Beginner's Guide to Every Team in the NFL
A Beginner’s Guide to All 32 Teams in the National Football League - The NFL
The NFL is the richest sports league in the world - and not just in terms of money. It’s also the wealthiest in terms of quality content, drama, history and personalities.
Are you new to the NFL? Here’s a simple A-Z list of NFL teams to get you started.
Do you want to learn more about American football? Or maybe you just want to read about the history of every NFL team - the passion, the players and the power?
Well, you’ve come to the right place!
The NFL is quickly becoming a 24/7, 365-day-a-year industry. When Free Agency, Trade, the NFL Draft, Training Camps, offseason documentaries and off-the-field drama take up the back pages, it’s easy to forget the 32 NFL teams that actually play the games.
So, let’s focus on those 32 teams that we love to watch on Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays and the occasional Saturday from late September to early February every year.
Here’s a brief guide to all 32 NFL teams - history, players, colour schemes, big wins and more.
A Brief Guide to Every NFL Team
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
Established: 1996
League Championships: 2 (2000, 2012)
Colour Scheme: Purple, Black & Gold
Historical Players You Need To Know: Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Joe Flacco
Baltimore plays home games at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The franchise was founded with some controversy in 1996, as the original Cleveland Browns franchise relocated to Baltimore, becoming the Ravens.
However, the league has since re-established the Browns and assumed the stance that Baltimore is now a whole new franchise. (Just roll with it)
The first Super Bowl came in 2000 as Baltimore boasted one of the most famous defences of the 2000s, holding the New York Giants to just seven points in a 34-7 smothering at Super Bowl XXXV.
Ray Lewis was named Super Bowl MVP and is widely regarded as one of the best linebackers of his generation.
More recently, quarterback Joe Flacco enjoyed a run for the ages at the position in the 2012 playoffs, leading Baltimore to a second Super Bowl while simultaneously sending the aforementioned Lewis off into the sunset with a second ring.
Cincinnati Bengals
Established: 1967
League Championships: 0
Colour Scheme: Black & Orange
Historical Players You Need To Know: Ken Anderson, Chad Johnson, Anthony Munoz
The Bengals play home games at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The stadium is named after their founder and longtime owner, Paul Brown, who passed away in 1991.
His son, Mike, now owns the franchise. However, football operations were handed over to a committee in 2009.
The Bengals have struggled to find success on the field throughout their existence. The closest they have come to lifting the Lombardi Trophy is two Super Bowl losses to the San Francisco 49ers in the 1980s.
The history of the team in the ’80s is worth revisiting if you’re a fan of the Bengals. However, perhaps skip the next 25 years or so - there’s a lot of turmoil.
Former Head Coach Marvin Lewis led the team to five consecutive playoff appearances in the early 2010s, so things have improved in recent years.
Cleveland Browns
Established: 1946
League Championships: 8 (1946, 1945, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1954, 1955, 1964)
Colour Scheme: Brown, Orange & White
Historical Players You Need To Know: Jim Brown, Otto Graham, Ozzie Newsome
The Browns play home games at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. After the original franchise moved to Baltimore in 1996, the city essentially rioted until they were given an expansion team in 1999 with the same identity.
Hence, there’s a three-season gap if you ever go digging through the team’s records.
Jim Brown was a revolutionary running back for the team from 1957 to 1965 - and a Hall of Famer Cleveland fans need to know.
Although the team has some historical success, they’ve never lifted the Lombardi Trophy, as the first Super Bowl didn’t take place until the end of the 1966 season.
The fan base endured a 17-year playoff drought throughout most of the 2000s, which was the longest active streak in the league.
However, in 2020, the team enjoyed their first playoff win since 1994.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Established: 1933
League Championships: 6 (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 2005, 2008)
Colour Scheme: The Steelers play in Black & Gold
Historical Players You Need To Know: Terry Bradshaw, Mean Joe Greene, Troy Polamalu
The Steelers play their home games at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - and they’re one of the most successful NFL franchises in the Super Bowl era.
Tied with the New England Patriots at six for most Lombardi trophies, the Steelers were dominant throughout the 1970s.
Their defensive line was coined “The Steel Curtain” throughout this period, as the likes of Mean Joe Greene and L.C Greenwood dominated the trenches, backed by legends of the linebacker position, Jack Ham and Jack Lambert.
Quarterback Terry Bradshaw led a unit that featured running back Franco Harris, famous as the receiver of “The Immaculate Reception,” one of the most infamous plays in league history during Pittsburgh’s AFC divisional playoff win over the Raiders in 1972.
The Steelers also boast two 21st-century Super Bowl victories.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger led the team to both wins, with Super Bowl XLIII against Arizona clearly the more re-watchable game. It’s arguably one of the best Super Bowls ever!
AFC East
Buffalo Bills
Established: 1960
League Championships: 2 (1964, 1965)
Colour Scheme: Royal Blue, Red & White
Historical Players You Need To Know: Jim Kelly, Bruce Smith, Andre Bruce
The Bills play home games at New Era Field in Buffalo, New York.
Contrary to popular belief, the Bills are the only team in the league to play home games in the state of New York, with the New York Giants and New York Jets both playing in New Jersey.
The Bills began as one of the founding franchises of the rival American Football League (AFL), which merged with the NFL in 1970 and became the American Football Conference.
Buffalo are famous for being the only franchise to reach four Super Bowls in a row, from 1990 to 1993.
However, the team led by quarterback Jim Kelly failed to secure a victory in any of their opportunities at the Lombardi Trophy.
The franchise also suffered a long playoff drought from 1999 to 2017.
However, the team reached the AFC Championship game in 2020, so there’s some recent success for Bills fans to enjoy.
Read an in-depth NFL profile of the Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins
Established: 1965
League Championships: 2 (1972, 1973)
Colour Scheme: Aqua Green & Orange
Historical Players You Need To Know: Dan Marino, Bob Griese, Jason Taylor
The Dolphins play home games at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Miami began in the AFL. However, as part of the NFL, they remain the only team in league history to go an entire season undefeated.
They achieved “The Perfect Season” in 1972 and, led by legendary Head Coach Don Shula and Hall of Fame quarterback Bob Griese, the Dolphins won a second Lombardi trophy in 1973.
Subsequently, the Dolphins enjoyed immense success for the entire 17-year career of Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino.
However, the team was never able to get over the hump with Marino as quarterback - and he’s widely regarded as the best quarterback to never win a Super Bowl.
The team has struggled somewhat in the 21st century, overshadowed by the success of division rival New England Patriots.
Read a full profile of the Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots
Established: 1959
League Championships: 6 (2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, 2018)
Colour Scheme: The Patriots play in Navy Blue & Red
Historical Players You’ll Need To Know: Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Ty Law
The Patriots play home games at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Originally the Boston Patriots before undergoing a brand change and relocation to Foxborough in 1971, this was for a long time a franchise starved of success.
However, New England has dominated the NFL landscape since the turn of the century.
After acquiring Head Coach Bill Belichick and drafting quarterback Tom Brady in 2000, the team quickly became the envy of the league.
They won Super Bowls three of four years in the early 2000s - and then another three in the 2010s.
Belichick and Brady went to nine Super Bowls together, winning six, and bringing New England level with the Steelers as the franchises with the most Super Bowl wins in league history.
Bill Belichick, as a result of his success with the Patriots, is regarded as the greatest coach in NFL history.
Most of the Patriots’ Super Bowl appearances are worth re-watching as they’re usually entertaining affairs, particularly Super Bowls 49 & 51.
GOAT Brady left the Patriots in 2020 to be the starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but more on that later...
Read an in-depth profile of the New England Patriots
New York Jets
Established: 1959
League Championships: 1 (1968)
Colour Scheme: Green & White
Historical Players You Need To Know: Joe Namath, Curtis Martin, Darrelle Revis
The Jets play home games at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey - and they share that stadium with the New York Giants.
The Jets were founded in 1959 under the name “The Titans of New York”, and were one of the founding members of the American Football League.
The most famous season in franchise history came when the Jets won Super Bowl III in 1968, the last Super Bowl before the NFL-AFL merger.
Led by quarterback Joe Namath, one of the top New York Jets players in history, the AFL Champion Jets beat the NFL Champion Baltimore Colts 16-7.
Occasionally putting together decent seasons, the franchise has failed to find consistent success at the quarterback position ever since Namath.
They found some success in the 21st century led by Head Coach Rex Ryan and the best cornerback of his generation, Darrelle Revis.
However, the Jets lost back-to-back AFC Championships in 2009 and 2010.
Read an in-depth profile of the New York Jets
AFC South
Houston Texans
Established: 1999
League Championships: 0
Colour Scheme: Navy Blue & Red
Historical Players You Need To Know: Andre Johnson, JJ Watt, Arian Foster
The Texans play home games at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. The youngest NFL franchise in the league has enjoyed some success since their first playing season in 2002.
Establishing franchise legends is a step in the right direction for the Texans, compared to the long histories of other NFL teams.
Three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year JJ Watt is literally a living legend in Houston.
Watt is one of only three players to win the award three times - and Houston went to the playoffs multiple times while Watt played for the team.
However, it’s important to remember that the Houston Oilers were the city's franchise for decades before relocating to Tennessee.
The Oilers played in Houston from 1959 to 1996 but, unlike the Cleveland team, the Texans have not been awarded the Oilers’ historical records for various reasons.
Despite that, American football is still one of the most popular sports in Texas today!
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Indianapolis Colts
Established: 1953
League Championships: 5 (1958, 1959, 1968, 1970, 2006)
Colour Scheme: Royal Blue & White
Historical Players You Need To Know: Peyton Manning, Johnny Unitas, Marvin Harrison
The Colts play home games at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Originally founded in Baltimore, the Colts relocated to Indianapolis in 1984.
The franchise was one of three NFL teams to join rival AFL teams in the newly founded American Football Conference as part of the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.
Johnny Unitas led the franchise to their maiden Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl V as the Baltimore Colts.
In Indianapolis, Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning led the team to Super Bowl glory in 2006 and made the Colts a consistent force in the league for over a decade.
He’s most certainly in the conversation for the greatest quarterback of all-time.
The Andrew Luck years in the 2010s didn’t bring a Lombardi Trophy, but ex-quarterback Luck is loved in Indianapolis for his style of quarterbacking and relative success before injuries forced him to retire at just 29.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Established: 1993
League Championships: 0
Colour Scheme: Teal, Black & Gold
Historical Players You Need To Know: Fred Taylor, Maurice Jones-Drew, Tony Boselli
The Jaguars play home games at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida, and they only joined the league as an expansion team in 1995.
They enjoyed some immediate success, reaching an AFC Championship game in only their second season. They followed that up with a playoff appearance for the next three consecutive seasons.
Head Coach Tom Coughlin led the team from 1995 to 2002. That firing has proven to be a mistake for the Jaguars, who have only reached the playoffs three times over the 17 seasons since.
Team ownership changed hands in 2011 as Shahid Khan introduced a new brand identity for the team.
The 2017 season was Jacksonville’s lone bright spot in an otherwise mediocre decade.
Boasting the league’s best defense, the 2017 team reached the third AFC Championship game in franchise history, before losing to the New England Patriots.
Tennessee Titans (Formerly Houston Oilers)
Established: 1960
League Championships: 2 (1960, 1961)
Colour Scheme: Navy Blue, Medium “Titans” Blue & Red
Historical Players You Need To Know: Steve McNair, Eddie George, Warren Moon
The Titans play home games at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. The team began as the Houston Oilers, one of the charter members of the AFL.
The Oilers won the first two AFL Championships pre-merger and before the Super Bowl era. However, they have failed to secure a league championship since.
The move to Tennessee was met with a lot of animosity, as the Oilers were an iconic brand with a storied history in Houston.
The move to Tennessee and the switch to the Titans brand brought immediate success, as the franchise competed in a Super Bowl their first year as a Nashville-based franchise.
However, they lost Super Bowl XXXIV to the Los Angeles Rams.
The franchise boasts the record of being the only team who has had two running backs rush for over 2,000 yards in a season, Chris Johnson (2009) & Derrick Henry (2020).
However, the franchise is yet to win a Super Bowl.
AFC West
Denver Broncos
Established: 1959
League Championships: 3 (1997, 1998, 2015)
Colour Scheme: Navy Blue, Orange & White
Historical Players You Need To Know: John Elway, Champ Bailey, Terrell Davis
The Broncos stadium is called Empower Field at Mile High in Colorado, Denver. They were also an original AFL team in 1960, before the merger in 1970.
The Broncos have traditionally been one of the most consistent teams in the league.
Quarterbacked by Hall of Famer John Elway from 1983 to 1998, they only had two losing seasons over that timespan. Elway won two Super Bowls in his final two playing seasons before retiring.
He transitioned into the team’s General Manager role in 2011 and almost immediately made a statement of intent by signing quarterback Peyton Manning in 2012 free agency.
The Broncos went to the playoffs five straight seasons from 2011 to 2015 and finally lifted the franchise's third Lombardi trophy at the end of the 2015 season.
They defeated the Carolina Panthers 24-10 in Super Bowl 50, after a defensive performance for the ages by Super Bowl MVP Von Miller.
Kansas City Chiefs
Established: 1960
League Championships: 4 (1962, 1966, 1969, 2020)
Colour Scheme: Red, Yellow & White
Historical Players You Need To Know: Derrick Thomas, Len Dawson, Priest Holmes
Reigning champions the Chiefs play home games at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
The franchise began life as one of the charter members of the AFL in 1960 as the Dallas Texans, subsequently relocating to Kansas City in 1963 and becoming the Chiefs.
The Chiefs were the first AFL team to win a championship over an NFL team after the AFL-NFL merger, defeating the dynastic Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl IIII.
The fan base had to wait another 50 years for a Super Bowl appearance, as the team went 21 years without a playoff win from 1991 to 2015.
However, some will say it was worth the wait as in 2019, quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Head Coach Andy Reid led Kansas City to victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV.
Las Vegas Raiders
Established: 1960
League Championships: 3 (1976, 1980, 1983)
Colour Scheme: Grey & Black
Historical Players You Need To Know: Marcus Allen, Bo Jackson, Ken Stabler
The Raiders play home games at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
One of the original founding members of the AFL, Raiders founder and longtime head coach/general manager/owner Al Davis was among the most influential figures in the entire league during the process of the AFL-NFL merger.
Davis was renowned for his personality and heavy involvement in all matters concerning the Raiders - and the franchise remains in the family’s hands, led by Al’s son Mark.
The most successful period in franchise history came under the leadership of legendary Head Coaches John Madden and Tom Flores.
Madden earned the team’s first Super Bowl in 1976, while Flores won two with the Raiders in the 1980s.
The franchise is one of the most moved around in league history. The Raiders were founded in Oakland, and moved to Los Angeles from 1982 to 1995, before being relocated back to Oakland, until moving again ahead of the 2020 season - this time to Las Vegas.
Los Angeles Chargers
Established: 1959
League Championships: 1 (1963)
Colour Scheme: Navy Blue, Gold & White
Historical Players You Need To Know: LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates, Phil Rivers
The Chargers play their home games at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
The franchise was actually founded in Los Angeles as an original member of the AFL, before relocating after only one playing season to San Diego.
The Chargers’ only championship came in 1963, before the AFL-NFL merger, and the team has struggled for postseason success in the Super Bowl era.
Based in San Diego from 1961 to 2017, the Chargers have appeared in one Super Bowl, losing to the San Francisco 49ers at the end of the 1994 season.
Now-retired running back LaDanian Tomlinson is arguably the best player in franchise history, as he boasts the NFL’s single-season rushing touchdowns record.
Tomlinson rushed for 28 touchdowns in 2006 and is a Hall of Famer.
The Chargers moved back to LA after owner Dean Spanos and the San Diego council failed to reach a deal on how to fund a new stadium.
NFC North
Chicago Bears
Established: 1919
League Championships: 9 (1921, 1932, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1946, 1963, 1985)
Colour Scheme: The Chicago Bears play in Navy Blue & Orange
Historical Players You Need To Know: Walter Payton, Brian Urlacher, Dick Butkus
The Bears play their home games at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois.
The Bears are one of the oldest and most storied franchises in the history of North American professional sports as one of only two franchises in the National Football League today that were original charters of the NFL.
Chicago boasts one Super Bowl victory from 1985.
This team was famous for having one of the greatest defences in NFL history, with Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton leading the way on offence.
A new strong defensive unit led the Bears to a Super Bowl appearance in 2006. However, Peyton Manning and the Colts were too much to handle on the day.
The Bears have often played second fiddle in their division to the Packers ever since.
Detroit Lions
Established: 1930
League Championships: 4 (1935, 1952, 1953, 1957)
Colour Scheme: Honolulu Blue, Silver, Black & White
Historical Players You Need To Know: Calvin Johnson, Barry Sanders, Bobby Layne
The Lions play home games at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.
Originally established as the Portsmouth Spartans, the Lions are one of the oldest franchises in the National Football League, moving to Detroit in 1934 and playing in the same city for the next eight decades.
However, the Lions have had minimal success over that time, failing to secure a championship since 1957.
This is despite the fact that some of the greatest players in league history, like Calvin Johnson and Barry Sanders, have donned the Honolulu blue over that time.
Green Bay Packers
Established: 1919
League Championships: 15 (1929, 1930, 1931, 1936, 1939, 1944, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1966, 1967, 1996, 2010)
Colour Scheme: The Packers play in Bay Green & Cheese Gold
Historical Players You Need To Know: Brett Favre, Bart Starr, Ray Nitschke
The Packers play home games at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
As the only publicly owned professional sports team in North American professional sports, the Packers are a unique franchise.
They are also a successful franchise, boasting the most overall league championships among the modern-day NFL franchises. Green Bay has enjoyed a long history of stellar quarterback play.
They won Super Bowls with Hall of Fame quarterbacks Bart Starr (2) and Bret Favre (1) before their latest Lombardi trophy in 2010, led by future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Minnesota Vikings
Established: 1960
League Championships: 1 (1969)
Colour Scheme: Purple, Gold & White
Historical Players You’ll Need To Know: Adrian Peterson, Randy Moss, John Randle
The Vikings play home games in the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota and were one of the few franchises accepted into the NFL as an expansion team in 1960, rather than joining the rival AFL.
The team’s only championship success came in 1969, as they won the final NFL Championship before the official AFL-NFL merger.
However, the Vikings lost that year’s Super Bowl to the Chiefs and haven’t been back since.
Legendary talent has come through the doors in Minneapolis. However, the electric talents of Adrian Peterson, Randall Cunnigham, Chris Carter and Percy Harvin have never got the job done.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
Established: 1960
League Championships: 5 (1971, 1977, 1992, 1993, 1995)
Colour Scheme: The Cowboys play in Navy Blue & Grey
Historical Players You Need To Know: Emmitt Smith, Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman
The Cowboys play home games at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Joining the NFL as an expansion team in 1960, they were a prolific franchise their first three decades in the league.
From 1966 to 1985, the Cowboys posted 20 consecutive winning seasons, appearing in the Super Bowl six times under legendary quarterback Roger Staubach.
Dallas forged a heated rivalry with the San Francisco 49ers through the 1990s as the two clashed in the NFC Championship game for three consecutive seasons from 1992 to 1994.
Overall, Head Coach Jimmy Johnson and quarterback Troy Aikman led the Cowboys to three Super Bowls in the 1990s, taking the franchise total to five.
However, they haven’t appeared in the big game since 1995.
New York Giants
Established: 1925
League Championships: 8 (1927, 1934, 1938, 1956, 1986, 1990, 2007, 2011)
Colour Scheme: Royal Blue, Red & White
Historical Players You Need To Know: Lawrence Taylor, Eli Manning, Michael Strahan
The Giants play home games at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, sharing with the aforementioned Jets.
Another one of the older teams in the league, the Giants have enjoyed several periods of sustained success throughout franchise history.
Their first Super Bowl success came in 1986, a year also made famous by linebacker Lawrence Taylor, who remains one of only two defensive players to this day to win League MVP.
The Giants handed the Bills the first of their four Super Bowl losses in 1990, and have also earned two Lombardi Trophies in the 21st century - famously defeating Brady and Belichick’s Patriots in both.
In 2007, New England came into the game undefeated, only for quarterback Eli Manning and a legendary pass rush to hand the Patriots their first loss of the year at the final hurdle.
This was one of the most surprising Super Bowl wins of the 21st century!
Philadelphia Eagles
Established: 1933
League Championships: 3 (1948, 1949, 1960, 2017)
Colour Scheme: Dark Green, Grey & White
Historical Players You Need To Know: Brian Dawkins, Randall Cunningham, Reggie White
The Eagles play home games at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Eagles participate in one of the most bitter rivalries in the entire NFL, against their division rivals the New York Giants.
However, despite boasting some legendary players in league history, the Eagles were often second-best to the Giants and Cowboys in the NFC.
That changed in 2017 when Philadelphia earned the franchise's first Lombardi trophy.
Backup quarterback for the season Nick Foles led the Eagles on a miracle postseason run, culminating in a shocking 41-33 victory over the Patriots in Super Bowl 52.
Washington Commanders
Established: 1932
League Championships: 5 (1937, 1942, 1982, 1987, 1991)
Colour Scheme: Burgundy & Gold
Historical Players You Need To Know: Darrell Green, Sammy Baugh, John Riggins
The Football Team (or insert nickname here if that changes) play home games at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.
Another historic NFL franchise, Washington began play as the Boston Braves, before relocating to Washington D.C in 1937.
Similar to the Giants, Washington has enjoyed periods of sustained success, in amongst decades of mediocrity.
In the Super Bowl era, that success came throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, as the team won three Lombardi trophies in that period.
Super Bowl XXII in 1987 is famous, as Washington quarterback Doug Williams became the first African-American quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl in league history.
However, there has been little playoff success since 1991.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons
Established: 1965
League Championships: 0
Colour Scheme: Black, Red & Silver
Historical Players You Need To Know: Deion Sanders, Tony Gonzalez, Michael Vick
The Falcons play home games at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Another team without a Lombardi Trophy, the Falcons have appeared in the big game twice.
A franchise desperate for an identity their first two decades in the league, they found one in the form of cornerback Deion “Prime Time” Sanders in 1989.
He’s one of the greatest defensive backs in league history - and he brought some swagger to the franchise.
Since then, the Atlanta Falcons have been a threat in the NFC more often than not.
The 2015 team led by league MVP quarterback Matt Ryan and wide receiver Julio Jones were one of the most explosive offenses in league history before they fell to the Patriots in Super Bowl 51, arguably the greatest Superbowl of them all.
Carolina Panthers
Established: 1993
League Championships: 0
Colour Scheme: Black, Medium “Panther” Blue & White
Historical Players You Need To Know: Steve Smith, Cam Newton, Luke Kuechly
The Panthers play home games at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
An expansion team along with the Jaguars for their inaugural season in 1995, Carolina has enjoyed a little more success than Jacksonville.
They appeared in their first Super Bowl in 2002, losing to the Patriots on a last-second field goal as time expired.
The team rose to another Super Bowl appearance in 2015 under the leadership of head coach “Riverboat” Ron Rivera, quarterback Cam Newton and defensive team leader Luke Kuechly.
The team has recently changed hands, as businessman David Tepper took ownership of the franchise in 2018.
Read an in-depth profile of the Carolina Panthers
New Orleans Saints
Established: 1966
League Championships: 1 (2009)
Colour Scheme: Black & Gold
Historical Players You Need To Know: Drew Brees, Deuce McAllister, Archie Manning
The Saints play home games at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.
New Orleans suffered a long stretch of mediocrity upon entering the league in 1967. The team won zero playoff games from 1967 to 1999.
However, in 2006, Head Coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees breathed life into the franchise.
Following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the two vowed to restore hope to the city through football.
The journey reached its high in 2009, as the franchise secured its maiden Lombardi trophy. Payton and Brees continued to lead the team to several playoff appearances throughout the 2010s.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Established: 1974
League Championships: 2 (2002, 2020)
Colour Scheme: Red, Grey & Black
Historical Players You Need To Know: Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp, John Lynch
The Buccaneers play home games at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
After a disastrous beginning that included a winless season their inaugural year, the Buccaneers have since enjoyed success on the biggest stage twice in the NFL.
Their maiden Lombardi trophy came in 2002 thanks to Head Coach Jon Gruden and a vaunted defence that included the likes of Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp and John Lynch.
Tom Brady moved down south to Tampa ahead of the 2020 season and immediately led the Bucs to their second Super Bowl win, defeating the Chiefs 31-9 to secure his seventh personal Super Bowl ring.
The 2020 Bucs also became the first team to win a Super Bowl that was played in their own NFL stadium, courtesy of the Brady and Grink show.
Read an in-depth profile of The Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals
Established: 1898
League Championships: 2 (1925, 1947)
Colour Scheme: Cardinal Red, Black & White
Historical Players You Need To Know: Larry Fitzgerald, Kurt Warner, Pat Tilman
The Cardinals play home games at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, and lay claim to being the oldest continuously run pro football team in the US.
However, they have migrated three times. The Cardinals were founded in Chicago, before moving to St Louis in 1960, and then Arizona in 1988, where they have remained ever since.
Despite its longevity, the franchise has not enjoyed much success.
In fact, they also lay claim to the longest active championship drought in all of North American Sports, 76+ years!
However, Kurt Warner and great wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald did lead the franchise to their sole Super Bowl appearance in 2008, and they have enjoyed some playoff success since.
Los Angeles Rams
Established: 1936
League Championships: 3 (1945, 1951, 1999)
Colour Scheme: Gold & Navy Blue
Historical Players You Need To Know: Marshall Faulk, Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen
The Rams play their home games at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Rams owner Stan Kroenke moved the Rams to LA from St Louis in 2015, and built the $5 Billion dollar project that is SoFi for both the Chargers and Rams to share.
The Rams have actually won a championship in three different cities. One based out of Cleveland (1945), LA (1951) and the most recent whilst based out of St Louis in 1999.
However, the latter success is their only Super Bowl win.
The 1999 team is probably the most memorable. Known as the “The Greatest Show on Turf”, quarterback Kurt Warner, along with Marshall Faulk and wide receivers Torry Holt and Issac Bruce, led one of the most explosive offences in NFL history to victory over the Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV.
San Francisco 49ers
Established: 1946
League Championships: 5 (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1994)
Colour Scheme: Scarlet Red & Metallic Gold
Historical Players You Need To Know: Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Steve Young
The 49ers play home games at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The fan base has enjoyed multiple periods of success from one of the most storied NFL franchises.
They are one of only four franchises with five or more Super Bowl victories and trail only the Steelers and Patriots in that race.
The bulk of the 49ers’ success came during the back-to-back eras of Hall of Fame quarterbacks Joe Montana and Steve Young, which combined to give San Francisco one of the first NFL dynasties.
All five of the team’s Super Bowl wins came with one of those players as the team’s starting quarterback.
The 49ers have appeared in two more Super Bowls this century, losing in 2012 and 2019.
Seattle Seahawks
Established: 1974
League Championships: 1 (2013)
Colour Scheme: College Navy, Action Green & Wolf Gray
Historical Players You Need To Know: Marshawn Lynch, Walter Jones, Shaun Alexander
The Seahawks play home games at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. Seattle has become famous for boasting one of the most notorious home-field advantages in the league.
The “12th Man” fans in Seattle are consistently among the loudest in the NFL.
Seattle earned their first Super Bowl appearance in 2006, losing to the Steelers in a tight contest.
However, they finally got over the hump in 2013, led by Head Coach Pete Carrol, quarterback Russell Wilson and an incredible defence with a defensive backfield coined “The Legion of Boom.”
Seattle defeated the Denver Broncos 43-8 to secure the franchise's maiden Lombardi Trophy.
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