NFC North

NFC North
Teams
Conference	National Football Conference
League	National Football League
Sport	American football
Founded	1967 (As NFL Western Conference Central Division)
No. of teams	4
Championships
Most recent NFC North champion(s)	Minnesota Vikings
Most NFC North titles	Minnesota Vikings (19 titles)

The NFC North is a division of the National Football League (NFL)'s National Football Conference (NFC), based in the Upper Midwest region of the United States. Nicknamed the "Black & Blue Division" for the rough and tough rivalry games between the teams, it currently has four members: the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings. The NFC North was previously known as the NFC Central from 1970 to 2001. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were previously members, from 1977, one year after they joined the league as an expansion team, until 2001 when they moved to the NFC South.

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 current division 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. Largely because the four teams have played each other at least twice a year, with the exception of the strike-shortened 1982 season, for more than half a century (more than 80 years in the case of the Bears, Lions and Packers), the entire division is considered one very large rivalry.

Based on the combined ages of its current teams, the NFC North is the oldest division in the NFL, at a combined 332 years old. The Bears are 96 years old (founded in 1919 in Decatur, Illinois; moved to Chicago in 1921), the Packers are also 96 years old (founded in 1919, but turned professional in 1921), the Lions are 86 years old (founded 1929 in Portsmouth, Ohio; moved to Detroit in 1934), and the Vikings are 54 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 at the conclusion of the 2010 season. 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 10 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, in 2008.^[1]

Entering 2014 the Bears led the division with an overall record of 730-534-42, victory in Super Bowl XX^[2] and eight pre-Super Bowl league titles; Chicago's overall playoff record is 17-18. The Packers hold an overall record of 698-537-36 with an overall playoff record of 30-18, four Super Bowl titles in five Super Bowl appearances, and nine pre-Super Bowl league titles - bringing the Packers to a total of 13 World Championships, currently the most in the NFL. The Lions hold a record of 517-620-32, four league championships, and a 7-11 playoff record. As the youngest (in terms of franchise age) team in the division, the Vikings hold a record of 431-365-9, a playoff record of 19-27, and had won a league title the season before the merger (although they subsequently lost Super Bowl IV).

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 Detroit has played its home games indoors since 1975, and Minnesota also did so from 1982 to 2013 and returned to indoor home games at U.S. Bank Stadium in 2016. ESPN sportscaster Chris Berman often refers to this division as the "NFC Norris" because of its geographical similarity to the National Hockey League's former Norris Division.

Division lineups

Place cursor over year for division champ or Super Bowl team.

Years
NFL Western Conference Central Division			NFC Central Division^[B]
1900s																																	2000s
67^[A]	68	69	70	71	72	73	74	75	76	77	78	79	80	81	82	83	84	85	86	87	88	89	90	91	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01

Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
										Tampa Bay Buccaneers^[C]
NFC North Division^[D]
2000s
02^[D]	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19

Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings
Team not in division Division Won Super Bowl Division Won NFC Championship Division won NFL Championship, Lost Super Bowl

^A The NFL Western Conference was divided into the Coastal and Central divisions. The Packers had won Super Bowl I in 1966 in the NFL Western Conference.

^B Starting the 1970 season, this division became the National Football Conference Central division (or NFC Central for short), due to the AFL–NFL merger.

^C Tampa Bay moved from the AFC West in 1977

^D For the 2002 season, the league realigned to have 8 four team divisions. Division renamed the NFC North. Tampa Bay moves to the NFC South.

Division champions

Season	Team	Record	Playoff Results
NFL Central (pre-merger)
1967	Green Bay Packers	9–4–1	Won 1967 NFL Championship Game Won Super Bowl II
1968	Minnesota Vikings	8–6–0	Lost NFL Divisional Playoffs
1969	Minnesota Vikings	12–2–0	Won 1969 NFL Championship Game Lost Super Bowl IV
NFC Central (post merger)
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	15–1–0	Lost NFC Divisional Playoffs
2012	Green Bay Packers	11–5–0	Lost NFC Divisional Playoffs
2013	Green Bay Packers	8–7–1	Lost NFC Wild Card Playoffs
2014	Green Bay Packers	12–4–0	Lost NFC Championship Game
2015	Minnesota Vikings	11–5–0	Lost NFC Wild Card Playoffs

+ 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.

Wild Card qualifiers

Season	Team	Record	Playoff Results
NFC Central
1970	Detroit Lions	10–4–0	Lost Divisional Playoffs
1977	Chicago Bears	9–5–0	Lost Divisional Playoffs
1979	Chicago Bears	10–6–0	Lost Wild Card Playoffs
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
1987	Minnesota Vikings	8–7–0	Lost NFC Championship Game
1988	Minnesota Vikings	11–5–0	Lost Divisional Playoffs
1991	Chicago Bears	11–5–0	Lost Wild Card Playoffs
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
2004	Minnesota Vikings	8–8–0	Lost Divisional Playoffs
2009	Green Bay Packers	11–5–0	Lost Wild Card Playoffs
2010	Green Bay Packers	10–6–0	Won Super Bowl XLV
2011	Detroit Lions	10–6–0	Lost Wild Card Playoffs
2012	Minnesota Vikings	10–6–0	Lost Wild Card Playoffs
2014	Detroit Lions	11–5–0	Lost Wild Card Playoffs
2015	Green Bay Packers	10–6–0	Lost Divisional Playoffs

+ 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.

Total playoff berths

Total playoff berths as members of the NFC Central/North

(1966-2015 seasons)

Team	Division Championships	Playoff Berths	NFL League Title	Super Bowl Appearances	Super Bowl Wins
Minnesota Vikings	19	28	1	4	0
Green Bay Packers	14	21	2	5	4
Chicago Bears	10	14	0	2	1
Detroit Lions	3	11	0	0	0

To sort table above, click button to right of heading.

Total playoff berths in team history

(1920-2016 seasons)

Team	Division Championships	Playoff Berths	NFL League Title (pre-merger)	Conference Wins	Super Bowl Wins	Total ⁽¹⁾ Championships
Minnesota Vikings	19	28	1	4	0	0
Green Bay Packers	17	30	11	9	4	13
Chicago Bears	18	25	8	4	1	9
Detroit Lions	4	17	4	4	0	4

To sort table above, click button to right of heading.

¹ From 1966 to 1969, this means winning both the NFL Championship game AND the Super Bowl. Hence, the Vikings' NFL Championship victory in 1969 isn't counted. The Packers had 2 NFL titles during this time frame and also won Super Bowl I and II.

Schedule assignments

Year	Opponents
Year	Interconf.	Intraconf.
2016	AFC South	NFC East
2017	AFC North	NFC South
2018	AFC East	NFC West
2019	AFC West	NFC East
2020	AFC South	NFC South
2021	AFC North	NFC West
2022	AFC East	NFC East
2023	AFC West	NFC South
2024	AFC South	NFC West
2025	AFC North	NFC East
2026	AFC East	NFC South
2027	AFC West	NFC West

References

↑ "Lions complete 1st 0-16 season in league history - NFL- NBC Sports". Nbcsports.msnbc.com. 2008-12-28. Retrieved 2012-09-08.
↑ "Super Bowl XX Game Recap". Nfl.com. 1986-01-27. Retrieved 2012-09-08.

National Football League (2016)

AFC

NFC

Seasons	Seasons (by team) Preseason Hall of Fame Game American Bowl Regular season Kickoff game Monday Night Football International Series Thanksgiving games Christmas games Playoffs Streaks Droughts AFC Championship NFC Championship Super Bowl champions quarterbacks Pro Bowl

History	League history Executive history Championship history AFL Championship (1960–1969) NFL Championship (1920–1969) Playoff Bowl

Other	Owners Officials Properties Stadiums (chronology) Timeline Defunct franchises Franchise moves and mergers Los Angeles team history Records individual team Super Bowl All time win–loss Last undefeated All-Pro Numbers (retired) Hall of Fame Lore Nicknames AFL Merger International Foreign players London Toronto Bills Series List of games played outside the U.S. Media TV NFL Network Radio Management Council Competition Committee Collective bargaining agreement NFLPA Player conduct Suspensions Player misconduct Combine Draft Training camp Rivalries NFL Foundation Tied games Canceled games Lockouts Controversies Cheerleading Mascots Color Rush

Chicago Bears

Founded in 1919 Formerly the Decatur Staleys and the Chicago Staleys Based in Chicago, Illinois Headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois

Franchise	History Coaches Seasons Current season

Records	Records and statistics Franchise records All-time record versus NFL Team awards and honors Players Head coaches Pro Football Hall of Famers First-round draft picks Starting quarterbacks

Stadiums	Staley Field Wrigley Field Soldier Field Memorial Stadium Soldier Field II

Lore	Fog Bowl 1932 Playoff Game First NFL Championship Game "The Sneakers Game" Monsters of the Midway T formation 46 defense 15–1 Super Bowl XX Bears 73, Redskins 0 Staley Swindle Cardiac Kids George S. Halas Trophy Brian Piccolo Award 75th Anniversary League Team NFL All-Time Team 2006 game vs. Arizona Cardinals

Culture	Brian's Song 1971 2001 "Bear Down, Chicago Bears" "The Super Bowl Shuffle" Bill Swerski's Superfans Chuck Swirsky Staley Da Bear Logos and uniforms Halas Hall A. E. Staley Jack Brickhouse Papa Bear Mike Ditka Roosevelt/Wabash 85386 Payton Chicago Honey Bears Jim Cornelison

Rivalries	Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Minnesota Vikings

Retired numbers	3 5 7 28 34 40 41 42 51 56 61 66 77 89

Key personnel	Chairman: George McCaskey President/CEO: Ted Phillips General Manager: Ryan Pace Head Coach: John Fox

Division championships (18)	1933 1934 1937 1940 1941 1942 1943 1946 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1990 2001 2005 2006 2010

Conference championships (4)	1956 1963 1985 2006

League championships (9)	1921 1932 1933 1940 1941 1943 1946 1963 1985 (XX)

Media	Radio: WBBM (AM) WCFS-FM (FM simulcast of WBBM) Personnel: Jeff Joniak (play-by-play) Tom Thayer (analyst) Zach Zaidman (sideline reporter and radio coach's show host) Television: WFLD (pre-season and most regular season games through Fox, official pre-game and post-game) Comcast SportsNet Chicago (in-season team programming) Personnel: Lou Canellis (gameday television host, pre-season sideline reporter) Sam Rosen (pre-season play-by-play) Jim Miller (pre-season analyst)

Current league affiliations	League: National Football League Conference: National Football Conference Division: North Division

Seasons (96)	1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Championship seasons in bold Book:Chicago Bears :Category:Chicago Bears WikiProject Chicago Bears

Detroit Lions

Founded in 1930 Formerly the Portsmouth Spartans (1930–1933) Based in Detroit, Michigan Headquartered in Allen Park, Michigan

Franchise	Franchise Team history Seasons Players First-round draft picks Starting quarterbacks Coaches

Stadiums	Universal Stadium University of Detroit Stadium Tiger Stadium Pontiac Silverdome Ford Field

Culture	NFL on Thanksgiving Day Paper Lion (film) "What's Going On" (Marvin Gaye song) Home Improvement Cheerleaders

Lore	1932 Playoff Game Curse of Bobby Layne Mike Utley gives a thumbs up Marty Mornhinweg takes the wind "Fire Millen" 0–16 "Calvin Johnson rule" Miracle in Motown

Rivalries	Chicago Bears Green Bay Packers Minnesota Vikings

Notable people	William Clay & Martha Firestone Ford Barry Sanders Bobby Layne Glenn Presnell

Division championships (4)	1935 1983 1991 1993

Conference championships (4)	1952 1953 1954 1957

League championships (4)	1935 1952 1953 1957

Broadcasters	Radio: Radio network Dan Miller Jim Brandstatter Tony Ortiz WJR TV: Television network Matt Shepard Chris Spielman Jennifer Hammond WJBK Fox Sports Detroit

Current league affiliations	League: National Football League Conference: National Football Conference Division: North Division

Seasons (87)	1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Championship seasons in bold

Green Bay Packers

Founded in 1919 Based and headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin

Franchise	Franchise Team history Green Bay Packers, Inc. Board of Directors

Records	Seasons Coaches Players A–D E–K L–R S–Z Starting quarterbacks Pro Football Hall of Famers Retired numbers First-round draft picks Records Pro Bowlers Stadiums

Stadiums	Hagemeister Park Bellevue Park City Stadium Borchert Field Wisconsin State Fair Park Marquette Stadium Milwaukee County Stadium Lambeau Field

Training Facilities	Don Hutson Center Clarke Hinkle Field Ray Nitschke Field St. Norbert College (training camp) Rockwood Lodge (former)

Culture	Cheesehead Lambeau Leap Hall of Fame Packers Fan Hall of Fame "Bang the Drum All Day" Cheerleaders Fight song Lumberjack Band Pigskin Champions Vernon Biever Hungry Five George Whitney Calhoun The Dope Sheet Curly Lambeau Vince Lombardi Ron Wolf Lombardi Pitch Perfect 2 Packers Heritage Trail Packers Pro Shop

Lore	Dolly Gray impostor The Ice Bowl The Snow Bowl Instant Replay Game 4th and 26 Fail Mary Miracle in Motown

Division championships (22)	1936 1938 1939 1944 1960 1961 1962 1965 1966 1967 1972 1995 1996 1997 2002 2003 2004 2007 2011 2012 2013 2014

Conference championships (9)	1960 1961 1962 1965 1966 1967 1996 1997 2010

League championships (13^†)	1929 1930 1931 1936 1939 1944 1961 1962 1965 1966 (I) 1967 (II) 1996 (XXXI) 2010 (XLV) ^† does not include 1966 or 1967 NFL championships

Retired numbers	3 4 14 15 66 92

Rivalries	Chicago Bears Detroit Lions Minnesota Vikings

Broadcasters	Radio: Packers Radio Network WTMJ WKTI-HD2 WIXX WTAQ Television (pre-season & official in-season team programming): WGBA-TV WTMJ-TV Personnel: Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play) Larry McCarren (color/analysis)

Current league affiliations	League: National Football League (1921–present) Conference: National Football Conference Division: North Division

Seasons (97)	1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Championship seasons in bold

Minnesota Vikings

Founded in 1961 Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota Headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Franchise	Franchise History Expansion draft Players First-round draft picks Quarterbacks Head coaches Seasons Statistics Draft

Stadiums	Metropolitan Stadium Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome TCF Bank Stadium U.S. Bank Stadium

Culture	Purple People Eaters "Skol, Vikings" Herschel Walker trade Love Boat scandal "Little Minnesota" (How I Met Your Mother episode) Cheerleaders

Rivalries	Chicago Bears Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers

Lore	The Wrong Way Run Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy Gary Anderson's missed field goal Hail Mary 2010 Metrodome roof collapse

Division championships (19)	1968 1969 1970 1971 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1980 1989 1992 1994 1998 2000 2008 2009 2015

Conference championships (4)	1969 1973 1974 1976

League championships (0^†)	^† does not include 1969 NFL championship

Retired numbers	10 53 70 77 80 88

Current league affiliations	League: National Football League Conference: National Football Conference Division: North Division

Seasons (56)	1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Championship seasons in bold

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