NFL teams ranked by playoff appearances all time 2025
The Dallas Cowboys, one of the most iconic and popular teams in the National Football League, has the second most playoff appearances to its name with 36, just one behind the Green Bay Packers in first place. The Cowboys made it to the Super Bowl eight times, winning five of those championship games. However, since the start of the new millennium another team, the New England Patriots, has been much more successful. As of 2025, the Patriots made the playoffs 28 times, winning the NFL championship game Super Bowl six times.
Over 100 years of history
The origins of the NFL date back to 1920 when the American Professional Football Association was formed as a pro football league. The league renamed itself to the NFL two years later, and the first playoff game was in 1933. Since then, the league has played out its postseason in a single game elimination tournament. In its current format, six out of the 32 teams in the NFL qualify for the playoffs each season.
Most successful team of the past 20 years
Even though the New England Patriots have made the playoffs ‘only’ 28 times, the team is the most successful in the National Football League in many ways. The Patriots have won the most playoff games of all time, they own the highest playoff winning percentage and have won the most Super Bowls with six (tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers). Most of this success came over the past 20 years under the guidance of head coach Bill Belichick and with all-time great Tom Brady as quarterback.
