NFC North
The NFC North is one of the four divisions of the National Football Conference (NFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The division currently consists of four teams: the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings.
The NFC North was originally established in 1970 as the NFC Central following the AFL–NFL merger. The division was renamed the NFC North in 2002 as part of the NFL’s realignment, which reorganized the league into eight divisions.
History
[change | change source]When the NFL merged with the American Football League in 1970, the league created the NFC Central Division. The original members were the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings. These four teams have remained together continuously, making the NFC North one of the most stable divisions in professional sports.
In 2002, the NFL realigned its divisions to accommodate the expansion Houston Texans. As part of the realignment, the NFC Central was renamed the NFC North, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers moved to the NFC South.
Teams
[change | change source]| Team | Location | Joined division |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | Chicago, Illinois | 1970 |
| Detroit Lions | Detroit, Michigan | 1970 |
| Green Bay Packers | Green Bay, Wisconsin | 1970 |
| Minnesota Vikings | Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota | 1970 |
Division championships
[change | change source]Since its formation in 1970, the NFC North (including its time as the NFC Central) has produced numerous division champions. The Green Bay Packers have won the most division titles.
Super Bowl appearances
[change | change source]Teams from the NFC North have appeared in multiple Super Bowls and have won several championships, including Super Bowl titles by the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears.
Rivalries
[change | change source]The NFC North is known for some of the oldest and most intense rivalries in the NFL. The rivalry between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers is the longest-running rivalry in league history. Other notable rivalries include Packers–Vikings and Bears–Lions.
Related pages
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