How Would You Rank the Best NFL Teams of the 1970s?

Many would argue the NFL during the 1970s was the best era in league history. There were so many great teams from this era. But how would you rank the great teams of the decade?

Below are my top 8 NFL teams of the 1970s. Do you agree? Do you think I’m crazy? Let the debates begin!!!

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#8 - Baltimore Colts

I was going to stop after the Washington Redskins since there is a big drop-off from # 7 to # 8, but I think it’s only fair to include every team that won a Super Bowl during the decade. The Colts posted a 73-70-1 regular-season record.

Baltimore began the decade with four straight post-season victories, including a Super Bowl victory over the Dallas Cowboys. But they lost their next four post-season games to finish the decade with an overall 77-74-1 record. Three players from this team are in the Hall of Fame. Johnny Unitas, John Mackey, and Ted Hendricks.

#7 - Washington Redskins

Washington had only one losing season when they went 6–8 in 1970. Their regular-season record was 91–52–1. Their best season was 1972 when they reached the Super Bowl but lost to Miami 14–7.

Despite an impressive regular-season record, the team only appeared in seven post-season games, losing five of them. Head Coach George Allen is in the Hall of Fame, along with five players. John Riggins, Sonny Jurgensen, Charley Taylor, Chris Hanburger, and Ken Houston.

#6 - Los Angeles Rams

The Rams finished 99–42–3 in the regular season and reached the postseason seven years in a row. But their postseason record was an unimpressive 6–7, and they played in just one Super Bowl, losing that game to the Steelers on Jan. 20, 1980.

Five players from the 1970s Rams are enshrined in Canton. Tom Mack, Jackie Slater, Jack Youngblood, Merlin Olsen, and Deacon Jones.

#5 - Minnesota Vikings

The Vikes appeared in four Super Bowls (they played Super Bowl IV on Jan. 11, 1970). They compiled an impressive 99–43–2 record in the regular season, and their only losing season was 1979. But they were not too successful in post-season play, finishing at 7–8 (8–9) if you include two post-season games played in January 1970).

They were also 0–4 in Super Bowls. Coach Bud Grant along with six players from that team have their busts in Canton, Ohio. Fran Tarkenton, Mick Tinglehoff, Ron Yary, Alan Page, Carl Eller, and Paul Kraus.

#4 - Oakland Raiders

The Raiders finished the decade with an impressive 100–38–6 regular-season record, a close second to the Cowboys. Like the Cowboys, they finished with a winning record every year. Their post-season record wasn’t quite as impressive, winning eight of fourteen, but one of those wins was a Super Bowl victory.

The Raiders went 16–1 that year. Besides Coach John Madden, eleven players from that team are in the Hall of Fame. Jim Otto, Ken Stabler, Fred Biletnikoff, Dave Casper, Bob Brown, Art Shell, Gene Upshaw, George Blanda, Ray Guy, Willie Brown, and Ted Hendricks.

#3 - Miami Dolphins

In 1972 the Miami Dolphins became the first team in NFL history to have a perfect season by going 17–0. But the dominance of those Miami Dolphins can’t be measured by ’72 alone. When combined with the outcome of the ’73 season, the Dolphins may have had the best two-year run in NFL history. In those two years, Miami went a combined 32–2 and won two Super Bowls.

The Dolphins outscored opponents 865–382 and had five shutouts. They are also the only team in the 1970s to appear in three straight Super Bowls. They had only one losing season during the decade.

Coach Don Shula earned a place in Canton, Ohio, along with six of his players. Bob Griese, Larry Csonka, Larry Little, Jim Langer, Paul Warfield, and Nick Buoniconti.

#2 - Dallas Cowboys

The team appeared in five super bowls, more than any other team, winning two of them. They had a winning record every year. They finished the decade with a 105–39 regular-season record and appeared in twenty-one post-season games, winning fourteen of those games, more than any other team.

They won more games (a total of one hundred and nineteen) than any other team in the decade. Their Coach Tom Landry is in the Hall of Fame along with twelve players that played for him during the 1970s. Roger Staubach, Bob Hayes, Lance Alworth, Rayfield Wright, Drew Pearson, Mike Ditka, Tony Dorsett, Bob Lilly, Randy White, Mel Renfro, Cliff Harris, and Herb Adderly,

#1 - Pittsburgh Steelers

As a Cowboys fan, it’s hard for me to say this, but the Pittsburgh Steelers were the best team of the 1970s. They earned that title by winning four Super Bowls, two of which came against the Dallas Cowboys, the team I have ranked as the second-best team of the 70s.

While it’s true that the decade didn’t start too good for them, going 5–9 in 1970 and 6–8 in 1971, they more than made up for it from 1972–1979. The team compiled an 88–27–1 regular-season record during that eight-year span and a 14–4 post-season record. Coach Chuck Noll and ten of his players are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

They are Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, John Stallworth, Lynn Swann, Mike Webster, Donnie Shell, Mel Blount, Jack Ham, Jack Lambert, and Joe Greene.

Mark Morthier is the host of Yesterday’s Sports, a podcast dedicated to reliving memorable sports moments from his childhood days and beyond. He grew up in New Jersey just across from New York City, so many of his episodes revolve around the great sport’s teams of the 70s for the New York area.

He is also an author of No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training (Second Edition): A Guide for People with Limited Time and Running Wild: (Growing Up in the 1970s)