1960s
In 1966, the National Football League merged with the rival American Football League. Then, in 1967, the
winners of each league played in the first ‘AFL-NFL World Championship Game’. The NFL’s Green Bay
Packers won the first two championship games, and the trophy was soon named after their legendary coach,
Vince Lombardi. The championship game was renamed in 1969, and the Super Bowl
was born.
1970s
In 1970, the NFL officially absorbed the AFL, creating one league with two conferences – the NFC and the
AFC. Then, the Miami Dolphins won Super Bowl VII, finishing the 1972 season undefeated. This remains the
NFL’s only perfect season, and it even gave birth to a legend. It was claimed that the ‘72 Dolphins
popped champagne when the league’s last unbeaten team finally chalked up their first loss of the year,
but coach Don Shula eventually admitted this was untrue.
The Steel Curtain was raised in the seventies, as the Pittsburgh Steelers won Super Bowls in the 1974,
1975, 1978 and 1979 seasons. These wins were thanks to Pittsburgh’s defense, featuring the intimidating
figures of Joe Greene, Jack Ham, and Mel Blount, which slammed
the gate shut on opponents.
1980s
San Francisco 49ers head coach Bill Walsh transformed the NFL with his West Coast offense.
All-time
greats Joe Montana and Jerry Rice thrived in the system. The 49ers were the
NFL’s team of the decade and
brought Super Bowls back to Candlestick Park in the 1981, 1984, 1988 and 1989 seasons.
1990s
The Dallas Cowboys won three Super Bowls in four years (the 1992, 1993 and 1995 seasons) to become the
team of the nineties, and their ‘Triplets’ – Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael
Irvin – shredded
opposing defenses on their way to the 'Cowboys' ring of honour and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
2000s
The Pittsburgh Steelers have long been at the forefront of championing diversity and inclusivity
within the NFL. In previous years they became the first team to hire an African/American coach
and had the league’s first African/American Super Bowl MVP. In response to the firing of
high-profile African/American head coaches despite the numerous wins on their CVs, the NFL
established the ‘Rooney Rule’ in 2003. Named after Pittsburgh’s owner, Dan Rooney, the
rule means
that teams have to interview at least one ethnic-minority candidate for head coaching and football
operations positions. The Steelers then went on to hire their first African-American head coach in
2007, and Mike Tomlin eventually won Super Bowl XLIII.
Recently, quarterbacks have dominated the NFL. From the 2000 season to the 2021 season, Peyton Manning,
Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes shattered passing records, and won five Super Bowls and 10
league MVP awards between them.
In 2016, Colin Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem to protest against police brutality
and racial injustice. The then-49er was both praised and criticised for his actions, but he soon found
himself out of the NFL. Kaepernick later became an important figure in the Black Lives Matter protests
of 2020, and inspired many other athletes, in various sports leagues across the world, to begin taking
the knee before games.
In 2016, Colin Kaepernick
began kneeling during
the national anthem to
protest against police
brutality and racial
injustice. The then-49er
was both praised and
criticised for his actions,
but he soon found himself out
of the NFL. Kaepernick later
became an important figure in the
Black Lives Matter protests of 2020,
and inspired many other athletes, in
various sports leagues across the
world, to begin taking the knee
before games.
began kneeling during
the national anthem to
protest against police
brutality and racial
injustice. The then-49er
was both praised and
criticised for his actions,
but he soon found himself out
of the NFL. Kaepernick later
became an important figure in the
Black Lives Matter protests of 2020,
and inspired many other athletes, in
various sports leagues across the
world, to begin taking the knee
before games.
2000s
On the field, the two decades belonged to the New England Patriots. Under coach Bill
Belichick, winning
simply became routine. In 20 years, they appeared in nine Super Bowls and won six, although the Patriots
weren’t without their controversies. New England’s quarterback, Tom Brady, was accused of having the
balls used in the 2014 season’s AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts deflated. Brady was
eventually suspended for the first four games of the 2016 season. However, it was business as usual in
New England that year, as they went on to win Super Bowl LI.
The Patriots’ success was driven by their superstar quarterback, Tom Brady. Brady was a completely unknown sixth-round draft pick when injury thrust him into the starting line-up in 2001, but he never looked back. He was the face of the team throughout their dynasty, which ended with a win in Super Bowl LIII. Even with Super Bowl-winning drives, a full trophy cabinet, and the undying love of every single Patriots fan, Brady joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020. There, aged 43, he won his seventh ring in Super Bowl LV, cementing his legacy as the Greatest of All Time and his place as the hero of another franchise.
The Patriots’ success was driven by
their superstar quarterback, Tom
Brady. Brady was a completely
unknown sixth-round draft pick
when injury thrust him into
the starting line-up in 2001,
but he never looked back.
He was the face of the
team throughout their
dynasty, which ended with
a win in Super Bowl LIII. Even
with Super Bowl-winning
drives, a full trophy cabinet,
and the undying love of
every single Patriots fan,
Brady joined the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers in 2020. There, aged 43, he won his seventh
ring in Super Bowl LV, cementing his legacy as the Greatest
of All Time and his place as the hero of another franchise.
their superstar quarterback, Tom
Brady. Brady was a completely
unknown sixth-round draft pick
when injury thrust him into
the starting line-up in 2001,
but he never looked back.
He was the face of the
team throughout their
dynasty, which ended with
a win in Super Bowl LIII. Even
with Super Bowl-winning
drives, a full trophy cabinet,
and the undying love of
every single Patriots fan,
Brady joined the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers in 2020. There, aged 43, he won his seventh
ring in Super Bowl LV, cementing his legacy as the Greatest
of All Time and his place as the hero of another franchise.
