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The National Football League champions, prior to the merger between the National Football League (NFL) and American Football League (AFL) in 1970, were determined by two different systems. The National Football League was established on September 17, 1920, as the American Professional Football Association (APFA). The APFA changed its name in 1922 to the National Football League, which it has retained ever since.[1] From 1921 to 1931, the APFA/NFL determined its champion by overall win–loss record, with no playoff games;[2] ties were not counted in the winning percentage total.[3] The APFA did not keep records of the 1920 season; they declared the Akron Pros, who finished the season with an 8–0–3 (8 wins, 0 losses, 3 ties) record, as the league's first champions by a vote of the owners. The Canton Bulldogs won two straight championships from 1922 to 1923, and the Green Bay Packers won three in a row from 1929 to 1931.[4]
The 1932 NFL season resulted in a tie for first place between the Chicago Bears and Portsmouth Spartans, and could not be resolved by the typical win–loss system. To settle the tie, a playoff game was played; Chicago won the game and the championship. The following year, the NFL split into two divisions, and the winner of each division would play in the NFL Championship Game.[2] In 1967, the NFL and the rival AFL agreed to merge, effective following the 1969 season;[5] as part of this deal, the NFL champion from 1966 to 1969 would play the AFL champion in an AFL–NFL World Championship Game in each of the four seasons before the completed merger. The NFL Championship Game was ended after the 1969 season, succeeded by the NFC Championship Game.[2][6] The champions of that game play the champions of the AFC Championship Game in the Super Bowl to determine the NFL champion.[2]
The Green Bay Packers won the most NFL championships before the merger, winning eleven of the fifty championships. The Packers were also the only team to win three straight championships, an achievement they accomplished twice: from 1929 to 1931 and from 1965 to 1967. The Chicago Bears each won a total of eight titles, and the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, and New York Giants each won four. The Bears recorded the largest victory in a championship game, defeating the Washington Redskins 73–0 in the 1940 NFL Championship Game; six other title games ended in a shutout as well. The Philadelphia Eagles recorded two consecutive shutouts in 1948 and 1949. New York City hosted the most championship games (eight), while the highest-attended title game was the 1955 NFL Championship Game, where 85,693 fans showed up in Los Angeles to watch the Browns beat the Rams 38–14.[4]
APFA/NFL champions (1920–1932)
Champion determined by win–loss percentage. The number in parentheses indicates the number of championships the franchise had won to that point.
| Season | Champion | Wins | Losses | Ties[A] | Pct. | Runner-up | Wins | Losses | Ties[A] | Pct. | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 | Akron Pros[B] | 8 | 0 | 3 | 1.000 | Decatur Staleys | 10 | 1 | 2 | .909 | [4] |
| 1921[C] | Chicago Staleys | 9 | 1 | 1 | .900 | Buffalo All-Americans | 9 | 1 | 2 | .900 | [4] |
| 1922 | Canton Bulldogs | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | Chicago Bears | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | [4] |
| 1923 | Canton Bulldogs (2) | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | Chicago Bears | 9 | 2 | 1 | .818 | [4] |
| 1924 | Cleveland Bulldogs | 7 | 1 | 1 | .875 | Chicago Bears | 6 | 1 | 4 | .857 | [4] |
| 1925[D] | Chicago Cardinals | 11 | 2 | 1 | .846 | Pottsville Maroons | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | [9] |
| 1926 | Frankford Yellow Jackets | 14 | 1 | 2 | .933 | Chicago Bears | 12 | 1 | 3 | .923 | [9] |
| 1927 | New York Giants | 11 | 1 | 1 | .917 | Green Bay Packers | 7 | 2 | 1 | .778 | [9] |
| 1928 | Providence Steam Roller | 8 | 1 | 2 | .889 | Frankford Yellow Jackets | 11 | 3 | 2 | .786 | [9] |
| 1929 | Green Bay Packers | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | New York Giants | 13 | 1 | 1 | .929 | [9] |
| 1930 | Green Bay Packers (2) | 10 | 3 | 1 | .769 | New York Giants | 13 | 4 | 0 | .765 | [9] |
| 1931 | Green Bay Packers (3) | 12 | 2 | 0 | .857 | Portsmouth Spartans | 11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | [9] |
| 1932[E] | Chicago Bears (2) | 7 | 1 | 6 | .875 | Green Bay Packers | 10 | 3 | 1 | .769 | [9] |
NFL champions (1933–1969)
Numbers in parentheses in the table indicate the number of times that team won the NFL championship as of the championship game.
| Divisions/Conferences | |
|---|---|
| Eastern Division (1933–1949)‡ | Western Division (1933–1949)^ |
| American Conference (1950–1952)‡ | National Conference (1950–1952)^ |
| Eastern Conference (1953–1969)‡ | Western Conference (1953–1969)^ |
| Season | Date | Winning team | Score | Losing team | Venue | City | Attendance | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | December 17, 1933 | Chicago Bears (3)^ | 23–21 | New York Giants‡ | Wrigley Field | Chicago, Illinois | 26,000 | [6][9] |
| 1934 | December 9, 1934 | New York Giants (2)‡ | 30–13 | Chicago Bears^ | Polo Grounds | New York City, New York | 35,059 | [6][9] |
| 1935 | December 15, 1935 | Detroit Lions | 26–7 | New York Giants‡ | University of Detroit Stadium | Detroit, Michigan | 15,000 | [6][9] |
| 1936 | December 13, 1936 | Green Bay Packers (4)^ | 21–6 | Boston Redskins‡ | Polo Grounds (2)[a 1] | New York City, New York (2) | 29,545 | [6][9] |
| 1937 | December 12, 1937 | Washington Redskins‡ | 28–21 | Chicago Bears^ | Wrigley Field (2) | Chicago, Illinois (2) | 15,870 | [6][9] |
| 1938 | December 11, 1938 | New York Giants (3)‡ | 23–17 | Green Bay Packers^ | Polo Grounds (3) | New York City, New York (3) | 48,120 | [6][10] |
| 1939 | December 10, 1939 | Green Bay Packers (5)^ | 27–0 | New York Giants‡ | Dairy Bowl | West Allis, Wisconsin | 32,279 | [6][10] |
| 1940 | December 8, 1940 | Chicago Bears (4)^ | 73–0 | Washington Redskins‡ | Griffith Stadium | Washington, D.C. | 36,034 | [6][10] |
| 1941 | December 21, 1941 | Chicago Bears (5)^ | 37–9 | New York Giants‡ | Wrigley Field (3) | Chicago, Illinois (3) | 13,341 | [6][10] |
| 1942 | December 13, 1942 | Washington Redskins (2)‡ | 14–6 | Chicago Bears^ | Griffith Stadium (2) | Washington, D.C. (2) | 36,006 | [6][10] |
| 1943 | December 26, 1943 | Chicago Bears (6)^ | 41–21 | Washington Redskins‡ | Wrigley Field (4) | Chicago, Illinois (4) | 34,320 | [6][10] |
| 1944 | December 17, 1944 | Green Bay Packers (6)^ | 14–7 | New York Giants‡ | Polo Grounds (4) | New York City, New York (4) | 46,016 | [6][10] |
| 1945 | December 16, 1945 | Cleveland Rams^ | 15–14 | Washington Redskins‡ | Cleveland Stadium | Cleveland, Ohio | 32,178 | [6][10] |
| 1946 | December 15, 1946 | Chicago Bears (7)^ | 24–14 | New York Giants‡ | Polo Grounds (5) | New York City, New York (5) | 58,346 | [6][10] |
| 1947 | December 28, 1947 | Chicago Cardinals (2)^ | 28–21 | Philadelphia Eagles‡ | Comiskey Park | Chicago, Illinois (5) | 30,759 | [6][10] |
| 1948 | December 19, 1948 | Philadelphia Eagles‡ | 7–0 | Chicago Cardinals^ | Shibe Park | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 36,309 | [6][10] |
| 1949 | December 18, 1949 | Philadelphia Eagles (2)‡ | 14–0 | Los Angeles Rams^ | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Los Angeles, California | 27,980 | [6][10] |
| 1950 | December 24, 1950 | Cleveland Browns‡ | 30–28 | Los Angeles Rams^ | Cleveland Stadium (2) | Cleveland, Ohio (2) | 29,751 | [6][11] |
| 1951 | December 23, 1951 | Los Angeles Rams (2)^ | 24–17 | Cleveland Browns‡ | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (2) | Los Angeles, California (2) | 57,522 | [11][12] |
| 1952 | December 28, 1952 | Detroit Lions (2)^ | 17–7 | Cleveland Browns‡ | Cleveland Stadium (3) | Cleveland, Ohio (3) | 50,934 | [11][12] |
| 1953 | December 27, 1953 | Detroit Lions (3)^ | 17–16 | Cleveland Browns‡ | Briggs Stadium | Detroit, Michigan (2) | 54,577 | [11][12] |
| 1954 | December 26, 1954 | Cleveland Browns (2)‡ | 56–10 | Detroit Lions^ | Cleveland Stadium (4) | Cleveland, Ohio (4) | 43,827 | [11][12] |
| 1955 | December 26, 1955 | Cleveland Browns (3)‡ | 38–14 | Los Angeles Rams^ | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (3) | Los Angeles, California (3) | 85,693 | [11][12] |
| 1956 | December 30, 1956 | New York Giants (4)‡ | 47–7 | Chicago Bears^ | Yankee Stadium | New York City, New York (6) | 56,836 | [11][12] |
| 1957 | December 29, 1957 | Detroit Lions (4)^ | 59–14 | Cleveland Browns‡ | Briggs Stadium (2) | Detroit, Michigan (3) | 55,263 | [11][12] |
| 1958 | December 28, 1958 | Baltimore Colts^ | 23–17 | New York Giants‡ | Yankee Stadium (2) | New York City, New York (7) | 64,185 | [11][12] |
| 1959 | December 27, 1959 | Baltimore Colts (2)^ | 31–16 | New York Giants‡ | Memorial Stadium | Baltimore, Maryland | 57,545 | [11][12] |
| 1960 | December 26, 1960 | Philadelphia Eagles (3)‡ | 17–13 | Green Bay Packers^ | Franklin Field | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2) | 67,325 | [12][13] |
| 1961 | December 31, 1961 | Green Bay Packers (7)^ | 37–0 | New York Giants‡ | City Stadium[a 2] | Green Bay, Wisconsin | 39,029 | [12][13] |
| 1962 | December 30, 1962 | Green Bay Packers (8)^ | 16–7 | New York Giants‡ | Yankee Stadium (3) | New York City, New York (8) | 64,892 | [12][13] |
| 1963 | December 29, 1963 | Chicago Bears (8)^ | 14–10 | New York Giants‡ | Wrigley Field (5) | Chicago, Illinois (6) | 45,801 | [12][13] |
| 1964 | December 27, 1964 | Cleveland Browns (4)‡ | 27–0 | Baltimore Colts^ | Cleveland Stadium (5) | Cleveland, Ohio (5) | 79,544 | [12][13] |
| 1965 | January 2, 1966 | Green Bay Packers (9)^ | 23–12 | Cleveland Browns‡ | Lambeau Field (2) | Green Bay, Wisconsin (2) | 50,777 | [12][13] |
| 1966 | January 1, 1967 | Green Bay Packers (10)[F]^ | 34–27 | Dallas Cowboys‡ | Cotton Bowl | Dallas, Texas | 74,152 | [12][13] |
| 1967 | December 31, 1967 | Green Bay Packers (11)[G]^ | 21–17 | Dallas Cowboys‡ | Lambeau Field (3) | Green Bay, Wisconsin (3) | 50,861 | [12][13] |
| 1968 | December 29, 1968 | Baltimore Colts (3)[H]^ | 34–0 | Cleveland Browns‡ | Cleveland Stadium (6) | Cleveland, Ohio (6) | 78,410 | [12][13] |
| 1969 | January 4, 1970 | Minnesota Vikings[I]^ | 27–7 | Cleveland Browns‡ | Metropolitan Stadium | Bloomington, Minnesota | 46,503 | [12][13] |
- ^ George Preston Marshall, the owner of the Boston Redskins, gave up home-field advantage and moved the game out of Fenway Park to New York due to apathy and low support in Boston.
- ^ Lambeau Field was originally known as City Stadium.
Total NFL championships won (1920–1969)
| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Bay Packers | 11 | 4 | 1929, 1930, 1931, 1936, 1939, 1944, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967 |
| Chicago Bears | 8 | 9 | 1921, 1932, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1946, 1963 |
| New York Giants | 4 | 13 | 1927, 1934, 1938, 1956 |
| Detroit Lions | 4 | 2 | 1935, 1952, 1953, 1957 |
| Cleveland Browns | 4 | 7 | 1950, 1954, 1955, 1964 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 3 | 1 | 1948, 1949, 1960 |
| Baltimore Colts | 3 | 1 | 1958, 1959, 1968 |
| Canton Bulldogs | 2 | 0 | 1922, 1923 |
| Chicago Cardinals | 2 | 1 | 1925, 1947 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 2 | 3 | 1945, 1951 |
| Washington Redskins | 2 | 4 | 1937, 1942 |
| Akron Pros | 1 | 0 | 1920 |
| Cleveland Bulldogs | 1 | 0 | 1924 |
| Providence Steam Roller | 1 | 0 | 1928 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 1 | 0 | 1969 |
| Frankford Yellow Jackets | 1 | 1 | 1926 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 0 | 2 | N/A |
| Buffalo All-Americans | 0 | 1 | N/A |
| Pottsville Maroons | 0 | 1 | N/A |
See also
Notes
Notes
- ^ a b Ties were disregarded in the standings.[3]
- ^ No official standings were recorded for the 1920 season and teams played games against opponents outside of the league. The championship was awarded to the Akron Pros in an APFA meeting on April 30, 1921.[2]
- ^ Chicago beat Buffalo on a controversial tiebreaker.[7]
- ^ Chicago was awarded the championship controversially because the Maroons had been suspended from the NFL for playing an exhibition game against a group of Notre Dame All-Stars.[8]
- ^ Chicago and Portsmouth finished with identical win–loss records, tying for first place in the NFL. To solve the tie, a playoff game was held between the two, counting towards the regular-season total. Chicago won the game and the championship while Portsmouth's loss dropped them to third place, behind Green Bay.[9]
- ^ Green Bay beat the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs 35–10 in Super Bowl I.[13]
- ^ Green Bay beat the AFL's Oakland Raiders 33–14 in Super Bowl II.[13]
- ^ Baltimore lost to the AFL's New York Jets 16–7 in Super Bowl III.[13]
- ^ Minnesota lost to the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs 23–7 in Super Bowl IV.[13]
Footnotes
- ^ "Sept. 17, 1920 – The Founding of the NFL". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "NFL Champions". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on January 7, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
- ^ a b Piascik, Andy (2005). "Old and New Style: Winning Percentages" (PDF). The Coffin Corner. 27 (5). Professional Football Researchers Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 8, 2015. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g Past Standings, p. 27.
- ^ Bell, Jarrett (June 30, 2009). "From upstart to big time, how the AFL changed the NFL". USA Today. Archived from the original on January 14, 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Playoff Game Summaries, p. 4.
- ^ Snyder, Gib (January 6, 2012). "Buffalo: A city cursed with bad sports luck". The Observer. Ogden Newspapers. Archived from the original on July 29, 2013. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
- ^ Nelson, Robert (January 11, 2007). "The Curse". Phoenix New Times. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Past Standings, p. 26.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Past Standings, p. 25.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Past Standings, p. 24.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Playoff Game Summaries, p. 3.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Past Standings, p. 22.
References
- "Past Standings" (PDF). NFL.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 25, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
- "Playoff Game Summaries" (PDF). NFL.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 3, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
