The San Francisco 49ers and the Five Most Successful Super Bowl Teams

Football is more than just a game; it is an American institution. Every year, millions of people tune in to watch the Super Bowl, which has become one of the biggest sporting events in the world. And this year, the extravaganza promises to be bigger than ever. 

The reason for that is because, for the first time in history, the Big Game will embark on Las Vegas and the brand new Allegiant Stadium. Despite Sin City being a mecca for combat sports, it is only in recent years that the jewel in the Nevada crown has opened its doors to more mainstream sports. The Raiders relocated to the city from Oakland back in 2020, while the MLB's Athletics will also make the jump from California in the coming years. 

However, the highlight of the event Vegas sporting boom will undoubtedly be the hosting of Super Bowl LVIII. This year, the Kansas City Chiefs are aiming to become the first team since the New England Patriots almost two decades ago to successfully retain the Lombardi. Patrick Mahomes and Co. have already defeated heavyweights such as the Buffalo Bills and the Baltimore Ravens, with both victories coming on the road, standing them in good stead to be able to get over the finish line once again. 

Last year's Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy and his San Francisco 49ers are all that stands in the Missouri outfits way. They have been made the narrow -122 favorites for victory by the NFL lines after topping the NFC throughout the course of the regular season. However, they will have their work cut out. The Chiefs have much more experience when it comes to championship-winning know-how, and the Niners will be hoping that Purdy and running back powerhouse Christian McCaffrey have enough about them to get the NoCal outfit over the line. 

But one thing that should give San Francisco plenty of optimism is that only four teams have played in more Super Bowls than them over the years. And the Chiefs aren't one of them. Here are the five teams that have reached the Big Game more times than the rest. 

San Francisco 49ers - Seven 

The San Francisco 49ers may not be at the top of this list, but they are certainly one of the most successful teams in NFL history. With seven Super Bowl appearances - seven that will become eight on February 11th - and five wins, they have cemented their place as one of football's elite franchises. The team's first victory in the Big Game came in 1982 when they defeated the Cincinnati Bengals. They went on to win four more championships over the next 14 years, with their last victory coming in 1995 against the San Diego Chargers.

In the years since, however, they have known only pain. They have lost their last two Super Bowls on the bounce, being downed by Joe Flacco's Baltimore Ravens back in 2013 before losing to Mahomes and the Chiefs in 2020. They will be aiming to right that wrong in Vegas this month. 

Denver Broncos - Eight 

The Denver Broncos have been consistent performers throughout their history, reaching eight Super Bowls. However, they have converted just three of them into Lombardis. Nobody has lost more Big Games than the Colorado side and of the teams that have lifted the trophy at some point, only the Philadelphia Eagles and the Seattle Seahawks have a worse win percentage. 

Their first championship came in 1998 when they defeated Brett Favre's Green Bay Packers team. They followed that up with another title two years later by beating the Atlanta Falcons. The introduction of Peyton Manning throughout the early 2010s revitalized the team's fortunes and they went on to reach two Super Bowls in three seasons. The first of those ended with a humbling 41-8 defeat to the aforementioned Seahawks, the biggest margin of defeat in the history of the storied fixture. But they put things right two years later with a 24-10 victory against Cam Newton's Carolina Panthers. 

Dallas Cowboys - Eight 

The Dallas Cowboys are one of America's most popular sports franchises, and for good reason. They have reached eight Super Bowls and won five times over their storied history. Their first championship came in 1971 when they beat the Miami Dolphins. They went on to win two more titles in the 70s and then won back-to-back titles in 1992 and 1993, defeating a Buffalo Bills side that reached four straight Big Games, inexplicably losing all four. 

Pittsburgh Steelers - Eight 

The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the NFL's most iconic franchises, with eight Super Bowl appearances and six wins over their history. They won their first championship in 1975 by defeating the Minnesota Vikings and followed that up with three more championships in the next six years. After a bit of a drought, they returned to winning ways in 2006 by defeating the Seattle Seahawks. Their latest championship came in 2009 when they defeated the Arizona Cardinals.

New England Patriots - Eleven 

The New England Patriots are undoubtedly the most successful franchise in NFL history, having reached an astonishing eleven Super Bowls and winning seven times. They have been led by legendary quarterback Tom Brady, who has become one of football's biggest stars over his career. The team's first championship came in 2001 when they upset the heavily favored St Louis Rams team. Since then, they have won multiple championships and established themselves as one of football's elite franchises.

Cover Credit - NFL Official