The NFL has been around for over 100 years. Over this time, it’s produced bad teams, mediocre teams, good teams, and excellent teams. The question is: what are the best NFL teams in history?
Great question, and one that we can answer in detail. So, without further ado, here are the best teams to ever step on an NFL football field.
1. 1972 Miami Dolphins
There’s sure to be a lot of argument over the top spot. But there’s only one NFL team that’s gone undefeated in the modern era. That team is the 1972 Miami Dolphins.
Lead by legendary coach Don Shula as well as the three-man running back team of Larry Csonka, Mercury Morris, and Jim Kiick, this team rarely demoralized its opponents, but it always came out on top. This is in some thanks to its underrated defensive unit, the “No Name Defense.”
Some think that the ’72 Dolphins were lucky, that their schedule was easy, that they would be beaten by other great teams over the years. But none of that matters. They bested every opponent that was lined up across from them and even shut out the Redskins in a 17-0 victory in Super Bowl VII.
2. 1985 Chicago Bears
What do you get when you roll out a stifling defense, hard-headed coaches, and one of the best running backs ever to play the game? You get the 1985 Bears, as dominating a team as the NFL has ever seen.
The ’85 Bears finished the regular season with a record of 15-1. Not only did they put up big points on offense, but they also shut teams down on defense, turning out two shutouts during the regular season, and two shutouts during the postseason.
They capped off their dominant year with a slaughter in Super Bowl XX, destroying the Patriots 46-10. Some of the standouts from the ’85 Bears include running back Walter Payton, middle linebacker Mike Singletary, quarterback Jim McMahon, and defensive end Richard Dent.
3. 1984 San Francisco 49ers
In the 1980s, no team was on the level of the 49ers. They dominated the decade, winning a total of 3 Super Bowls. Though all of their teams were excellent, the team that shined the most was the ’84 squad.
Coached by the legendary Bill Walsh, the team was lead on the field by legends like Joe Montana, Roger Craig, and Ronnie Lott. They finished the regular season with a 15-1 record, powered by a quick-strike, methodical offense and a fast, aggressive defense.
They capped off their legendary season by blowing out the Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX, besting them 38-16.
4. 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers
Just as the 49ers rules the 1980s, the Pittsburgh Steelers ruled the 1970s. Lead by their legendary “Steel Curtain” defense, they stifled opponents’ offenses on a regular basis, allowing plenty of leeway for offensive stars like Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, John Stallworth, and Lynn Swann.
Defensive stars included ‘Mean’ Joe Green, Jack Lambert, Jack Ham, and Mel Blount, to name just a few. Though, in truth, this defense was loaded at every position. In fact, it’s arguably the greatest defense in the history of the NFL.
The Steelers were at their best in 1978, when they turned out a 14-2 regular season record and then capped it off with a 17-2 victory against the Cowboys in Super Bowl XIII.
5. 1991 Washington Redskins
In the late 80s and early 90s, the Washington Redskins were a powerhouse of a football team. Not only did they facilitate a balanced attack on the offensive side of the ball, but they also sported one of the stingiest defenses in the league.
Led by legendary coach Joe Gibbs, quarterback Mark Rypien, and the famed offensive line group, the Hogs, they reached their peak in 1991. That year, with big contributions from defensive players like Darrell Green and Charles Mann, they finished the regular season with a 14-2 record.
Then, the playoffs came around, during which they demolished everyone in their path. In Super Bowl XXVI, they bested the Buffalo Bills 37-24, giving the Redskins their 3rd Super Bowl championship in 10 years.
6. 1976 Oakland Raiders
Throughout the 1970s, the Oakland Raiders trailed behind the Pittsburgh Steelers as the second-best team in the AFC. They came close more than a few times, only to be bested by their Steel City rivals.
That was until the 1976 season, the season in which the Raiders finally got over the hump. Led by iconic coach John Madden, the 1976 Raiders were loaded at every position. Their stars included Ken ‘The Snake’ Stabler, Fred Biletnikoff, Cliff Branch, Art Shell, Gene Upshaw, Jack Tatum, Dave Casper, Willie Brown, and Ted Hendricks, to name just a few.
The Raiders went 13-1 in the 1976 regular season before beating the Vikings in the Super Bowl 32-14. Known for their downfield passing game, they helped usher in a new era of football in which passing the ball became just as important as running it.
7. 1999 St. Louis Rams
The 1999 Rams are one of the most exciting teams ever to step foot on a football field. Powered by their high-flying offense, which featured the likes of Kurt Wartner, Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, jack-of-all-trades running back, Marshall Faulk, they were dubbed “The Greatest Show on Turf.”
The Rams got off to a bad start in the 1999 season when their starting quarterback Trent Green suffered a season-ending injury.
This prompted the arrival of Kurt Warner, a future Hall-of-Fame quarterback who had one of the unlikeliest journeys to the NFL in league history. Warner’s strong arm and aggressive playstyle transformed an above-average offense into an unbelievable offense and the Rams became an unstoppable force for the remainder of the season.
They finished with a 13-3 record and scored more points than any other team in the league. Their defense was solid as well, ranking 4th in points allowed. Though they faced serious trouble in the playoffs, they were able to scrape by, eventually beating the underdog Titans by a score of 23-16 in Super Bowl XXXIV.
8. 1996 Green Bay Packers
Next up on our list is the 1996 Green Bay Packers, a team consisting of legends like Brett Favre and Reggie White as well as great players like LeRoy Butler and Antonio Freeman.
Coached by Mike Holmgren, the 1996 Packers rattled off a 13-3 record in the regular season. This record was powered largely by the team’s offense, which averaged 28.5 points per game. However, the defense contributed in a big way as well, holding teams to just 13.1 points on average.
In the playoffs, the Packers rolled over every team in their path. To finish their run, they beat the Patriots 35-21 in Super Bowl XXXI.
9. 1971 Dallas Cowboys
There have been a lot of great Cowboys teams over the years. You could reasonably say that the franchise has had two dynasties, the first of which came around in the 1970s and the second of which came around in the 1990s.
When trying to decide which Cowboys team is the best of the bunch, it’s close to impossible. But you can’t go wrong with the first Cowboys team to win a Super Bowl, the 1971 Cowboys.
This team consisted of legends like Roger Staubach and Bob Lilly, stars like Charlie Waters, Bob Hayes, and Cliff Harris, and even aging future Hall-of-Famers like Mike Ditka and Herb Adderley. The team was coached by the icon himself, Tom Landy.
Going 11-3 in the regular season, the team would go on to beat the Miami Dolphins in the Super Bowl 24-3. This would kick off the Cowboys’ reign as “America’s Team” and professional football would never be the same.
10. 2007 New England Patriots
It’s a little controversial to put a team on an “all-time greatest teams” list when they weren’t even able to win the Super Bowl. But the 2007 New England Patriots were just that good. Not only did they finish the regular season with a perfect 16-0 record, but they also won two playoff games before narrowly succumbing to the underdog New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII.
This team was great on both sides of the ball. On offense, it was lead by Tom Brady, Randy Moss, and Wes Welker, in addition to one of the most reliable offensive lines in the business. On defense, it benefitted from the talents of players like Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel, Rodney Harrison, and Junior Seau.
And you can’t forget about the coach. Few coaches in the history of the league are as renowned as Bill Belichick. Not only did he turn the team into a finely-tuned machine, but he also served as its general manager.
The Patriots won 6 Super Bowls between 2000 and 2020. It’s just unfortunate that their best team wasn’t able to come away with the Lombardi. As they say, any given Sunday. Read more about this here.
Do You Consider These the Best NFL Teams in History?
There have been thousands of NFL teams over the years, many of which have an argument as the best teams of all time. Do you feel that this article accurately lists the best NFL teams in history? Whether you do or not, there’s no doubting: these were some great football teams.
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