(last updated on February 6, 2026)

From the gridiron greats of the past to the modern-day stars, the Chicago Bears have been home to some of the most iconic running backs in NFL history. Let’s dive into the careers of the top five running backs who have left their mark on Windy City fans and the franchise’s legacy.

As we trek on this captivating journey through time, we will delve into the careers of the top five running backs in the Chicago Bears’ history. These players have not only showcased their exceptional athleticism but have also become beloved figures among fans. From the franchise’s early days to the modern era, these running backs have captivated audiences with their performances on the field.

This post will delve into each standout player’s accomplishments, impact, and legacy. Their significant contributions helped shape the Bears’ identity and cemented their place among the greatest running backs in team history, a legacy that every Bears fan can be proud of.

We will examine the regular-season criteria to select the quintet of the franchise’s best ball toters: rushing yards, overall touchdowns, receptions, and awards while with the team. Secondly, if applicable, we will look at playoff numbers with the club, what stats they may have had in the league while not a member of the subject franchise, and any other circumstances or events that warrant consideration. This comprehensive evaluation process ensures that the rankings are well-informed and reliable.

Read the rest of this entry

(last updated on February 5, 2026)

Let’s play a little trivia. What is the first NFL franchise to start playing in the Southeast? That would be the Atlanta Falcons in 1966. That same year the Miami Dolphins also originated but as an AFL team. So, technically, you could say the Falcons are the oldest NFL team from that region. This franchise has had some memorable times: games at Fulton County Stadium, MC Hammer on the sidelines, the Dirty Bird dance, the Michael Vick experience, and the biggest blown lead in Super Bowl history. The Dirty Birds are still chasing their first Lombardi Trophy, but they have been to the big game twice. Currently they are mired in a postseason drought, but they do have a young quarterback who is hoping to change that. Speaking of quarterbacks, with Georgia on our minds, let’s introduce you to the top quarterbacks of all time for the Atlanta Falcons.

Read the rest of this entry

(last updated on January 3, 2026)

The Washington Commanders, a storied franchise with a rich history dating back to 1937, have seen countless talented players don their uniforms. Among these athletes, the running backs have often been the driving force behind the team’s success. Their ability to pound the ball between the tackles, break off explosive runs, and contribute to the passing game has left countless stories and accolades for the franchise.

As we explore the best running back legends, we will examine the careers of the top five rushers in the Washington Commanders’ history. These players have not only showcased their exceptional athleticism but have also become beloved figures among fans. From the franchise’s early days to the modern era, these top running backs have captivated audiences with their performances on the field.

This post will examine each standout player’s accomplishments, impact, and legacy. Their contributions helped shape the Washington Commanders’ identity and cemented their place among the greatest running backs in team history.

The following regular-season criteria will be examined to select the quintet of the franchise’s greatest running backs: rushing yards, overall touchdowns, receptions, and awards while with the team. Secondly, if applicable, we will look at playoff numbers with the club, what stats they may have had in the league while not a member of the subject franchise, and any other circumstances or events warranting consideration.

Read the rest of this entry

(last updated on January 20, 2026)

The Pittsburgh Steelers were the first NFL franchise to win four Super Bowls. In fact, they won four before any other team had won three. Chuck Noll’s Steel Curtain of the 1970s was a true dynasty with several players, coaches, and executives enshrined in Canton. About 30 years later, the Steelers added two more Lombardi Trophies. This team has six Super Bowl titles in eight Super Bowl appearances and is tied with the New England Patriots for the most Super Bowl wins. If not for Brady and Belichick, the Steelers would lead the NFL in Super Bowl victories. When a team has made 35 playoff appearances, it has had some great quarterback play. It’s time to visit the Pittsburgh Steelers player factory and manufacture the top quarterbacks in team history.

Read the rest of this entry

(last updated on December 30, 2025)

From humble beginnings with a mere handful of teams, the National Football League has grown into the spectator giant it is today, boasting 32 franchises. The NFL and its franchises have been a series of additions and attractions over the past one hundred years. So far in our journey in this series, we have looked at how the major teams came to be.

But how did this expansion occur? Thus far, in the first three parts, we have examined the changes through the AFL merger. This final article of the series delves into the exciting journey of the six teams that entered the league after 1970, forever altering the NFL landscape. We’ll explore the stories behind each team’s arrival, the impact they’ve had on the game, and how their addition fueled the NFL’s rise to unparalleled popularity. Buckle up those chinstraps, football fans, as we explore the evolution of the NFL through the lens of its expansion teams!

Read the rest of this entry

(last updated on December 30, 2025)

The NFL currently boasts 32 proud franchises that compete for the coveted Lombardi Trophy each season. The league started with fewer teams in its fray over a century ago; a slow progression of expansion, retraction, and merger has led to the modern NFL divisions and conferences.

We will continue our captivating journey through the complete NFL expansion history, a series that uncovers the untold stories behind the teams that laid the foundation for the NFL’s modern landscape. In this second edition, we continue the thrilling narrative of NFL growth.

In Part I, we started at the launch of the inaugural season. We then subsequently went through the significant teams of the NFL’s first baker’s dozen of seasons to find the core eight franchises that would carry the national league banner for years to come: the Cardinals, Bears, Packers, Giants, Lions, Washington, Steelers, and Eagles.

Quick math tells us that we still need to find out where 24 other franchises originated from to help build the Shield and its representative franchises of the modern era. Without further adieu, let’s crack some pads and keep this NFL expansion journey going.

The Next of the New NFL Franchises

It wouldn’t be until 1937 that the league would absorb another of its long-lasting franchises. 

The Cleveland Rams were the solitary survivor of the rival upstart football league known as the second incarnation of the American Football League. The AFL lasted for just the 1936 season and succumbed to the NFL. The franchise would play in Cleveland for almost a decade, winning the title in 1945 before leaving town to set up shop on the West Coast in LA. The 1943 season had the Rams sit out due to manpower issues caused by the war. Cleveland returned to the standings in 1944. Though they have also made stops in St. Louis along the way, the team we know as the Los Angeles Rams is the modern-day derivative of this club.

---

The NFL operated as a 10-team organization for quite a while. The 10th was the Brooklyn Dodgers football program, which was in the league’s standings from 1930 through World War II. In 1944 the Dodgers morphed into the Brooklyn Tigers and emerged as the Yanks in 1945 before dissolving after the 1945 season.

---

Rival League and a Merger

As World War II ended, the American passion for professionals grew. This provided an avenue for yet another rival league to sprout up: the All-American Football Conference or AAFC. After four seasons dominated by one team, the AAFC succumbed to the NFL. Part of the surrender was the parting gift of the league absorbing three of the AAFC’s eight teams into the NFL as franchises. Thus, the next period of expansion was in 1950, when the NFL surged to 13 teams with these additions.

Under the guidance of innovative coach Paul Brown and stars like Otto Graham, Marion Motley, Mac Speedie, and others, the Browns lost only four AAFC tilts and captured all of the rival league’s titles. In their first season in the NFL, the Browns won an NFL championship to make it five in a row and eventually seven championships in their first 10 seasons as a football team. That’s pretty dominant!

---

The Niners were also a very good AAFC team, and had it not been for the powerhouse Browns, who knows, they could have won multiple titles before joining the NFL in 1950. The San Francisco franchise had stars like Joe Perry, Frankie Albert, Johnny Strzykalski, and Norm Standlee leading the charge.

---

The name sounds familiar, but these are not the Baltimore Colts that turned into the Indianapolis Blue Horseshoes we know and love today. This original NFL Colts club went belly up one season after the merger, but they did have a guy on their roster named Y. A. Tittle, who would eventually be an NFL legend. More on the Colts in a moment.

---

These new Colts of Baltimore went on to play for the NFL title a few times just a handful of years after being resurrected. This team went on to have Johnny Unitas, Raymond Berry, and company and won Super Bowl V before moving to Indy.

---

Fending Off Yet Another Rival

The status quo of the National Football League sticking to 12 teams lasted until 1960, when yet another competitor, what many consider the fourth edition of the AFL, was brought to life. The NFL decided to go head-to-head in the Dallas-Fort Worth market when the American Football League reincarnated the Dallas Texans name. The NFL, in turn, countered with a franchise of its own.

Dallas hired innovative Giants defensive coordinator Tom Landry, who would lead Big D for three decades. The Cowboys could have been a better team in that first season but had some rising stars in QB Don Meredith, Jim Doran, Eddie LeBaron, and others. The big news was that they won the battle of Dallas as the Texans left town to become the AFL’s Kansas City affiliate.

The NFL chose another potential battleground with the AFL to even out the number of teams for scheduling and conference reasons to get the number of franchises to 14. The American League did have a franchise on paper prior to the NFL having one, but with some power play moves, the Twin City AFL franchise had yet to come to fruition. The NFL had better luck with their new entry.

---

Former championship quarterback Norm Van Brocklin was the Vikings’ first head coach. A youngster from Georgia named Fran Tarkenton was the team’s signal-caller. At the same time, veterans like Hugh McElhenny, Jerry Reichow, and Mel Triplett provided a touch of experience to the new team on the field.

It would not be until 1966 that the next new squad would debut in the league.

---

The AFL brand of football was garnering steam and popularity with some innovative television contracts. The NFL countered again by grabbing some strongholds in the South, and Atlanta was a big prize they needed. The Falcons had a watered-down roster but still managed three wins in their opening season of play.

The uneven amount of teams again caused scheduling disturbances in 1966. The NFL would correct the numbers and balance things out again by going south once more, canceling yet another AFL threat.

---

Another former NFL star would get a head coaching position, as Tom Fears was the Saints’ first sideline boss. Veteran QB Billy Kilmer took up under center while veterans Tom Barrington and Jim Taylor lined up behind him. 

The move to 16 teams allowed the NFL to go to four divisions for the first time in history, allowing for an expanded postseason.

---

Big Things on the Horizon …

It would be the next expansion period that would be the most significant in league history … one that would change the course of the NFL, significantly altering the sports landscape across the globe. Look back for Part III of this series on the history of NFL expansion as we look at this whirlwind of growth for the NFL.

(last updated on January 13, 2026)

Defensive tackle is not one of the most glamorous positions in football, but it is crucial in any defensive scheme. NFL defenses need strong defensive tackles to pressure the quarterback and stop the run. Across eras in the NFL, some of the biggest, strongest and toughest defenders have played defensive tackle. Here are 10 of the best defensive tackles of all time.

Read the rest of this entry

(last updated on December 21, 2025)

There are varying opinions as to which aspect of a team is most vital to its success. What is commonly known is that to be considered among the greatest teams to ever play in the NFL, you can’t sail smoothly without a leak in the ship. All the choices below made it through to a championship … except for one. These are the top NFL teams of all time.

Read the rest of this entry

(last updated on January 6, 2026)

Who is the best wide receiver of all time? That question is a topic of conversation amongst people who love American football. A great way to study this is to examine the fruits of the labor of those who worked in the position in the form of statistics via the robust Pro-Football-Reference database. Let’s list the names of some great wideouts in NFL history and what they accomplished to help in our quest.

There are a few different ways to look at our list of the greatest wide receivers of all time. The skill sets of the top wideouts vary, and the tasks they accomplished helped their teams gain an advantage. The offensive scheme, strategy, and rules of the era each had as much of an influence on the players’ impact on the numbers they produced.

Read the rest of this entry

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!