With 103 seasons in history, the National Football League is America’s biggest and wealthiest sports league as per revenue. Currently, the NFL has 32 franchises, distributed into the American Football Conference (AFC) and National Football Conference (NFC). The winners from each conference will play against each other in the Super Bowl, the concluding match of the NFL.
With more than a century of football actions, many teams have found roaring successes and frustrating losses in NFL matches. Nonetheless, some teams remained steadfast in their goal to win Super Bowl matches.
Let’s discover the enduring legacy of the NFL’s oldest teams and learn their inspiring story of triumphs and defeats, making them the league’s most valued teams today.
Chicago Bears
If you have wagered on NFL spreads, odds, and lines in the 1985 Super Bowl, you have probably backed the Chicago Bears, the heavy favorite in the match. Established 102 years ago, Chicago became part of the Western Division (1933 to 1949), National Conference (1950 to 1952), Western Conference (1953 to 1969), Central Division (1967 to 1969), NFC Central (1970–2001), and NFC North (2002 to present). Virginia Halas McCaskey currently owns the team, with Kevin Warren as the president.
Chicago Bears headquarters is in Halas Hall, Lake Forest, Illinois. The team was previously named the Decatur Staleys (1920) and Chicago Staleys (1921) before it was named the Chicago Bears. They have 8 NFL championships, 1 Super Bowl championship, 8 NFL Western championships, 7 NFL Central championships, and 4 NFC North championships. Throughout its existence, the team has been in 28 playoff appearances.
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals joined the NFL in 1920. From 1970 to 2001, the Cardinals were affiliated with the NFC East and transferred to the NFC West in 2002 to present. The franchise’s current owner, chairman, and president is Michael Bidwill. Cardinal’s general manager is Monti Ossenfort, while the team’s present head coach is Jonathan Gannon.
Before the team was named Arizona Cardinals, it went through different names: Morgan Athletic Club (1898), Racine Normals (1899 to1900), Racine Cardinals (1901 to 1906 and 1913 to1919), Chicago Cardinals (1920 to 1943 and 1945 to 1959), Card-Pitt (1944), St. Louis Cardinals (1960 to1987), and Phoenix Cardinals (1988 to 1993).
The Arizona Cardinals have 2 NFL championships, 1 NFC championships, 2 NFL Western championships, 2 NFC East championships, and 3 NFC West championships. In total, they have 11 playoff appearances.
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers joined the NFL in 1921, but the team was first established as an independent club in 1919. The team has played in Western Division (1933 to 1949), National Conference (1950 to 1952), Western Conference (1953 to 1966), Central Division (1970 to 2001), and North Division (2002–present).
The club was named Green Bay Packers since it was established. However, before the nicknames Packers, The Pack, The Green and Gold were coined, the club was once known as Indian Packers (1919 to 1920, Acme Packers (1921), Blues (1922), Big Bay Blues (1920s), and Bays (1918 to 1940s).
Mark Murphy is the current president, CEO, and club chairman, while the current general manager is Brian Gutekunst. The team plays under the direction of coach Matt LaFleur.
Green Bay Packers have 11 NFL championships, 4 Super Bowl championships, 6 NFL Western championships, 3 NFC championships and 21 division championships. The team also has 35 total playoff appearances.
New York Giants
The New York Giants made its debut in the NFL in 1925. The club has played under Eastern Division (1933 to 1949), American Conference (1950 to 1952), Eastern Conference (1953 to 1969), Century Division (1967 and 1969), Capitol Division (1968), and NFC East (1970 to present). The club’s chairman is Steve Tisch, while the current president is John Mara. Its present general manager is Joe Schoen, while the club’s head coach is Brian Daboll.
The club boasts 4 NFL championships, 4 Super Bowl championships, 6 NFL Eastern championships, 5 NFC championships, and 16 Division championships. They have been in the playoffs 33 times.
Detroit Lions
Established 93 years ago, the Detroit Lions joined the NFL in 1930. The club has played under Western Division (1933 to 1949), National Conference (1950 to 1952), Western Conference (1953 to 1969), Central Division (1967 to 1969), NFC Central (1970 to 2001), and NFC North (2002 to present).
The current owner and chairman of the club is Sheila Ford Hamp. The current president is Rod Wood, while the club’s general manager is Brad Holmes. Dan Campbell is the present head coach of the Detroit Lions.
Before the team was called Detroit Lions, it was first known as Portsmouth Spartans. As of 2023, Detroit Lions have 4 NFL championships, 1 NFL National championships, 3 NFL Western championships, and 4 Division championships. In the last 93 years, the club made 18 playoff appearances.
Final Thoughts
In the ever-evolving world of professional sports, the NFL’s oldest teams continued to break records and look after promising football stars of the latest NFL seasons. With their enduring contributions to the NFL, may their fans continue to support and appreciate these clubs in their quest to make a lasting impact in football.
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