NFL Films

The Lombardi Trophy was on its way back to Lombardi Country. Vince Lombardi's Packers won Super Bowls I and II in the mid-1960s by playing with confidence and faith. Nearly 30 years later, Green...

The Lombardi Trophy was on its way back to Lombardi Country. Vince Lombardi's Packers won Super Bowls I and II in the mid-1960s by playing with confidence and faith. Nearly 30 years later, Green Bay's 1996 team, led by coach Mike Holmgren, used those same virtues to carry the franchise to its third Super Bowl title. Holmgren was known for his intensity on game days, and an ability to mentor quarterbacks, qualities that would serve him well with the Packers. By '96, Holmgren had molded Brett...

The 1975 Pittsburgh Steelers quickly discovered that one of the most difficult feats in all of sports is defending a world title. At the beginning of the season, coach Chuck Noll's team didn't even...

The 1975 Pittsburgh Steelers quickly discovered that one of the most difficult feats in all of sports is defending a world title. At the beginning of the season, coach Chuck Noll's team didn't even look like they had the stuff to reach the playoffs, let alone win back-to-back championships. Fresh off an upset in Super Bowl IX, the Steelers were not a dynasty just yet, not even with nine future Hall of Fame players. In Week 2, the team lost at home to O.J. Simpson's Buffalo Bills for a 1-1...

The debate over the NFL's greatest defense has raged for some time. Fans in Dallas are squarely behind the Doomsday Defense. Minnesota had the "Purple People Eaters", while Chicago had the "46"....

The debate over the NFL's greatest defense has raged for some time. Fans in Dallas are squarely behind the Doomsday Defense. Minnesota had the "Purple People Eaters", while Chicago had the "46". Still, in 2000, the Baltimore Ravens were as good as any in that group, and possibly even better. Statistically speaking, the Ravens' defense was without equal. Led by Pro Bowlers Ray Lewis, Sam Adams and Rod Woodson, Baltimore allowed the fewest points ever in a 16-game season - 165, an average of...

Terry Bradshaw was always at his best on Super Bowl Sundays. The Pittsburgh quarterback went a perfect 4-0 in Super Bowl play during the 1970s, throwing for 932 yards and nine touchdowns combined as...

Terry Bradshaw was always at his best on Super Bowl Sundays. The Pittsburgh quarterback went a perfect 4-0 in Super Bowl play during the 1970s, throwing for 932 yards and nine touchdowns combined as the Steelers became a dynasty. But Bradshaw's most validating season during that run, and perhaps in his entire career, came in 1978. Bradshaw led the AFC in passing as the Steelers went 14-2 during the regular season. His main target was Lynn Swann, who posted career highs in catches and receiving...

The team wasn't especially big, quick, or flashy. It rarely blew away opponents. Its best player was a fullback, its defense was anonymous, and it played without its Pro Bowl quarterback for most of...

The team wasn't especially big, quick, or flashy. It rarely blew away opponents. Its best player was a fullback, its defense was anonymous, and it played without its Pro Bowl quarterback for most of the year. Still, the 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only team to finish a season undefeated -- 17-0, to be exact -- in National Football League history. Fresh off a Super Bowl loss the season prior, Miami played like a team determined to win a championship, racking up 14 straight regular season wins....

During the 1987 season, Washington Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs had a lot of explaining to do. He told backup quarterback Doug Williams he was being traded to the Raiders, and then reconsidered...

During the 1987 season, Washington Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs had a lot of explaining to do. He told backup quarterback Doug Williams he was being traded to the Raiders, and then reconsidered just hours later. The coach also demoted Jeff Bostic from starting center to snapper on punts, angering the veteran to the point of demanding a trade. Worse yet, Gibbs had to counsel his entire team as they sat out on strike -- while coaching their replacements. But Gibbs had all the right answers that...

For most NFL players, the onset of retirement is a sad occasion. Not so for Jerome Bettis. After Super Bowl XL, Bettis, the heart and soul of the Pittsburgh Steelers, hung up his cleats with the...

For most NFL players, the onset of retirement is a sad occasion. Not so for Jerome Bettis. After Super Bowl XL, Bettis, the heart and soul of the Pittsburgh Steelers, hung up his cleats with the Vince Lombardi Trophy in his hands. Entering the 2005 season, many thought Bettis' prolific career was still incomplete. Nicknamed "The Bus" for his battering runs, he was one of the league's greatest players to have never won a world title. Still, the Steelers team around him had all the markings of a...

"The Catch." In San Francisco, it means just one thing - Joe Montana's pass...Dwight Clark's leap...and the birth of a dynasty. The dramatic win over Dallas in the 1981 NFC Championship Game became...

"The Catch." In San Francisco, it means just one thing - Joe Montana's pass...Dwight Clark's leap...and the birth of a dynasty. The dramatic win over Dallas in the 1981 NFC Championship Game became the team's, and the franchise's legacy -- but it's only part of the story. Bill Walsh's groundbreaking West Coast attack, and an upstart defense fueled a remarkable turnaround for a once moribund franchise. San Francisco went from 2-14 in Walsh's first year, to 6-10, to 13-3 in '81, when Clark's...

The fabled West Coast offense wasn't invented in San Francisco, but the father of the system, Bill Walsh, certainly perfected it there as head coach of the 49ers. With quarterback Joe Montana at the...

The fabled West Coast offense wasn't invented in San Francisco, but the father of the system, Bill Walsh, certainly perfected it there as head coach of the 49ers. With quarterback Joe Montana at the controls, the Niners were a dominant passing team, winning four Super Bowls in the 1980s. And of those four, their record-setting season in 1984 may have best captured the deadly efficiency of the West Coast attack. The Niners receiving corps had many ways to beat you. To move the chains, Montana...

Jon Gruden was ahead of the curve when it came to coaching football. At 31, he was already an offensive coordinator in the pro ranks. At 34, he became one of the youngest NFL head coaches ever. So...

Jon Gruden was ahead of the curve when it came to coaching football. At 31, he was already an offensive coordinator in the pro ranks. At 34, he became one of the youngest NFL head coaches ever. So the asking price for his services was steep in 2002: Two first round picks, two second round picks, and $8 million. But for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it proved to be a bargain. Gruden inherited a Buccaneers team that was already playoff-caliber, as Tampa Bay reached the postseason four times in the...

Prior to the 1994 season, quarterback Steve Young had already enjoyed great success in the NFL. A two-time All-Pro with the San Francisco 49ers, Young was considered one of the NFL's most nimble and...

Prior to the 1994 season, quarterback Steve Young had already enjoyed great success in the NFL. A two-time All-Pro with the San Francisco 49ers, Young was considered one of the NFL's most nimble and accurate passers. But Niners fans felt differently about him. In their estimation, Young had a flaw that was difficult to overcome: He wasn't Joe Montana. Montana led San Francisco to four Super Bowl victories. Young, as the starter, had yet to win one. So the team was determined to build a...

The New England Patriots defeated the Carolina Panthers 32-29 in Super Bowl XXXVIII and concluded one of the greatest seasons in NFL history.

The New England Patriots defeated the Carolina Panthers 32-29 in Super Bowl XXXVIII and concluded one of the greatest seasons in NFL history.

It was a dilemma no other NFL team had ever faced: How do you improve on perfection? The 1972 Miami Dolphins became the first team in pro football history to finish a season unbeaten, going 17-0...

It was a dilemma no other NFL team had ever faced: How do you improve on perfection? The 1972 Miami Dolphins became the first team in pro football history to finish a season unbeaten, going 17-0 with a Super Bowl title. That kind of success could make anyone complacent. But head coach Don Shula was not going to allow it. He believed his Dolphins could perform even better. Still, the 1973 Dolphins did not match the same level of success as the season prior. They exceeded it, according to Shula....

The Washington Redskins always possessed a terrific offensive line under coach Joe Gibbs. Era after era, from one Super Bowl to the next, Gibbs' line was a huge, run-blocking, pass-protecting force....

The Washington Redskins always possessed a terrific offensive line under coach Joe Gibbs. Era after era, from one Super Bowl to the next, Gibbs' line was a huge, run-blocking, pass-protecting force. Nicknamed "The Hogs," the unit was probably at its best in 1991, allowing Mark Rypien ample time to become the premier long-range passer in the NFL. Over time, Gibbs noticed that Rypien threw an accurate deep ball, so the coach had the quarterback throw less, but go deep more to wide receivers Gary...

They entered Super Bowl IV as 13-point underdogs. But the 1969 Kansas City Chiefs' decisive victory over the Minnesota Vikings put to rest any questions as to whether the fledgling American Football...

They entered Super Bowl IV as 13-point underdogs. But the 1969 Kansas City Chiefs' decisive victory over the Minnesota Vikings put to rest any questions as to whether the fledgling American Football League could compete against the established NFL. It also validated the careers of five future Hall of Fame players and their flamboyant head coach Hank Stram. To become world champions, Kansas City had to overcome more than its share of adversity. Quarterback Len Dawson missed nearly half the...

By the fall of 1979, Pittsburgh was known as the "City of Champions." That October, the Pirates defeated the Baltimore Orioles to win the World Series, their second championship of the decade....

By the fall of 1979, Pittsburgh was known as the "City of Champions." That October, the Pirates defeated the Baltimore Orioles to win the World Series, their second championship of the decade. Meanwhile, the Steelers had constructed a dynasty, boasting three world titles over the past five years. The fan base no longer hoped for victories. Now they expected them. So the standards were high for the '79 Steelers. But every player on the team was confident it could meet them. "Once you have the...

Bill Belichick admitted it was one of the toughest coaching decisions he'd ever had to make. Less than a week before the start of the 2003 season, his New England Patriots released Pro Bowl safety...

Bill Belichick admitted it was one of the toughest coaching decisions he'd ever had to make. Less than a week before the start of the 2003 season, his New England Patriots released Pro Bowl safety and team captain Lawyer Milloy. It was the kind of move that might ruin most teams. But the Patriots weren't like most teams. Plus, New England had a capable replacement at safety in Rodney Harrison. Despite his newcomer status, Harrison won over teammates with his aggressive play, and was voted a...

By 1997, there was little else for John Elway to prove. Entering his 15th NFL season, the Denver quarterback was in third place in most major passing categories, behind only Dan Marino and Fran...

By 1997, there was little else for John Elway to prove. Entering his 15th NFL season, the Denver quarterback was in third place in most major passing categories, behind only Dan Marino and Fran Tarkenton, and had made the two-minute offense into his own personal playground. But something was missing from Elway's resume: a Super Bowl ring. The Broncos no longer relied on Elway to win games by himself. Terrell Davis, a former sixth-round draft choice, led the AFC in rushing with 1,750 yards and...

In 1976, the Oakland Raiders reached the summit of professional football by defeating the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XI. It was the culmination of more than a decade of excellence under the...

In 1976, the Oakland Raiders reached the summit of professional football by defeating the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XI. It was the culmination of more than a decade of excellence under the leadership of Raiders owner/coach, Al Davis. The 1976 Raiders suffered some early setbacks, losing several defensive linemen to injury. Head coach John Madden found a quick solution, dropping his 4-3 scheme in favor of a 3-4. Offensively, the Raiders had an embarrassment of riches. Four starters --...

The 1985 Chicago Bears were larger than life. They had in-your-face personalities. They boasted Hall of Fame-caliber players. But most importantly, the whole was greater than the sum of its parts....

The 1985 Chicago Bears were larger than life. They had in-your-face personalities. They boasted Hall of Fame-caliber players. But most importantly, the whole was greater than the sum of its parts. Chicago dominated opponents like few others. The Bears offense was a reflection of their hard-nosed head coach, Mike Ditka. First and foremost, Ditka liked to establish the run, with Walter Payton rushing for 1,551 yards on 324 carries. Still, the coach could be creative, too. He occasionally used a...

What's the best way to replace a coaching legend? Quietly. When Bill Walsh retired from the San Francisco 49ers following the 1988 season, the team opted not to sign a big name as his successor....

What's the best way to replace a coaching legend? Quietly. When Bill Walsh retired from the San Francisco 49ers following the 1988 season, the team opted not to sign a big name as his successor. Instead, the organization stayed in-house, hiring defensive coordinator George Seifert. It was perfect casting. The stoic Seifert promptly led the team to new heights in his first year on the job. The 49ers were already a dynasty, winning three Super Bowls over the decade, so Seifert wasn't pressed to...

The 1982 NFL season wasn't a marathon, it was a sprint. A players' strike reduced a 16-week schedule to nine that season, leaving teams scrambling to reach the playoffs. Most clubs appeared frantic...

The 1982 NFL season wasn't a marathon, it was a sprint. A players' strike reduced a 16-week schedule to nine that season, leaving teams scrambling to reach the playoffs. Most clubs appeared frantic and rusty after the layoff. But the Washington Redskins dominated all comers under head coach Joe Gibbs. Washington hired Gibbs in 1981, and just one season later, had molded the team in his hardnosed image. The offensive line, nicknamed "The Hogs," was equally adept at blasting holes for fullback...

NFL Rush Zone: Seasons of the Guardian vol 3

NFL Rush Zone: Seasons of the Guardian vol 3

By 1967, Green Bay was already considered "Titletown U.S.A." Throughout the decade, the Packers had won four NFL Championships and Super Bowl I. Better still; they were coached by Vince Lombardi,...

By 1967, Green Bay was already considered "Titletown U.S.A." Throughout the decade, the Packers had won four NFL Championships and Super Bowl I. Better still; they were coached by Vince Lombardi, who was relentless in his pursuit of perfection. But that season, Lombardi faced his greatest challenge yet: winning back-to-back Super Bowls -- one of Pro Football's toughest feats -- in a town that expected nothing less. The old master was up to the task. Lombardi had a core of veteran players in...