NFC Teams Guide
2025-2026
The National Football Conference features 16 of the NFL's most historic and beloved franchises. From the 49ers dynasty to America's Team, this is your complete guide to every NFC team in 2025-2026.
What Is the NFC in Football?
The National Football Conference (NFC) is one of two conferences in the NFL, alongside the American Football Conference (AFC). The NFC was formed in 1970 as part of the AFL-NFL merger and contains 16 of the league's 32 franchises spread across four geographic divisions.
The NFC includes some of the most storied franchises in football history: the Green Bay Packers (founded 1919), the Chicago Bears (founded 1920), the Arizona Cardinals (tracing roots to 1898), and modern powerhouses like the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys. Several NFC teams have built multi-decade dynasties that define eras of NFL football.
To reach the Super Bowl from the NFC, a team must win three rounds of playoffs. Seven teams from the NFC qualify each season: the four division champions and three wild card teams. The highest-seeded NFC team receives a bye in Wild Card Weekend. The NFC champion then faces the AFC champion in the Super Bowl, typically held in early February.
NFC East
Full Division CoverageOften called the most storied division in football, the NFC East features the Dallas Cowboys (America's Team), New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Commanders — four franchises with massive national followings.
Dallas Cowboys
"America's Team" with 5 Super Bowl titles and the most valuable sports franchise in the world, though they've been seeking a sixth title since 1996.
New York Giants
One of the NFL's oldest franchises, the Giants won two Super Bowls upsetting the Patriots' perfect seasons and are one of football's iconic brands.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles won their first Super Bowl in LII, defeating the Patriots. The City of Philadelphia's passion for their team is legendary.
Washington Commanders
Three Super Bowl titles in the 1980s-90s as the Redskins, rebranded as the Commanders in 2022 and are rebuilding their identity.
NFC North
Full Division CoverageThe NFC North is home to the NFL's two oldest franchises and some of the game's most devoted fan bases, with Lambeau Field's frozen tundra and Chicago's Soldier Field as iconic football venues.
Chicago Bears
The oldest franchise in pro football, the Bears won Super Bowl XX with the legendary 1985 team and are a cornerstone of NFL history.
Detroit Lions
The Lions have never reached a Super Bowl but are on the rise with a young, exciting team that made deep playoff runs recently.
Green Bay Packers
The only community-owned team in the NFL, the Packers are the franchise of Bart Starr, Brett Favre, and Aaron Rodgers with four Super Bowl titles.
Minnesota Vikings
Despite four Super Bowl appearances in the 1970s, the Vikings have yet to win a title but remain one of the NFC's most competitive teams.
NFC South
Full Division CoverageThe NFC South is a relatively young division with passionate southern fan bases and some high-powered offenses, featuring the defending champion-caliber Buccaneers and the always-competitive Saints.
Atlanta Falcons
Famous for Super Bowl LI's 28-3 collapse against the Patriots, the Falcons play in one of the NFL's most modern stadiums in Atlanta.
Carolina Panthers
Serving both Carolinas, the Panthers reached two Super Bowls in their relatively short history and are rebuilding around young talent.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints won Super Bowl XLIV with Drew Brees and Sean Payton, providing a symbol of resilience for New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers won back-to-back Super Bowl-era dominance with Jon Gruden's 2003 title and Tom Brady's 2021 Super Bowl LV victory.
NFC West
Full Division CoverageThe NFC West is widely considered the most competitive division in football right now, featuring the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, and Arizona Cardinals — all capable of making deep playoff runs.
Arizona Cardinals
The NFL's oldest franchise by founding year, the Cardinals moved from Chicago to St. Louis to Arizona and reached Super Bowl XLIII.
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams won Super Bowl XXXIV in St. Louis and Super Bowl LVI in their home stadium SoFi Stadium, making them LA's current football standard.
San Francisco 49ers
Five Super Bowl titles with Joe Montana and Jerry Rice define the 49ers dynasty. Kyle Shanahan's teams have made them consistent NFC contenders again.
Seattle Seahawks
The "12th Man" fan tradition and the Legion of Boom defense led Seattle to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, winning Super Bowl XLVIII.
NFC History and Great Dynasties
The NFC has produced some of the greatest dynasties and players in NFL history. The San Francisco 49ers won five Super Bowls between 1982 and 1995, with Joe Montana and Jerry Rice combining to form arguably the greatest quarterback-receiver duo in football history. That dynasty set the standard for excellence in professional football.
The Dallas Cowboys ruled the 1990s with three Super Bowl victories in four years (1993, 1994, 1996) featuring Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin — the Triplets. The Cowboys remain the most valuable sports franchise in the world, earning the “America's Team” moniker that sticks to this day.
The Green Bay Packers, the NFL's only publicly owned franchise, have remained competitive across eras with Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers each winning MVP awards and Super Bowls. The Los Angeles Rams won Super Bowl LVI at home in SoFi Stadium in 2022, and the Philadelphia Eagles captured their first title in Super Bowl LII.
The NFC West is currently one of the strongest divisions in football, frequently sending multiple teams to the playoffs. The San Francisco 49ers under Kyle Shanahan have been consistent NFC Championship Game contenders, while the Detroit Lions have emerged as an exciting up-and-coming franchise in the NFC North.
NFC Frequently Asked Questions
How many teams are in the NFC?
The NFC has 16 teams: NFC East (Cowboys, Giants, Eagles, Commanders), NFC North (Bears, Lions, Packers, Vikings), NFC South (Falcons, Panthers, Saints, Buccaneers), and NFC West (Cardinals, Rams, 49ers, Seahawks).
Which NFC team has the most Super Bowl wins?
The San Francisco 49ers lead all NFC teams with 5 Super Bowl victories (1982, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1995). The Dallas Cowboys also have 5 Super Bowl wins. The Green Bay Packers have 4 championships total though only 1 in the Super Bowl era proper as NFL/AFL champions in prior years.
What is the hardest NFC division?
The NFC West is widely regarded as the most competitive division in recent seasons, with the 49ers, Rams, Seahawks, and Cardinals all capable of winning the division and making playoff runs in the same year.
How many NFC teams make the playoffs each year?
Seven NFC teams qualify for the playoffs each season — the four division champions plus three wild card teams. The top-seeded NFC team earns a first-round bye. All seven then compete for the NFC Championship and a trip to the Super Bowl.
When was the NFC created?
The National Football Conference was created in 1970 as part of the AFL-NFL merger. Thirteen original NFL franchises formed the NFC, which expanded over subsequent decades to the current 16-team format organized into four geographic divisions.