Has The NFL Achieved Parity Part One

We are frequently told that the NFL is seeking parity within the game of football. You will often hear sports broadcasters tell us that it has happened. What does the evidence say? This is the first in a series of articles that will explore the facts surrounding parity in the NFL. The focus of this article is on the super bowl. Four periods will be examined. There are 1970-79, 1980-89, 1990-99 and 2000-09. Each period consists of ten super bowls and twenty teams playing in those super bowls

First we will look at the number of different teams that made the super bowl in each period. If parity has been achieved that number should have increased between the first period and the last. The period of 1970 to 1979 saw nine different teams play in the super bowl. The Steelers and Cowboys combined for nine appearances. if you add the Dolphins and Vikings, fifteen of the possible twenty appearances were made by four teams. The period of 1980 to 1989 resulted in ten different teams playing in the super bowl. The 49ers and Redskins combined for seven super bowl appearances. If we add the Broncos and Raiders, the total goes up to twelve. That is three less than the top four teams fro the first period. The period of 1990 to 1999 brought thirteen different teams play in the super bowl. Four teams played in more than one super bowl and they totaled eleven appearances. The period of 2000 to 2009 resulted in fourteen different teams playing in the super bowl. Only the Patriots played in more than two super bowls.

The second thing we will look at is the number of different NFC teams that played in the super bowl in each period. Parity should result in an increase in the number of different teams playing. Between 1970 and 1979, four NFC teams played in the super bowl. The Cowboys and Vikings were responsible for eight of those appearances. the period of 1980 to 1989 saw an increase to five different NFC teams playing in the super bowl. The 49ers and redskins accounted for seven of those appearances. Eight different NFC teams played in the super bowl between 1990 and 1999. The Cowboys and Packers were in five of those games. The period of 2000 to 2009 saw an increase to nine different NFC teams playing in the super bowl. Only the Giants played in more than one super bowl for the NFC.

The third thing we will look at is the number of different AFC teams playing in the super bowl in each period. From 1970 to 1979, five different AFC teams played in the super bowl. The Steelers and Dolphins accounted for seven of those appearances. Five AFC teams appeared in the super bowl between 1980 and 1989. The Broncos played in the most for the AFC with three appearances. The period of 1990 to 1999 also saw five different AFC teams play in the super bowl. The Bills led the way with four appearances. The final period of 2000 to 2009 also had five different AFC teams play in the super bowl. the Patriots played in four super bowls.

The last thing we will look at is which conference won the most super bowls in each period. Between 1970 and 1979 the AFC won eight of the ten super bowls. 1980 to 1989 saw the NFC win eight of the ten super bowls. The NFC repeated with eight wins between 1990 and 1999. the AFC turned things around between 2000 and 2009. They won seven of the ten games.

The case for parity being achieved is somewhat mixed based on the results of this evaluation. The case for parity would include the fact the each decade saw an increase in the number of different teams playing in the super bowl. the NFL went from nine different teams appearing between 1970 and 1979 to fourteen different between 2000 and 2009. Further support for parity could come from the number of different NFC teams making the super bowl. From 1970 to 1979 the NFC had four different teams in the super bowl. that number had increased to nine different for the period from 2000 to 2009. The case against the success of the drive for parity comes from the AFC. Each period had five different AFC teams in the super bowl. Another point against the success of parity could be made by the obvious superiority of one conference over the other in winning the super bowl in each decade. It appears the NFC has achieved a level of parity within the conference. The AFC seems to have two or three dominate teams in each decade. The case for the AFC having achieved parity is not so good. The conclusion we can make for part one is that the NFC has made progress toward parity and in the AFC, the names may change but parity has not arrived. Part two will be coming soon.