The NFC North, or The National Football Conference – Northern Division, is one of the four National Football Conference (NFC) divisions in the National Football League (NFL). This tough division features the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and the Detroit Lions.
The division was established in 1967 as the Central Division. In 1970 the AFL merged with the NFL, and the division was renamed the NFC Central. The NFL then split into eight divisions, and the Central Division became the NFC North in 2002.
These teams have been playing each other twice a year for more than sixty years, and because of that, the division was nicknamed the “Black and Blue Division” for its aggressive and scrappy rivalry games.
The division has 5 Super Bowl wins. Four of those wins come from the Green Bay Packers, and the other one is from the Chicago Bears.
There are ten teams with the highest winning percentage in their division. Three of the ten are in the NFC North, coming from the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, and Green Bay Packers.
On the other hand, the Detroit Lions are one of the losingest teams in the NFL, including a 0-16 record in 2008. The NFC North itself also has the second-longest active Super Bowl drought.
List of NFC North Teams
1.) Minnesota Vikings
2.) Green Bay Packers
3.) Detroit Lions
4.) Chicago Bears
FAQ About NFC North Teams
Let’s talk about some frequently asked questions about the NFC North.
The NFC North comprises the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings.
The biggest rivalry in the NFC North is the Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers.
The Minnesota Vikings have the most titles, with 21.
The Green Bay Packers have five Super Bowl appearances.
NFC North Teams: Snapshot, Overview, and Fun Facts
Let’s take a deeper look into the four franchises of the NFC North.
You might also like All About the AFC West Division.
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are coming off a rough couple of seasons, finishing third last season and dead last this past season. They finished 3-13-1 last year and 3-14 this year. With a young quarterback in Justin Field, they’re hoping to take some bigger steps in a winning direction.
Chicago Bears Snapshot
Stadium: Soldier Field
Seating Capacity: 61,500
Head Coach: Matt Eberflus
Owner: Virginia Halas McCaskey
All-time Won/Loss Record (up to 2022-23 reg season conclusion): 586 wins and 384 losses
Year Established: 1919
Mascot: Staley Da Bear
Super Bowl Wins: One – 1986
Biggest Rival: Green Bay Packers
The Face of the Franchise: Walter Payton and Justin Fields
Bears Overview
The Chicago Bears have been in a deep struggle these past couple years. They have a young quarterback in Justin Fields, who shows a potential great future. Many hope with Fields, they can turn this current drought into a promising team.
Chicago Bears Fun Facts
1.) The Chicago Bears is one of the oldest teams still in the league to this day.
2.) The Bears were originally called the Decatur Staleys, a name coming from a sponsored downstate agribusiness.
3.) During World War II, 19 of the 28 men from the 1943 championship team went to war.
4.) Many regard the Super Bowl-winning Bears team of 1986 to be one of the best teams to ever play.
5.) In his pro football debut, Walter Payton had eight carries for zero yards. He also missed a game that season due to an injury; he wouldn’t miss another game for the rest of his career.
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions finished the 2022-23 9-8, an improvement from their previous 3-13-1 year. They have been rebuilding over the years, and it seems to be working for them. Many analysts suggest the Lions are the future of the NFC North. While that remains to be seen, Motor City has reason for optimism.
Detroit Lions Snapshot
Stadium: Ford Field
Seating Capacity: 71,835
Head Coach: Dan Campbell
Owner: Sheila Ford Hamp
All-time Won/Loss Record (up to 2022-23 reg season conclusion): 579 wins and 702 losses
Year Established: 1929
Mascot: Roary (the Lion)
Super Bowl Wins: One – 1986
Biggest Rival: Green Bay Packers
The Face of the Franchise: Barry Sanders and Dan Campbell
Lions Overview
The Detroit Lions have been struggling for a long time. Their 9-8 season shows signs of improvement, especially from last year’s season.
It is known they are in a bit of a rebuild mode. Can they turn around their franchise? Time will tell. There is a growing enthusiasm for coach Dan Campbell who has seemingly instilled a new sense of confidence in the team.
Detroit Lions Fun Facts
1.) The Lions got their team name from George Richards, who originally put the team together. Richards liked the name because he wanted to make a team that would be the “King of the NFL,” like how the lion is known as the king of the jungle.
2.) The team is noted for playing on Thanksgiving Day — the Lions played their first Thanksgiving game in 1934.
3.) Before they moved, the Lions used to play in Tiger Stadium, home of the Detroit Tigers.
4.) The franchise’s original team name was the Portsmouth Spartans.
5.) The Lions have only had six double-digit win seasons since 1970.
See Football Field Dimensions.
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers have the most Super Bowl wins with four. For the past 18 seasons, the Packers have been led by an all-time great quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. However, Rodgers status with the team is uncertain, placing Packers brass in a difficult position. Does Rodgers want to stay in Green Bay or play elsewhere?
Green Bay Packers Snapshot
Stadium: Lambeau Field
Seating Capacity: 81,441
Head Coach: Matt LaFleur
Owner: Green Bay Packers, Inc.
All-time Won/Loss Record (up to 2022-23 reg season conclusion): 790 wins and 589 losses
Year Established: 1919
Mascot: Packy Packer
Super Bowl Wins: Four – 1967, 1968, 1997, and 2011
Biggest Rival: Chicago Bears
The Face of the Franchise: Vince Lombardi and Aaron Rodgers
Packers Overview
The Green Bay Packers had a rocky 2022-23 season, finishing with a 8-9 record and 3rd out of 4 teams. A controversy keeping Packers fans on their feet is whether Aaron Rodgers will retire or not.
Rodgers has had 18 solid seasons and is known as an all-time great; however, he can only play for so long and do so much. Behind Rodgers is a young Jordan Love, who doesn’t have much experience. Many guess his time to come will be next year after Rodgers retires, but that is for everyone to find out.
The Packers defense came into the season with high expectations, but their results were disappointing. An influx of some new talent from the draft or trades might be needed.
Green Bay Packers Fun Facts
1.) For season tickets, the current wait time is nearly 40 years, with the list having 140,000 names on it.
2.) Notable Packers Pro football Hall of Famers include Earl Lambeau (Founder and Owner), Vince Lombardi (Coach), Brett Farve (QB), Ray Nitschke (LB), Herb Adderly (CB), and Leroy Butler (DB).
3.) The Packers are the only major league team that is publicly owned. They are owned by the fans.
4.) The average age of the current Green Bay roster is 25 years old and has never reached above 30 years old.
5.) The Packers have retired six jersey numbers: Tony Canadeo (3), Brett Favre (4), Don Hutson (14), Bart Starr (15), Ray Nitschke (66), and Reggie White (92).
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings have the most titles in the division, 21. Their most recent title was this year, beating the Indianapolis Colts with a historic comeback after being down 33-0 at halftime.
They exited the playoffs courtesy of the New York Giants. The Vikes have plenty of reasons to look forward to the season ahead with a young head coach Kevin O’Connel and arguably the best receiver in the NFL with Justin Jefferson.
Minnesota Vikings Snapshot
Stadium: U.S. Bank Stadium
Seating Capacity: 73,000
Head Coach: Kevin O’Connell
Owners: Wilf family, Alan Landis, David Mandelbaum
All-time Won/Loss Record (up to 2022-23 reg season conclusion): 516 wins and 425 losses
Year Established: 1960
Mascot: Viktor the Viking
Super Bowl Wins: None – The Vikes are 0-4 in Super Bowl appearances.
Biggest Rival: Green Bay Packers
The Face of the Franchise: Bud Grant and Justin Jefferson
Vikings Overview
The Vikings finished the 2022-23 season with the best record in years, going 13-4. This is mainly due to first-year head coach Kevin O’Connell who won a super bowl with the Los Angeles Rams last year, and star receiver Justin Jefferson.
Many believe Justin Jefferson is the best wide receiver in the league. He is known for his impressive performances along with his famous touchdown dance that the whole nation knows, the griddy.
Jefferson is also very young, as he just finished up his 3rd season. Many are excited to see what Jefferson and O’Connell, Kirk Cousins, and the rest of the crew can bring for years to come.
Minnesota Vikings Fun Facts
1.) The Vikings used to be called the Chippewas.
2.) Defensive lineman Alan Page became the first ever player to win the Most Valuable Player award as a defensive player.
3.) The Vikings got their first win when they beat the Chicago Bears 37-13 in 1961.
4.) Notable Vikings Pro football Hall of Famers include Jim Finks (Administrator), Bud Grant (Head Coach), Paul Krause (S), Cris Carter (WR), Carl Eller (DE), and Randall McDaniel (G).
5.) The Vikings and their fans are known for their famous SKOL chant.
NFC North Final Thoughts
This division has many young players that can star in the future, and some are now. This division features tough and gritty teams that have games you won’t want to miss. Three of the ten most winningest franchises are in the NFC North – safe to say the NFC North is showtime.
And the oldest rivalry in the NFL – Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers – is in the division many affectionately call the Black and Blue Division.
By Emmett Swendseid with Mike O’Halloran
Emmett is a sportswriter based in the Twin Cities. Mike is the founder and editor of Sports Feel Good Stories.
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