Teams compete throughout the season trying to top their respective conferences to get a chance to play the prestigious Super Bowl. As the regular season of the NFL comes to a conclusion, the top 14 teams across both Football Conferences qualify to play in the playoffs. The post-season games or the playoffs are the most anticipated games for football fans.
The 1970 NFL-AFL Merger
The concept of post-season games was started in 1933 when the winners of each football conference used to face each other in a playoff game. 1970 was an important year for the development of the NFL as we know it now. The two major American football leagues (the National Football League and the American Footblass League) merged to form a single banner, with the National Football League name and logo at the forefront. The merger was announced in 1966 and the two leagues officially formed a single league in 1970 with two conferences. From 1970 to 1976, the playoff involved 8 teams who played against each other to reach the Super Bowl. In 1978 the number of teams competing for the playoff was increased to 10, and subsequently 12 in 1990. The number of playoff teams was only recently increased to 14 in 2020.
Top 5 Teams with Most Playoff Appearances since 1970
By the end of the 2024 regular season season, here are the teams who successfully made it to the playoffs the most number of times since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers- 34 appearances
Playing in the North Division of the American Football Conference, Pittsburgh Steelers have the most stellar record when it comes to playoff appearances. They have had immense success in their playoff campaigns since 1970, winning 6 Super Bowls (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979, 2005, and 2008). Steelers can attribute their playoff success to coach Chuck Noll who famously drafted four future Hall of Famers (Lynn Swann, Mike Webster, Jack Lambert, and John Stallworth) in one season. The Steelers reigned the NFL during the 1970s with influential hall of farmers Terry Bradshaw and Joe Greene as part of the team.
2. Dallas Cowboys - 32 appearances
With 32 appearances, the Dallas Cowboys tops the list for most playoff appearances since 1970. Dallas Cowboys was the most successful NFL team between 1970 and 1979 winning 105 regular-season games. The Cowboys registered two Super Bowl wins (1971 and 1977) during this period, under the legendary coach Tom Landry. They have gone on to win three more Super Bowls ( 1992, 1993, and 1995) making them one of the most successful NFL franchises ever. With 63 playoff games played in all of their appearances, the Cowboys are the team with the most number of playoff games played out of each NFL team.
3. Minnesota Vikings- 30 appearances
The Vikings were founded in 1960 and have since made it to the postseason 30 times since 1970. The Vikings were a force to be reckoned with during the 1970s with future Hall of Famers Carl Eller and Alan Page leading the defensive line. Between 1970 and 1978, the Vikings consecutively made it to the NFL playoffs. Minnesota Vikings have one of the best playoff appearance records but have fallen short of winning the Vince Lombardi trophy in their four Super Bowl appearances.
4. San Francisco 49ers- 29 appearances
The San Francisco 49ers are one of the oldest NFL franchises and enjoy a successful NFL playoff appearance record with 25 appearances. The 49ers enjoyed the most successful run of form during the 1980s when they won 4 Super Bowls (1981, 1984, 1988, and 1989). Their playoff appearances dwindled in the 2000s but under Jim Harbaugh in the early 2010s and under Kyle Shanahan since 2019, the 49ers have been a perennial playoff team.
5. New England Patriots- 27 appearances
Based out of Boston, the New England Patriots are one of the most successful teams competing in the American Football Conference. Formerly known as Boston Patriots the team changed its name in 1971 after joining the NFL through the 1970 NFL-AFL merger. With a record 11 Super Bowl appearances, the New England Patriots hold the record along with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the highest number of wins (6). The Patriots' majority of success came in the 21st century under Tom Brady and Bill Belichick's combo, when they went on to win 6 Super Bowls in two decades.
Excited for the NFL season? Try our NFL Playoff Predictor to simulate your team's journey and explore Playoff Chances for detailed insights on your favorite team's or rival's playoff prospects!
