List of NFL champions

The List of NFL Champions includes all teams that have won the championship game of the National Football League (NFL), which is the highest professional level of American football in the United States. The NFL was founded in 1920, originally as the American Professional Football Association (APFA), before renaming itself to the National Football League in 1922.

History

The NFL championship was determined by a league standing until 1932, after which a championship game was introduced. From 1933 to 1966, the winner of the NFL Championship Game was determined at the end of the season through a playoff game between the top teams. The introduction of the Super Bowl in 1967 marked a significant change, as the NFL champions were then determined by the outcome of the Super Bowl, which pits the champions of the NFL's two conferences (AFC and NFC) against each other.

Championship era (1920–1966)

During the pre-Super Bowl era, the NFL Championship was decided by either league standings or by a championship game. The first ever NFL game was played in 1920, and the Akron Pros were awarded the championship title. Throughout the 1920s, the NFL was not as organized as it later became, and teams played varying numbers of games and against opponents who were not in the league.

Key teams

• The Green Bay Packers were particularly successful during this era, winning numerous NFL championships under the leadership of coach Curly Lambeau.
• The Chicago Bears and the New York Giants were also prominent, each securing multiple titles.

Super Bowl era (1967–present)

The Super Bowl era began with the 1966 season, culminating in the first Super Bowl in January 1967. The Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League (AFL) in what was then known as the AFL-NFL World Championship Game.

Dominant franchises

• The Pittsburgh Steelers have won six Super Bowls, the most of any team.
• The New England Patriots have also been highly successful in the modern era, appearing in eleven Super Bowls and winning six.
• The San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, and the Green Bay Packers have each won multiple Super Bowls as well.

List of champions

The following is a list of all NFL champions from 1920 to the present. The list includes the champions of the NFL from 1920 to 1966 and the winners of the Super Bowl from 1967 onwards.

1920s

• 1920 – Akron Pros
• 1921 – Chicago Staleys
• 1922 – Canton Bulldogs
• 1923 – Canton Bulldogs
• 1924 – Cleveland Bulldogs
• 1925 – Chicago Cardinals
• 1926 – Frankford Yellow Jackets
• 1927 – New York Giants
• 1928 – Providence Steam Roller
• 1929 – Green Bay Packers

1930s

• 1930 – Green Bay Packers
• 1931 – Green Bay Packers
• 1932 – Chicago Bears
• 1933 – Chicago Bears
• 1934 – New York Giants
• 1935 – Detroit Lions
• 1936 – Green Bay Packers
• 1937 – Washington Redskins
• 1938 – New York Giants
• 1939 – Green Bay Packers

1940s

• 1940 – Chicago Bears
• 1941 – Chicago Bears
• 1942 – Washington Redskins
• 1943 – Chicago Bears
• 1944 – Green Bay Packers
• 1945 – Cleveland Rams
• 1946 – Chicago Bears
• 1947 – Chicago Cardinals
• 1948 – Philadelphia Eagles
• 1949 – Philadelphia Eagles

1950s

• 1950 – Cleveland Browns
• 1951 – Los Angeles Rams
• 1952 – Detroit Lions
• 1953 – Detroit Lions
• 1954 – Cleveland Browns
• 1955 – Cleveland Browns
• 1956 – New York Giants
• 1957 – Detroit Lions
• 1958 – Baltimore Colts
• 1959 – Baltimore Colts

1960s

• 1960 – Philadelphia Eagles
• 1961 – Green Bay Packers
• 1962 – Green Bay Packers
• 1963 – Chicago Bears
• 1964 – Cleveland Browns
• 1965 – Green Bay Packers
• 1966 – Green Bay Packers (Super Bowl I)
• 1967 – Green Bay Packers (Super Bowl II)
• 1968 – New York Jets (Super Bowl III)
• 1969 – Kansas City Chiefs (Super Bowl IV)

1970s to present

• [List continues with Super Bowl champions from 1970 to the present]

See also

• Super Bowl
• NFL playoffs
• List of Super Bowl champions