Exploring NFL Dynasties – The Best Ever, Kansas City’s Standing, and Who Comes Next
- In order to be declared an NFL dynasty, a team must have multiple Super Bowl wins across 5+ years.
- The top three NFL dynasties are the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, and San Francisco 49ers.
- With their latest win, the Kansas City Chiefs have solidified themselves into dynasty territory.
NFL dynasties are difficult to define, but it’s arguable you know one when you see it. The Kansas City Chiefs have won their third Super Bowl in five seasons, which means it’s tough to deny that they are the NFL’s newest dynasty.
There’s a good chance that they continue to have success and move up the rankings as one of the best dynasties ever, too.
It might be a while before another team gets to their level, but maybe we can use historical data to predict the next one. Not only is it satisfying to predict NFL dynasties, but it’s also very rewarding.
The best Super Bowl betting sites have the odds up year-round, which allows us the opportunity to win big. Let’s discuss what an NFL dynasty is, which ones are the best historically, and see if we can spot the next one.
Defining What an NFL Dynasty Is
So, what is an NFL dynasty defined? We should lay some groundwork before we dive into the rankings of the best dynasties ever. To be clear, the argument is subjective, and many people will have their own opinions of what it entails.
That said, there are some things that we can all agree on. First and foremost, a team has to be successful for multiple years in a row. Having just one strong season is not nearly enough to be declared a dynasty.
I would say that five years is a respectable range, and obviously, the longer, the better.
If we are creating an official NFL dynasty definition, it’s also important that we know how to measure success.
Similar to having just one good season, I don’t think one Super Bowl win is enough to earn the title of NFL dynasty. If five successful seasons is our target, then multiple Super Bowl wins should be too.
You could make the argument for multiple appearances, but you’ll have a harder time convincing some of your peers. Making the playoffs consistently is also important because it proves you were able to maintain your dominance over the required span.
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Ranking the Best NFL Dynasties Ever
Now that we answered the tough question of “What is an NFL dynasty,” it’s time to look at some of the best ever. The top three NFL dynasties in history are the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, and San Francisco 49ers.
No matter how you personally define an NFL dynasty, you must have these three teams at the top of the list.
New England earns the top spot due to winning the most Super Bowls and lasting nearly two decades. Not only did they win six championships, but they also made it to the big game three more times.
The second-best dynasty belongs to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who won four titles between 1972 and 1979. Their reign wasn’t nearly as long as the Patriots, but it’s certainly good enough for the second spot in the rankings.
Pittsburgh actually had the same winning percentage as New England during their reign (.763). They had a ferocious defense with players like Jack Lambert, Mel Blount, and Mean Joe Green.
Terry Bradshaw and Chuck Noll didn’t always see eye-to-eye, but they sure knew how to win some football games together.
San Francisco’s reign lasted from 1981 to 1994, and they won five Super Bowls along the way. They come in at the third spot in the rankings because they had one losing season (1982, 3-6), and they also didn’t do it all under one coach. Bill Walsh led the team to their first three, while George Seifert manned the ship for the next two.
That said, the gap between San Francisco and Pittsburgh is much smaller than it is from Pittsburgh to New England.
Honorable Mentions and “Almost” Dynasties
New England, Pittsburgh, and San Francisco are arguably the best NFL dynasties ever. That said, there are a few other teams that are just outside the top three.
The Washington Redskins/Commanders had a lot of success under Joe Gibbs. They made it to four Super Bowls between 1982 and 1991, winning three of them.
When it comes to listing off the best NFL dynasties, Washington is a team that you don’t often hear about. However, they definitely meet the NFL dynasty criteria.
Five years is usually a good lifespan for a dynasty if they won at least two Super Bowls. Dallas was able to win three in four years, so I would say that four years works in their case.
Two teams that likely aren’t happy with the official NFL dynasty definition are the Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings. Both of these teams made it to four Super Bowls each during their “reigns,” but unfortunately, they weren’t able to win a single one.
Buffalo actually lost four straight Super Bowls behind Jim Kelly and Marv Levy.
Everything was in order for Minnesota and Buffalo to be an official dynasty, but sadly, it doesn’t work out for everyone.
How Kansas City Became the Current NFL Dynasty
You might be wondering, “who is the next NFL dynasty?”, when it might be a good idea to just admire what the Chiefs are doing right now. Kansas City has won their third Super Bowl in five seasons, which solidifies them into dynasty territory.
Andy Reid has had a lot of success with the Chiefs ever since they hired him in 2013. He has an incredible 128-51 record (.715 winning percentage), but it wasn’t a dynasty until recently.
Patrick Mahomes is the biggest reason why. They drafted him with the 10th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft and molded him into the player he is today. He just won his third Super Bowl MVP and there’s a chance he adds a few more before he decides to retire.
Mahomes and the Chiefs are also likely to restructure his contract, which will give them even more financial flexibility. This will provide Mahomes with enough surrounding talent to potentially keep winning Super Bowls.
Steve Spagnuolo is also one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL. The offense gets most of the spotlight, but Spagnuolo and the defense deserve a lot of credit as well. As we’ve seen with other NFL dynasties, you need to have that balance.
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Predicting the Next NFL Dynasty
In order to be called an NFL dynasty, you must win multiple Super Bowls across five seasons. Regular season and non-Super Bowl playoff success is important, but the big game will always be the deciding factor.
New England holds the top spot as the best NFL dynasty right now. They won six Super Bowls during their reign and made nine total appearances. If you’re wondering how to make an NFL dynasty, it’s a good idea to use the Patriots as a reference.
Tom Brady was the leader on the field, while Bill Belichick led it off the field. Quarterback is the most important position on the field, and a great head coach keeps the whole team together.
Kansas City has established themselves as the current NFL dynasty. We might not see another dynasty until the Chiefs fall apart, which could be a decade from now.
However, we are still going to try and predict the next great team. There are a few different teams who have potential, but I am going to say the Houston Texans have the best chance. C.J Stroud and DeMeco Ryans are young, but incredibly talented.
If the Texans can build around Stroud, they’ll have a shot at becoming the next NFL dynasty. That might not be for a while, but maybe they win their first Super Bowl in 2025. You can bet on that to happen at Bovada for +2500 odds.
Reference:
- History, records, and more are from the official NFL website.