Greatest NFL Underdogs of the 21st Century

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Everyone loves an underdog story, even in the NFL, where the very best players and coaches become international superstars and sports icons.

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NFL betting fans certainly love the underdog! Every season, football bettors take their chances on picking teams at long odds, using the many deals available with modern US sportsbooks, such as the Caesar’s casino promo code to seek out the ultimate big-priced winning wager.

Of course, teams and players can be underdogs in more ways than one. When an unexpected hero emerges against the odds, they tend to become part of NFL folklore.

The league is known for its tough competition, high stakes, and dominant teams, and has also been home to some of the greatest underdogs in sports history. These players and teams have defied conventional wisdom to achieve success, inspiring fans along the way. Below are some of the more memorable “NFL underdogs” from the 21st century.

1999 St. Louis Rams (2000 Super Bowl)

One of the most memorable underdog achievements in the NFL came in 1999 and belongs to the St Louis Rams. The Rams came into that season with a record of 4-12 the previous year and were not considered a top team or even an outside contender in the NFL. However, behind the arm of Kurt Warner and the playmaking ability of both wide receiver Isaac Bruce and running back Marshall Faulk, the Rams emerged as one of the best teams in the NFL and won Super Bowl XXXIV.

Warner himself was something of an underdog. He famously worked at a grocery store stocking shelves before continuing his pursuit of a career in football.

He spent several years playing in the Arena Football League and NFL Europe before finally getting his chance in the NFL. Despite being considered too small and not having the arm strength of a typical NFL quarterback, Warner went on to have a successful career, earning two NFL MVP awards, four Pro Bowl selections, and leading the Rams to two Super Bowl appearances. His career culminated as a member of the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class.

2002 Tampa Bay Buccanneers

The 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers is another team that can be considered one of the greatest underdogs in NFL history. Going into the 2002 season, the Buccaneers had never won a Super Bowl and were considered long shots to win.

The Buccaneers’ main strength was a dominant defense, which was later considered one of the best in NFL history. The defensive unit was led by Warren Sapp, John Lynch, and Derrick Brooks, who made life difficult for opposing offenses and helped the Bucs to top their Division with a 12-4 record and then to beat the 49ers and the Eagles to reach the Super Bowl.

They were still widely regarded as underdogs going into Super Bowl XXXVII, as they were taking on the heavily favored Oakland Raiders. In a high scoring game, Tampa Bay took control in the first half and held on to make history and upset the odds in the process.

2007 New York Giants

The 2007 Giants had an improbable run en route to Super Bowl XLII, entering the tournament as a wild card team, after starting as an 0-2 team. If they were to win the big game, they’d be in the company of only one other team, the 1993 Dallas Cowboys, to accomplish that feat after losing the first 2 games of the season.

They defeated Tampa Bay, Dallas, and Green Bay on the road to stamp their ticket to the big game. This was only the beginning, because the G-Men were faced with a rematch from the last game of the year (a game they lost to the mighty Patriots 38-35, sealing the deal for the only 16-0 regular season team in NFL history).

The Giants were 12 point underdogs heading into the Super Bowl. The Patriots were 18-0, aiming to be the only ever 19-0 team in history. None of this phased Eli Manning and the Giants. One of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history, the helmet catch, kept a 4th down drive alive. Eli then hit Plaxico Burress with 39 seconds left.

Brady tried to mount a comeback, but it fell short, and the Giants completed possibly the greatest upset in the NFL in the 21st century.

2011 New York Giants

The 2011 New York Giants are another team that can be considered one of the greatest underdogs in NFL history. The Giants entered the 2011 playoffs with just a 9-7 record and were considered long shots to make it to the Super Bowl, let alone win it. They overcame all the odds to again upset the heavily favored New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI, an iconic NFL result, which won them their fourth championship.

The Giants were led by quarterback Eli Manning, who was often criticized for his inconsistent play and was considered one of the weakest links on the team.

Despite this, he stepped up in the playoffs and played some of the best football of his career, leading the Giants to wins over the top-seeded Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers before beating the Patriots and Tom Brady to claim the ultimate prize in football.

Bonus (Player) - Terrell Owens

One of the most famous underdogs in NFL history is also one of the league’s greatest-ever players. Terrell Owens grew up in poverty in Alexandra City, Alabama. As a young aspiring athlete, he was told he was too small to play football, but he went on to become one of the NFL’s greatest wide receivers. 

A sometimes controversial and troubled figure, Owens turned himself into one of the greatest athletes the NFL has ever seen. He ended his NFL career as a six-time Pro Bowler and is regarded as one of the most dominant wide receivers of his era. Terrell Owens entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the 2018 class.

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