Ranking top 10 NFL turnarounds in Super Bowl era in league history

The Bengals shocked the world this season, changing their destiny from perennial losing franchise to Super Bowl bound. The turnaround was swift and impressive, but it wasn’t something the football world has never seen before.

As Jeffri Chadiha of NFL.com writes, “The Bengals aren’t the first team to come out of nowhere. They just had all the right ingredients to make it happen, like a host of other franchises.”

As Cincinnati readies for their appearance in Super Bowl LVI, Chadiha took a look back at the greatest turnarounds from the Super Bowl era in league history. After compiling his list and rifling through the history of the league, here are his top ten.

Top 10 NFL turnarounds in Super Bowl era in league history:

1) 1981 San Francisco 49ers — 13-3, Won Super Bowl XVI

Bill Walsh turned the 49ers from 2-14 in 1979 to capturing their first Super Bowl just two seasons later. The team would go on to begin one of the greatest dynasties in the modern NFL.

2) 1999 St. Louis Rams — 13-3, Won Super Bowl XXXIV

As Chadiha mentions, the Rams were a lousy franchise prior to their Super Bowl victory. Even during the 1999 season, things didn’t look promising, as the team’s starting quarterback went down in Trent Green. Of course, enter Kurt Warner, and the rest is history.

3) 2001 New England Patriots — 11-5, Won Super Bowl XXXVI

Once again, the beginning of a dynasty makes the list. The first of a bevy of Patriots teams to capture the Lombardi Trophy, Tom Brady arrived on the scene and began his legend with a victory in Super Bowl XXXVI.

4) 2003 Carolina Panthers — 11-5, Lost in Super Bowl XXXVIII

“This team was arguably the most resilient on this list,” Chadiha mentions. The Panthers played in five overtime games in 2003, but unfortunately fell short when the lights were the brightest in Super Bowl XXXVIII.

5) 2021 Cincinnati Bengals — 10-7, Reached Super Bowl LVI

The final chapter of their story is yet to be written, but the 2021 Bengals are the latest to grace the list. If they capture the Lombardi Trophy, the could climb even higher up the list.

6) 1998 Atlanta Falcons — 14-2, Lost in Super Bowl XXXIII

When it comes to the 1998 Falcons, Chadiha mentions the job Dan Reeves did in turning around Atlanta was the best of his coaching career. The team was defeated by the Broncos in Super Bowl XXXIII, but the ride was one for the ages.

7) 2018 Los Angeles Rams — 13-3, Lost in Super Bowl LIII

Before Sean McVay, the Rams were stuck in mediocrity for the better part of a decade. The young head coach took Los Angeles from the doldrums of an offensive team to one of the leagues most exciting, capped off with an appearance in Super Bowl LIII.

8) 1991 Dallas Cowboys — 11-5, Lost in Divisional Round

From 1-15 in his first season in 1989, the 1991 Cowboys proved Dallas had arrived on the scene. Of course, it was the prelude to their legendary dynasty of the 1990s.

9) 1998 New York Jets — 12-4, Lost in AFC Championship

Bill Parcells worked his magic on the Jets after a successful tenure with the Giants, bringing New York to the forefront of the AFC. While it was a short tenure, Chadiha appreciates the turnaround in the Big Apple.

10) 1999 Indianapolis Colts — 13-3, Lost in Divisional Round

Finally, the team that proved Peyton Manning was for real. The Colts turned around, as did Manning from his disastrous rookie season. The franchise became one of the NFL’s best for the next decade plus.