Football Outsiders ranks all NFL Dynasties; Super Steelers come in 6th

Starting in May, Football Outsiders’ Bryan Knowles started publishing his analysis-based rankings of all the dynasties in the NFL. Using a Dynasty points scale, DVOA, number of qualifying seasons and championships won.

Unsurprisingly the top ranked team was the New England Patriots from 2001-2019, more surprising was finding 4 teams between the Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1972-1979. The formula used values length and statistical production more than just winning championships, so while the Steelers had the most successful 6 year run of the Super Bowl era, teams who had less success but stretched over longer periods of time, or were much more dominant in the regular season, ranked higher.

Each Dynasty started when the team scored dynasty points (win at least 1 playoff game or win 13 games and your division), and ended when they didn’t meet that criteria for two consecutive seasons. Fifty-six Dynasties qualified for consideration.

The top 6 teams:

1st: 2001-2019 Patriots
2nd: 1981-1998 49ers
3rd: 1960-1967 Packers
4th: 1966-1985 Cowboys
5th: 1940-1943 Bears
6th: 1972-1979 Steelers

The Steelers made two other appearances on the list.

42nd: 2001-2005 Steelers
39th: 1992-1997 Steelers

The 8-8 season in 2006 and losing the WC game in 2007 broke the 2001-2010 Steelers run into two parts, with 2008-2010 missing the list.

You can read the top 10 article HERE. It also has links to the other articles in the series.