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All-Time NFL Franchise Power Rankings

By Mike Phillips

PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 13: View of the National Football League shield logo on a goal post during a game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on November 13, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Cowboys defeated the Steelers 35-30. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 13: View of the National Football League shield logo on a goal post during a game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on November 13, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Cowboys defeated the Steelers 35-30. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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Which NFL franchise has the greatest all-time legacy?

The idea of doing franchise power rankings can be arbitrary and reductive, which is why it is fun to explore listing them every week during the football season. The lists are often subjective, based on the eye test of what a team has done of late as opposed to any sort of true numerical data.

That problem can be eliminated to a degree in long term power rankings, which is the point of this exercise today. These rankings will break down all 32 franchises in the NFL in terms of legacy, which will be calculated using a points-based system to give each team credit for the following things.

  • Playoff Appearances: Each time a team made the postseason earns 1 point.
  • Division Titles: Each time a team won its division earns 2 points.
  • MVPs: Each team will receive one point per year one of its players won an NFL MVP award.
  • Hall of Famers: Each team will receive one point per Hall of Famer who spent at least five years with the organization.
  • Championship Game Appearances: Each franchise will earn 3 points for an appearance in the AFC or NFC Championship Games as well as the AFL or NFL Championship Games in the pre-Super Bowl era.
  • AFL or NFL Championships: Each team will earn 5 points for claiming a league championship prior to the merger.
  • Super Bowl Appearance: Each team will receive 5 points for making a trip to the Super Bowl.
  • Super Bowls: Each team will earn 10 points for a Super Bowl title.

To simplify the math, each team will earn only its highest possible point total for a year in terms of team accomplishments. For example, the Kansas City Chiefs will receive 10 points for the 2019 Super Bowl championship instead of adding together points for the playoff appearance, division title, championship game appearance and Super Bowl appearance from that season.

The exception to this rule comes in the form of the teams who appeared in the first four Super Bowls, who receive credit for both winning a league championship and their appearances in the big game. This ruling was made because the NFL’s record books officially list the Green Bay Packers as 1966 NFL Champions and Super Bowl I Champions, allowing them to receive credit for both of those titles.

Let’s get started with a look at the NFL’s 32nd ranked team in terms of all-time legacy.

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