the year earlier.
1972 Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins squad, in fact, would’ve had a perfect reversal of the past year’s Super Bowl if not for one turnover after halftime. Regardless, the Dolphins still saw a triumphant Super Bowl victory by the end of the game.
2007 New England Patriots
The Patriots’ narrow loss to the New York Giants at Super Bowl XLII was an especially difficult one because the team that had played during the regular season was likely at the height of its powers as a squad. The Patriots, in fact, were undefeated during the 2007 season with a 16-0 record.
jmwests, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
2007 New England Patriots
Yet some see the 2007 Patriots’ Super Bowl loss as karma for a considerable scandal that occurred during the regular season. The scandal deemed “Spygate” alleged that the Patriots had cheated throughout the season by videotaping the defensive coach’s signals from rival teams during games.
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