Dallas Cowboys Greats

With one of the most storied franchises in the NFL, the Cowboys have had some of the greatest teams in history and a roster straight from the archives of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Cowboys are one of the NFL's most successful teams, holding the league records for most consecutive winning seasons (20, from 1966 to 1985) and most seasons with at least 10 wins (24). The team has earned the most postseason appearances, the most appearances in the NFC Championship Game (14), and the most Super Bowl appearances (8), two more than any other NFL team. Dallas is one of only 3 teams to earn 5 Super Bowl victories. The Cowboys also played in 2 NFL championship games before the NFL-AFL merger. The Cowboys became the first team in NFL history to win 3 Super Bowls in just 4 years. Most of the team's success occurred during a 30-year period from 1966 to 1996 when they qualified for the playoffs 24 times (80%), played in 14 NFC Championship Games (over half of all of the conference title games played), won 19 division titles, and took the field for 8 Super Bowls (exactly one fifth of all of the Super Bowl games held).

Pittsburgh Steelers Greats

Originally named the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Steelers joined the NFL as a 1933 expansion team after Art Rooney, Sr. paid a $2,500 fee. The team was renamed the Steelers in 1941 after the city's prominent steel industry to reflect the "blue-collar worker" ethic of the many Pittsburgh fans. With one of the most storied franchises in the NFL, they have had some of the greatest teams in NFL history and a roster straight from the archives of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Steelers are the oldest and most championed franchise in the AFC. The team has appeared in six Super Bowls and is one of only three teams to have won the Super Bowl five times. They have appeared in thirteen Conference Championship Games, and have hosted more conference championship games than any other NFL franchise. They are the only team in NFL playoff history to win a Super Bowl after being seeded sixth in the playoffs, winning three consecutive games on the road. The players drafted by Chuck Knoll in the early 70's (Bradshaw, Greene, Blount, Ham, Harris, Webster, Swann, Stallworth, and Lambert) formed the base of one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history, making the playoffs eight seasons, and becoming the only team in NFL history to win four Super Bowls in six years, as well as the first to win more than two.

Green Bay Packers Greats

Founded in 1919, the Packers joined the league in 1921 and are the last remaining example of the "small town teams" that comprised a majority of the NFL during the 1920s. The Packers are currently the only non-profit, community owned major league professional sports team in the United States. The team holds the record for most NFL league championships with 12: nine NFL Championships prior to the Super Bowl era; two additional titles in 1966 and 1967 (Super Bowl I and Super Bowl II) and Super Bowl XXXI in 1996. The Packers have the second most Hall of Famers (21, behind the Bears' 26) and are the only team to win three straight NFL titles, which they did twice (1929-1931 and 1965-67). The Packers of the 1960s were one of the most dominant NFL teams of all time. Coach Vince Lombardi took over a last-place team and built it into a juggernaut, winning five league championships over a seven-year span culminating with victories in the first two Super Bowls.

San Fransisco 49ers Greats

Utilizing the Bill Walsh "West Coast Offense", the 49ers won 4 Super Bowl Championships from 1980-1990 ( 1981 XVI, 1984 XIX, 1988 XXIII, & 1989 XXIV). The Joe Montana led 49ers dominated the decade and were crowned "Team of the 80's". They added another Super Bowl ring in 1995 (XXIX) and are one of only 3 teams to earn 5 World Titles, the first team to accomplish this feat. They truly give meaning to the statement: Great Players! Great Teams! Great Memories!

Chicago Bears Greats

Originally called the Decatur Staleys, the club was established by the A. E. Staely Company of Decatur, Illinois in 1919 as a company team. Official team and league records cite George Halas as the founder as he took over the team in 1920 when it became a charter member of the NFL. The Bears are one of only two charter members of the NFL still in existence. The team relocated to Chicago in 1921, where the club was renamed the Chicago Staleys. In 1922, Halas changed the team name from the Staleys to the Bears. Since being founded in 1919 the Bears have won 9 World Championships, amassed over 670 wins and lead the NFL in overall franchise victories. They also have the most enshrinees in the Pro Football Hall of Fame with 26 members. These "Monsters of the Midway" are not only legendary players (Red Grange, Bronco Nagurski, Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers, Walter Payton, etc) in Bear's history but timeless names in the annals of NFL history as well.

Seattle Seahawks Greats

The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington, USA. The team, along with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, joined the NFL in 1976 as expansion teams. Seattle is the only team to have played in both the AFC (American Football Conference) and NFC Championship Games. The Seahawks have one Super Bowl appearance, Super Bowl XL. The team took the field for the first time on August 1, 1976 in a pre-season game against the San Francisco 49ers in the then newly constructed Kingdome. Seattle has won six division titles in their franchise history: the 1988 and 1999 AFC West titles, and the 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 NFC West titles. They have won the NFC Championship Game once in 2005, and lost the AFC Championship Game once in 1983. As a tribute to the raucous fans that made the Kingdome the loudest stadium in the NFL the Seahawks retired the number 12 on December 15, 1984. Since then #12 Jerseys have been sold by the team and worn by Seahawk fans, often with the name "Fan" on the back.

New Orleans Saints Greats

The Saints were founded in 1967, as an expansion team. They went more than a decade before they managed to finish a season with a .500 record and two decades before having a winning season. The teams first successful years were from 1987-1992, when the team made the playoffs four times and had winning records in the non-playoff seasons. In the 2000 season, the Saints defeated the then defending Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams for the team's first playoff win. The Saints are one of six teams never to have played in a Super Bowl. The Saints did qualify for the NFC Championship Game on January 13, 2007, after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 27-24 in the divisional round of the playoffs. They are the first team in NFL history to reach a conference championship after losing 13 or more games the previous season. They suffered a 39-14 loss the following week to the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship.

Miami Dolphins Greats

The Dolphins began play in the American Football League as an expansion team in 1966, they were founded by Joseph Robbie, and joined the NFL as part of the AFL-NFL Merger. The Dolphins are the oldest major-league professional sports franchise in the state of Florida. The team made its first Super Bowl appearance following the 1971 season in Super Bowl VI, but lost to the Dallas Cowboys. In 1972, the Dolphins completed the NFL's only perfect season to date in the Super Bowl era, winning all 14 regular season games, two playoff games and Super Bowl VII. The team also won Super Bowl VIII, becoming the first team to appear in three consecutive Super Bowls, and the second team (first AFL/AFC team) to win back-to-back championships. Miami also appeared in Super Bowl XVII and Super Bowl XIX, losing both games.

Cincinnati Bengals Greats

Founder Paul Brown coached the team for its first three seasons, accumulating 15 wins and 27 losses and one tie. One of Brown’s college draft strategies was to draft players with above average intelligence. Punter/wide receiver Pat McInally attended Harvard and linebacker Reggie Williams attended Dartmouth College and served on Cincinnati city council while on the Bengals’ roster. Because of this policy, many former players were highly articulate and went on to have successful careers in commentary and broadcasting as well as the arts. In addition, Brown had a knack for locating and recognizing pro football talent in unusual places. In the '70s the Bengals moved to play at Riverfront Stadium, a home they shared with the Cincinnati Reds until the team moved to Paul Brown Stadium in 2000. The team would reach the playoffs three times during that decade, but could not win any of those postseason games. The Bengals would reach the Super Bowl twice during the 1980s, but lost both times to the San Francisco 49ers.

Detroit Greats

Detroit enjoyed its greatest success in the 1950s. Led by quarterback Bobby Layne, they won the league championship in 1952, 1953, and 1957. They defeated the Cleveland Browns in each of those NFL Championship Games, but also lost to the Browns in the 1954 Championship Game. In 1958, after he had led the Lions to three NFL Championships and provided Detroit nearly a decade of Hall of Fame play, the Lions traded Bobby Layne. Bobby was injured during the last championship season, and the Lions thought he was through and wanted to get what they could for him. According to legend, as he was leaving for Pittsburgh, Bobby said that Detroit "would not win for 50 years." Since this time, the Lions have not won another championship and have only a single playoff game win. Some have attributed the Lions' subsequent 49 years of futility to the "Curse of Bobby Layne." The 1990s were "The Barry Sanders Show" in Detroit. During his first season after being drafted in 1989, Sanders missed the NFL rushing title by 10 yards...because he chose not to go back into the game when the Lions already had the game won.

Kansas City Chiefs Greats

As the Chiefs, under coach Hank Stram and with quarterback Len Dawson at the helm, the team played in the first Super Bowl, losing 35-10 to Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers. They earned revenge three years later, upsetting the Minnesota Vikings 23-7. The team's victory has been considered the "proof" that the AFC was "no fluke", with the Chiefs the enormous underdogs going into the game, the Chiefs cemented a future merger for the AFL and NFL. The Chiefs dominated on all sides of the ball in Super Bowl IV, dominating on both defense and offense. With a high powered offense and blistering defense, Hank Stram's innovative play-calling would revolutionize the game. Stram would utilize audibles and line changes that would confuse opponents on the field, giving the Chiefs the advantage. The Chiefs would go on to win 43 games between 1966 and 1969. Five Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinees played for the Chiefs in the era, including quarterback Len Dawson, linebackers Bobby Bell and Willie Lanier, defensive tackle Buck Buchanan and placekicker Jan Stenerud. Other notable players included wide receiver Otis Taylor, linebacker Jim Lynch, back-up quarterback Mike Livingston and running back Mike Garrett.

San Diego Chargers Greats

Established with seven other American Football League teams in 1959, in 1960, the Chargers began AFL play in Los Angeles[1]. The Chargers' original owner was hotel heir Barron Hilton, son of Hilton Hotels founder Conrad Hilton[1]. The Chargers only spent one season in Los Angeles before moving to San Diego in 1961. The early AFL years of the San Diego Chargers were highlighted by the outstanding play of wide receiver Lance Alworth 543 receptions for 10,266 yards in his 11 AFL/NFL season career. In addition he set the pro football record of consecutive games with a reception (96) during his career. 1979 marked a turning point for the Chargers franchise as The Sporting News named team general manager John Sanders NFL Executive of the Year after balloting of other NFL executives[16]. Fouts set an NFL record with his fourth consecutive 300-yard passing game, in a game in which he threw for 303 yards against the Raiders.

Buffalo Bills Greats

The Buffalo Bills were a charter member of the American Football League (AFL) in 1960. After a public contest, the team adopted the same name as the former All-America Football Conference team in Buffalo. In the AFL, a predominantly offensive league, the Bills were a great defensive team.They won two consecutive AFL titles in 1964 and 1965. The club joined the National Football League (NFL) as part of the 1970 AFL-NFL Merger. The Bills have the distinction of being the only team to advance to four consecutive Super Bowls, but also has the dubious distinction of losing all four of them.

Denver Broncos Greats

The Denver Broncos were the first AFL team ever to defeat an NFL team, on August 5, 1967 when they beat the Detroit Lions 13-7 in a preseason game. Despite their relative lack of early success, the Broncos produced some memorable games, such as the 38-38 tie against the Buffalo Bills in 1960. The Broncos were also the first American professional football team to have a black place-kicker, Gene Mingo, and the first to have a receiver with 100 receptions in a season, Lionel Taylor. Denver has reached the Super Bowl six times, winning it in the 1997 and 1998 seasons. It is odd to remember a time, then, when Denver was the lowliest of teams, managing its first winning season in 1973 after thirteen years of futility. As such, they were the only original AFL team never to have played in the title game during the upstart league's 10-year history. Denver, in fact, came close to losing its franchise in 1965, but a local ownership group took control that year and began to build the team.

Philadelphia Eagles Greats

The 1940s would prove a tumultuous and ultimately triumphant decade for the young club. In 1940, the team moved from Philadelphia Municipal Stadium to Shibe Park. Lud Wray's half-interest in the team was purchased by Art Rooney, who had just sold the Pittsburgh Steelers to Alexis Thompson. Soon thereafter, Bell/Rooney and Thompson swapped franchises, but not teams. Bell/Rooney's entire Eagles' corporate organization, including most of the players, moved to Pittsburgh (The Steelers' corporate name remained "Philadelphia Football Club, Inc." until 1945) and Thompson's Steelers moved to Philadelphia, leaving only the team nicknames in their original cities. Since NFL franchises are territorial rights distinct from individual corporate entities, the NFL does not consider this a franchise move and considers the current Philadelphia Eagles as a single unbroken entity from 1933.

New York Jets Greats

The team began in 1960 as a charter member of the American Football League. Originally known as the New York Titans, the team played home games at the Polo Grounds. After Sonny Werblin and Leon Hess bought the team in 1963 the team was renamed the New York Jets as they planned to relocate from the Polo Grounds to the New York Mets' Shea Stadium one year later. The Jets later joined the NFL as part of the AFL-NFL Merger. In 1968, the Jets would reach the pinnacle of their existence and provide the moment that would indicate the AFL's coming of age. Under Namath's guidance, the Jets rose to the top of the AFL, defeating the Oakland Raiders in a thrilling AFL Championship game, 27-23. The win qualified them to represent their league in a game that was being referred to for the first time as the Super Bowl (and referred to retroactively as Super Bowl III).The Jets hold the distinction of being the first AFL team to defeat an NFL club in an AFL-NFL World Championship Game when they defeated the Baltimore Colts 16-7 in Super Bowl III.

Minnesota Vikings Greats

The Vikings have won their division 16 times and were the first team to both play in and lose four Super Bowls. Originally, the ownership group was to have a team in the American Football League, but they withdrew from the AFL and agreed to join the NFL as an expansion team in 1961.

Cleveland Browns Greats

The Browns were extremely successful early into their existence, dominating the new All-America Football Conference, winning all four of its championships including the 1948 season in which they went unbeaten and untied - 24 years before the NFL's 'first' perfect team, the 1972 Miami Dolphins. Cleveland's undefeated streak (including ties) reached 29 games including 18 straight wins. The City of Cleveland showed terrific support for the Browns from the moment they were created. The team saw a record setting average attendance of 57,000 a game in its first season.

Oakland Raiders Greats

With 3 Super Bowl Championships and an all-time team roster that reads like a Hall of Fame players list, the Raiders one of the most storied franchises in the NFL and have a rich legacy of football greatness. In 1969, John Madden became the team's sixth head coach, and during the 1970s his Raiders became one of the most successful franchises in the NFL, though the team was slow to win recognition as a football powerhouse due to one heartbreaking loss after another in AFC Championship games, most notably at the hands of the Pittsburg Steelers. Then, after finishing 13-1 in 1976, the Raiders defeated the Steelers 24-7 in the AFC Championship game, and went on to win their first NFL championship in Super Bowl XI over the Minnesota Vikings 32-14. Madden left the Raiders in 1979 and his replacement was former Raiders quarterback Tom Flores. He guided the team to a win in Super Bowl XV over the Philadelphia Eagles, 27-10 and over the Washington Redskins, 38-9 in Super Bowl XVIII. In the victory over Philadelphia, the Raiders became the first ever "wild card" team to win a Super Bowl.

Washington Redskins Greats

With a tradition of football greatness, the Redskins have won a total of five NFL titles -- two pre-merger NFL Championships ( 1937 & 1942 ) and 3 Super Bowls since they were founded in 1932. The Redskins' first Super Bowl win was in Super Bowl XVII, where the Redskins defeated the Miami Dolphins 27-17 on January 30, 1983 in Pasadena, California. Future Hall of Famer John Riggins provided the game's signature play when, on 4th and 1, with the Redskins down 17-13 with 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter, the coaches called "70 Chip", a play designed for short yardage. Riggins broke free for the then-longest run from scrimmage in Super Bowl history (43 yards). The Redskins' won their second championship in Super Bowl XXII on January 31, 1988 in San Diego, California. The Redskins routed the Denver Broncos 42-10 after starting the game down 10 points. This game was famous for the stellar performance by quarterback Doug Williams who passed for four touchdowns in the second quarter en route to becoming the first black quarterback to lead his team to a Super Bowl victory. Rookie running back Timmy Smith had a great performance as well, running for a Super-Bowl record 203 yards. The Redskins won their latest Super Bowl on January 26, 1992, in Super Bowl XXVI in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Redskins, the most dominant team in the NFL in the 1991 season, defeated the Buffalo Bills 37-24.