Every year, some team starts the season with zero expectations and ends it hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, leaving fans, analysts, and Vegas oddsmakers in absolute shock. Whether it was a Cinderella playoff run, a dominant underdog performance, or just pure luck (looking at you, Eli Manning), these teams defied the odds and stunned the football world.
Here are the 15 most unexpected Super Bowl champions, ranked from “mildly surprising” to “wait, HOW did that happen?”
15. 1997 Denver Broncos – Finally Breaking Through
John Elway had already lost three Super Bowls, and by 1997, it seemed like his ring window had slammed shut. But this Broncos team, as a Wild Card, went on a mission—beating Brett Favre’s Packers in the Super Bowl and making Elway’s “helicopter spin” the stuff of legend.
14. 2011 New York Giants – The Sequel No One Saw Coming
Four years after their first improbable run, the Giants did it again, this time as a 9-7 team. Eli Manning, once again, became Tom Brady’s personal nightmare, leading an offense that somehow outdueled one of the most dominant teams in regular-season history. David Tyree wasn’t even around this time, but Mario Manningham stepped up with an all-time clutch catch.
13. 2010 Green Bay Packers – Sneaking In, Taking Over
Aaron Rodgers was great, but the Packers barely made the playoffs as a 10-6 Wild Card team. Then, they ran the table, winning three straight road games and taking down the Steelers in the Super Bowl. Rodgers won his first (and, as of now, only) ring in what felt like the beginning of a dynasty… but, well, you know how that went.
12. 1980 Oakland Raiders – The First Wild Card Champs
The Raiders had a solid team, but no one expected a Wild Card team to win it all—because it had never happened before. Led by Jim Plunkett, they knocked off heavyweights like the Chargers and Eagles on their way to Super Bowl glory. This team invented the “just get in and anything can happen” mentality.
11. 1970 Baltimore Colts – The Redemption Story
Two years after one of the biggest choke jobs in Super Bowl history (losing to the Jets as huge favorites), the Colts returned—but this time, nobody believed in them. They were underdogs against the Cowboys, and even in victory, they had one of the ugliest Super Bowl wins ever. But hey, a win is a win.
10. 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers – The 6th Seed Stunners
The Steelers barely made the playoffs as the AFC’s No. 6 seed, then pulled off an epic underdog run behind second-year QB Ben Roethlisberger and the power of Jerome Bettis’ “last ride” narrative. They took down the Seahawks in the Super Bowl (with the help of some questionable officiating) and became the first 6th seed to win it all.
9. 1982 Washington Redskins – The Strike Season Surprise
This was a weird season, thanks to a strike-shortened schedule, and Washington was not expected to win it all. But behind a no-name offense and running back John Riggins going full beast mode, they took down the Dolphins and won their first Super Bowl title.
8. 2001 New England Patriots – The Birth of a Dynasty (That No One Saw Coming)
Now, we know them as the greatest dynasty ever. But back in 2001? The Patriots were 25-1 long shots to win the Super Bowl, and they were led by a second-year QB named Tom Brady, who only got the job because Drew Bledsoe got obliterated by Mo Lewis. Then, they upset the Greatest Show on Turf in the Super Bowl and changed NFL history forever.
7. 1985 Chicago Bears – From Fun to Dominant
Wait, how are the ‘85 Bears unexpected? Because no one thought they’d be that good. Sure, they were solid the year before, but they destroyed everyone in 1985, becoming one of the most dominant teams ever. Nobody predicted that defense would reach legendary status, but here we are.
6. 1999 St. Louis Rams – The Greatest Show Nobody Expected
Kurt Warner was stocking groceries two years before this season. Then, he led one of the most unstoppable offenses in NFL history, taking the Rams from 4-12 nobodies to Super Bowl champions in one of the greatest Cinderella stories ever.
5. 1981 San Francisco 49ers – The Start of Something Special
Before Joe Montana became Joe Cool, the 49ers were not considered contenders. But a second-year Bill Walsh and a young Montana pulled off the first real West Coast offense Super Bowl run, capped off by “The Catch” and a dominant win over the Bengals.
4. 2007 New York Giants – The Ultimate David vs. Goliath Story
The 2007 Patriots were supposed to be invincible. 18-0, the most dominant offense ever, and one game away from history. But Eli Manning, a relentless pass rush, and the helmet catch from David Tyree shattered New England’s dreams. The Giants barely made the playoffs as a Wild Card team, but they pulled off the biggest upset in Super Bowl history.
3. 1968 New York Jets – Broadway Joe Calls His Shot
The NFL laughed at the idea of the AFL’s Jets beating the powerhouse Colts. Then, Joe Namath boldly guaranteed victory, and somehow, he actually delivered. This wasn’t just an upset—it was a league-changing moment that proved the AFL could compete.
2. 2017 Philadelphia Eagles – The Nick Foles Special
Carson Wentz was playing at an MVP level. Then he tore his ACL, and everyone counted the Eagles out. Enter Nick Freaking Foles, who led one of the most unexpected Super Bowl runs ever. The Philly Special, outdueling Tom Brady, and bringing the Eagles their first-ever ring? Absolute insanity.
Related: 15 NFL Teams Who Are Desperate to Get to a Super Bowl
1. 2000 Baltimore Ravens – Defense Wins Championships
This Ravens team had zero expectations heading into the season. Their offense was led by Trent Dilfer (not exactly a confidence-inspiring QB), and their defense had to carry them through a midseason stretch where they didn’t score a single touchdown for five weeks. And yet, that historic defense dominated the playoffs, allowing just one offensive TD the entire postseason. No one saw it coming, and they still won it all.
Related: 10 NFL Coaches Who Stumbled Into Super Bowl Glory
