NFL dynasties

By JOANNE KORTH
Published January 30, 2005

Green Bay Packers

Under coach Vince Lombardi, Green Bay dominated professional football in the 1960s. The Packers won five titles, including two Super Bowls, from 1961-67 as the small Wisconsin town became known as Titletown. The stars from those glory days remain household names: Bart Starr, Paul Hornung, Fuzzy Thurston, Herb Adderley and Ray Nitschke.

It took 40 years for the Steelers to win their first division title, but the Steel Curtain enjoyed unprecedented success under coach Chuck Noll in the 1970s. Pittsburgh won four Super Bowls in a span of six seasons. In addition to Noll, nine of his players are in the Hall of Fame: Joe Greene, Jack Ham, Mel Blount, Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Jack Lambert, Mike Webster, Lynn Swann and John Stallworth.

The 49ers rode the West Coast offense to four Super Bowl victories in the '80s. The teams were loaded with young stars: receivers Jerry Rice and Dwight Clark, running back Roger Craig, defensive back Ronnie Lott and quarterback Joe Montana, the only three-time Super Bowl MVP. West Coast architect Bill Walsh coached the first three championship teams and George Seifert the fourth.

Dallas went to five Super Bowls in the 1970s, won two and was dubbed America's Team. In the 1990s, the Cowboys were called the Team of the Decade. Quarterback Troy Aikman, running back Emmitt Smith, receiver Michael Irvin were the stars for coach Jimmy Johnson in Super Bowls XXVII and XXVIII. Two years later, those core players won a third title for owner Jerry Jones under coach Barry Switzer.

[Last modified January 30, 2005, 00:11:11]