| Conference | National Football Conference |
|---|---|
| League | National Football League |
| Sport | American Football |
| Founded | 1954 |
| No. of teams | 4 |
| Most recent champion(s) | Green Bay Packers (11th Title) |
| Most titles | Minnesota Vikings (18 titles) |
The NFC North is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference, based in the Upper Midwest region of the United States. It currently has four members: the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings. The NFC North was also called the NFC Central (also when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were members, until 2002 due to the expansion of the Houston Texans.)[1]
The division was created in 1967 as the Central Division of the NFL's Western Conference and existed for three seasons before the AFL–NFL merger. After the merger, it was renamed the NFC Central and retained that name until the NFL split into eight divisions in 2002. The four teams have been together in the same division or conference since the Vikings joined the league in 1961. The Bears, Lions and Packers have been in the same division or conference since the NFL began a conference format in 1933.
Based on the ages of its teams, the NFC North is the oldest division in the NFL, at a combined 312 years old. The Bears are 92 years old (founded in 1919 in Decatur, Illinois; moved to Chicago in 1921), the Packers are also 92 years old (founded in 1919, but turned professional in 1921), the Lions are 82 years old (founded 1929 in Portsmouth, Ohio; moved to Detroit in 1934), and the Vikings are 50 years old (founded 1961). The division has a total of 11 Super Bowl appearances. The Packers have the most appearances in the Super bowl with 5, the most recent happening in 2011. The Bears and the Packers have the only Super Bowl wins of this division, a total of 5 (4 for the Packers and 1 for the Bears). Of the top 5 NFL teams with the highest winning percentage throughout its franchise history, three of them are in the NFC North (the Bears, the Packers and the Vikings). The Lions however, have one of the lowest winning percentages in the NFL, including the only winless 16-game season in NFL history.[2]
This division earned the moniker "Black and Blue Division" due to its intense rivalries and physical style of play, and this nickname is still used regularly today. It is also known as the "Frostbite Division" as all teams played home games in late season winter cold until the mid 1970s. The division is also humorously called the "Frozen North", although two of its teams, Detroit and Minnesota, have played their home games indoors since 1975 and 1982 respectively. ESPN sportscaster Chris Berman often refers to this division as the "NFC Norris" because of its geographical similarity to the National Hockey League's old Norris Division. The NFC North's geography has been compared to that of a college conference since all four of its home cities lie within the territorial boundaries of the NCAA's Big Ten Conference.[3]
Division lineups[]
1967–76 (as WC/NFC Central)
The Western Conference respectively divided into the Coastal and Central divisions. The Central Division consists of Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, and Minnesota. Starting the 1970 season, this division became National Football Conference's Central division (or NFC Central for short), due to the AFL–NFL merger.
1977–2001 (as NFC Central)
- Chicago Bears
- Detroit Lions
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay moved in from AFC West.
2002–present
- Chicago Bears
- Detroit Lions
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
Tampa Bay moved to NFC South. NFC Central renamed NFC North.
Division champions[]
| Season | Team | Record | Playoff Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFL Central | |||
| 1967 | Green Bay Packers | 9-4-1 | Won Super Bowl II |
| 1968 | Minnesota Vikings | 8-6-0 | Lost NFL Divisional Playoffs |
| 1969 | Minnesota Vikings | 12-2-0 | Lost Super Bowl IV |
| NFC Central | |||
| 1970 | Minnesota Vikings | 12-2-0 | Lost NFC Divisional Playoffs |
| 1971 | Minnesota Vikings | 11-3-0 | Lost NFC Divisional Playoffs |
| 1972 | Green Bay Packers | 10-4-0 | Lost NFC Divisional Playoffs |
| 1973 | Minnesota Vikings | 12-2-0 | Lost Super Bowl VIII |
| 1974 | Minnesota Vikings | 10-4-0 | Lost Super Bowl IX |
| 1975 | Minnesota Vikings | 12-2-0 | Lost NFC Divisional Playoffs |
| 1976 | Minnesota Vikings | 11-2-1 | Lost Super Bowl XI |
| 1977 | Minnesota Vikings | 9-5-0 | Lost NFC Championship Game |
| 1978 | Minnesota Vikings | 8-7-1 | Lost NFC Divisional Playoffs |
| 1979 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 10-6-0 | Lost NFC Championship Game |
| 1980 | Minnesota Vikings | 9-7-0 | Lost NFC Divisional Playoffs |
| 1981 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 9-7-0 | Lost NFC Divisional Playoffs |
| 1982+ | Green Bay Packers | 5-3-1 | Lost NFC Second Round |
| 1983 | Detroit Lions | 9-7-0 | Lost NFC Divisional Playoffs |
| 1984 | Chicago Bears | 10-6-0 | Lost NFC Championship Game |
| 1985 | Chicago Bears | 15-1-0 | Won Super Bowl XX |
| 1986 | Chicago Bears | 14-2-0 | Lost NFC Divisional Playoffs |
| 1987 | Chicago Bears | 11-4-0 | Lost NFC Divisional Playoffs |
| 1988 | Chicago Bears | 12-4-0 | Lost NFC Championship Game |
| 1989 | Minnesota Vikings | 10-6-0 | Lost NFC Divisional Playoffs |
| 1990 | Chicago Bears | 11-5-0 | Lost NFC Divisional Playoffs |
| 1991 | Detroit Lions | 12-4-0 | Lost NFC Championship Game |
| 1992 | Minnesota Vikings | 11-5-0 | Lost NFC Wild Card Playoffs |
| 1993 | Detroit Lions | 10-6-0 | Lost NFC Wild Card Playoffs |
| 1994 | Minnesota Vikings | 10-6-0 | Lost NFC Wild Card Playoffs |
| 1995 | Green Bay Packers | 11-5-0 | Lost NFC Championship Game |
| 1996 | Green Bay Packers | 13-3-0 | Won Super Bowl XXXI |
| 1997 | Green Bay Packers | 13-3-0 | Lost Super Bowl XXXII |
| 1998 | Minnesota Vikings | 15-1-0 | Lost NFC Championship Game |
| 1999 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 11-5-0 | Lost NFC Championship Game |
| 2000 | Minnesota Vikings | 11-5-0 | Lost NFC Championship Game |
| 2001 | Chicago Bears | 13-3-0 | Lost NFC Divisional Playoffs |
| NFC North | |||
| 2002 | Green Bay Packers | 12-4-0 | Lost NFC Wild Card Playoffs |
| 2003 | Green Bay Packers | 10-6-0 | Lost NFC Divisional Playoffs |
| 2004 | Green Bay Packers | 10-6-0 | Lost NFC Wild Card Playoffs |
| 2005 | Chicago Bears | 11-5-0 | Lost NFC Divisional Playoffs |
| 2006 | Chicago Bears | 13-3-0 | Lost Super Bowl XLI |
| 2007 | Green Bay Packers | 13-3-0 | Lost NFC Championship Game |
| 2008 | Minnesota Vikings | 10-6-0 | Lost NFC Wild Card Playoffs |
| 2009 | Minnesota Vikings | 12-4-0 | Lost NFC Championship Game |
| 2010* | Chicago Bears | 11-5-0 | Lost NFC Championship Game |
| 2011 | Green Bay Packers | 12-0-0 | TBD |
+ A players' strike in 1982 reduced the regular season to nine games, so the league used a special 16-team playoff tournament just for this year. Division standings were ignored, Green Bay had the best record of the division teams.
* The 2010 Chicago Bears lost the NFC Conference Championship game against division rival Green Bay, who went on to win Super Bowl XLV.
Wild Card qualifiers[]
| Season | Team | Record | Playoff Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFC Central | |||
| 1970 | Detroit Lions | 10-4-0 | Lost Divisional Playoffs |
| 1971 | None | — | — |
| 1972 | None | — | — |
| 1973 | None | — | — |
| 1974 | None | — | — |
| 1975 | None | — | — |
| 1976 | None | — | — |
| 1977 | Chicago Bears | 9-5-0 | Lost Divisional Playoffs |
| 1978 | None | — | — |
| 1979 | Chicago Bears | 10-6-0 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs |
| 1980 | None | — | — |
| 1981 | None | — | — |
| 1982+ | Minnesota Vikings Tampa Bay Buccaneers Detroit Lions |
5-4-0 5-4-0 4-5-0 |
Lost NFC Second Round Lost NFC First Round Lost NFC First Round |
| 1983 | None | — | — |
| 1984 | None | — | — |
| 1985 | None | — | — |
| 1986 | None | — | — |
| 1987 | Minnesota Vikings | 8-7-0 | Lost NFC Championship Game |
| 1988 | Minnesota Vikings | 11-5-0 | Lost Divisional Playoffs |
| 1989 | None | — | — |
| 1990 | None | — | — |
| 1991 | Chicago Bears | 11-5-0 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs |
| 1992 | None | — | — |
| 1993 | Minnesota Vikings Green Bay Packers |
9-7-0 9-7-0 |
Lost Wild Card Playoffs Lost Divisional Playoffs |
| 1994 | Detroit Lions Chicago Bears Green Bay Packers |
9-7-0 9-7-0 9-7-0 |
Lost Wild Card Playoffs Lost Divisional Playoffs Lost Divisional Playoffs |
| 1995 | Detroit Lions | 10-6-0 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs |
| 1996 | Minnesota Vikings | 9-7-0 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs |
| 1997 | Detroit Lions Minnesota Vikings Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
9-7-0 9-7-0 10-6-0 |
Lost Wild Card Playoffs Lost Divisional Playoffs Lost Divisional Playoffs |
| 1998 | Green Bay Packers | 11-5-0 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs |
| 1999 | Detroit Lions Minnesota Vikings |
8-8-0 10-6-0 |
Lost Wild Card Playoffs Lost Divisional Playoffs |
| 2000 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 10-6-0 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs |
| 2001 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers Green Bay Packers |
9-7-0 12-4-0 |
Lost Wild Card Playoffs Lost Divisional Playoffs |
| NFC North | |||
| 2002 | None | — | — |
| 2003 | None | — | — |
| 2004 | Minnesota Vikings | 8-8-0 | Lost Divisional Playoffs |
| 2005 | None | — | — |
| 2006 | None | — | — |
| 2007 | None | — | — |
| 2008 | None | — | — |
| 2009 | Green Bay Packers | 11-5-0 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs |
| 2010 | Green Bay Packers | 10-6-0 | Won Super Bowl XLV |
+ A players' strike in 1982 reduced the regular season to nine games, so the league used a special 16-team playoff tournament just for this year.
See Also[]
- Bears-Packers rivalry
- Bears-Vikings rivalry
- Packers-Vikings rivalry
- Lions-Vikings rivalry
Total playoff berths[]
| Team | Division Championships | Playoff Berths | Super Bowl Wins | Super Bowl Losses | NFL Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings | 18 | 26 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 11 | 27 | 4 | 1 | 13 |
| Chicago Bears | 10 | 26 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| Detroit Lions | 3 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers1 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
1 Realigned into the NFC South during the 2002 NFL season. Records only count the years in which the team was in the NFC Central.
Schedule assignments[]
| Year | Opponents | |
|---|---|---|
| Intraconf. | Interconf. | |
| 2002 | AFC East | NFC South |
| 2003 | AFC West | NFC West |
| 2004 | AFC South | NFC East |
| 2005 | AFC North | NFC South |
| 2006 | AFC East | NFC West |
| 2007 | AFC West | NFC East |
| 2008 | AFC South | NFC South |
| 2009 | AFC North | NFC West |
| 2010 | AFC East | NFC East |
| 2011 | AFC West | NFC South |
| 2012 | AFC South | NFC West |
| 2013 | AFC North | NFC East |
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