Did you know that five NFL teams have made at least eight Super Bowl appearances? And did you also know that two of those five teams have a chance to rack up another championship cameo this year?
And not only that, but did you also know that most of the top NFL sportsbooks have one of those two clubs favored to win Super Bowl LX?
In a league that touts parity as a bedrock, this is actually kind of wild. The Super Bowl era began in 1967, which makes Super Bowl LX the 60th installment of the big game. So many of these tilts, though, have actually featured at least one of the same handful of franchises.
Which clubs have made the most appearances? Let’s roll through the top five.
New England Patriots
Number of Super Bowl Appearances: 11
Many probably saw this coming. The Tom Brady-era New England Patriots dominated the league for so long, earning nine of the franchise’s 11 Super Bowl appearances.
That is…absurd. Consider this: If we only counted the Brady-era Patriots’ Super Bowl appearances, the club would still have the most of all-time. That is…something more than absurd.
By now, many Pats fans probably can’t even remember when they made a Super Bowl appearance without Brady. It happened all the way back in 1996, when Bill Parcells was the head coach, and Drew Bledsoe was under center. New England lost that year, just like they did in their other appearance, back in 1985, when Steve Grogan was QB1 and Raymond Berry was the head coach.
People may not struggle to remember the last non-Brady Super Bowl appearance for much longer, though. The Pats are set to take on the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship, leaving them one win away from their 12th Super Bowl cameo.
Denver Broncos
Number of Super Bowl Appearances: 8
Get ready for a smattering of eight-Super-Bowl franchises. There is a four-way tie for second place in total appearances.
The Broncos are first up on the docket. And wouldn’t you know it, they have a chance to reach nine and gain sole ownership of second place. They are scheduled to meet the Pats—yes, those Pats in the upcoming AFC Championship game.
You are reading this correctly: Either the Broncos or Patriots are headed to another Super Bowl. So, one of them will add another notch to their all-time total.
Similar to the Patriots, the Broncos have not been away from the big game for long. Denver’s last Super Bowl appearance came in 2015, with the legend Peyton Manning under center. The team walked away with a victory, and their third overall championship.
Will the Broncos get to No. 4? Stay tuned.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Number of Super Bowl Appearances: 8
The Pittsburgh Steelers have made two of their eight Super Bowl appearances since the turn of the century. Two of those cameos resulted in championship victories, the most recent of which came in 2008, under head coach Mike Tomlin, with Ben Roethlisberger working under center.
While Pittsburgh has remained in the spotlight since making its last Super Bowl, many are worried about their immediate and long-term future. Tomlin, who took the reins of the team back in 2007, recently announced that he is calling it quits.
Sure, the Steelers are coming off a 10-win season. But they ultimately missed the playoffs. More than that, uncertainty is the default when your starting quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, is on the wrong side of 40.
San Francisco 49ers
Number of Super Bowl Appearances: 8
Believe it or not, we were soooo close to three of the five teams on this list still having a chance to make another Super Bowl. Unfortunately for the San Francisco 49ers, they flamed out in the divisional round against the Seattle Seahawks.
Still, San Francisco’s track record is impressive. They have three Super Bowl appearances since 2012 alone.
Of course, none of these cameos have resulted in victories. All five of the franchise’s victories came between 1981 and 1994. Joe Montana was under center for four of them, while Steve Young was the signal-caller for the squad that won Super Bowl XXIX.
Dallas Cowboys
Number of Super Bowl Appearances: 8
You will be forgiven if you thought the Dallas Cowboys would fail to make the cut. Although they are billed as America’s Team, it feels like forever since they last made a Super Bowl.
In some respects, this is an accurate description relative to the Cowboys’ previous standards. They won three Super Bowls in the first half of the 1990s alone.
Since then, however, the Cowboys have never made it past the divisional round. What’s more, you can count the number of single-game playoff victories they have tallied on one hand.
If the past couple of seasons are any indication, Dallas is further away than anyone else on this list from recording their ninth Super Bowl appearance. Perhaps this turns out to be hyperbole, but with Dak Prescott getting older, and the past two years ending with just seven victories apiece, it’s hard to feel too optimistic about America’s Team moving forward.
Conclusion
The Super Bowl has been around for nearly six decades, yet a surprisingly small group of franchises accounts for a large share of its appearances. From the dynasty built in New England to the sustained relevance of teams like the Steelers, 49ers, Broncos, and Cowboys, history shows that consistent organizational leadership matters as much as star players.
While league parity has increased over time, these franchises continue to shape the NFL’s biggest moments. Whether they are chasing another appearance or trying to recapture past glory, their place in Super Bowl history remains unmatched and their legacy continues to influence every season that follows.
FAQs
Which NFL team has the most Super Bowl appearances?
The New England Patriots lead all franchises with 11 Super Bowl appearances.
How many teams have appeared in at least eight Super Bowls?
Five teams have reached the Super Bowl eight or more times: the Patriots, Broncos, Steelers, 49ers, and Cowboys.
Which of these teams won the most Super Bowls?
The Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots are tied for the most Super Bowl wins, with six championships each.
Have any teams on this list appeared recently?
Yes. The Patriots and 49ers have made multiple appearances in the past decade, while the Broncos last appeared in 2015.
Why do the same teams appear so often in Super Bowls?
Sustained success usually comes from long-term stability, strong ownership, effective coaching, and franchise quarterbacks.
