Winning the Super Bowl is the NFL’s ultimate prize—a grueling climb filled with precision, planning, and powerhouse talent. But let’s be honest: sometimes, luck sneaks in and tips the scales. Whether it’s a miracle play, a questionable call, or a total collapse from the other sideline, even the champs aren’t immune to a little fortunate chaos.
Not every team that hoists the Lombardi Trophy is a juggernaut. Some just manage to be in the right place at the right time—again and again—until the confetti falls. And while history tends to remember winners, it doesn’t always remember how they won.
Here’s a look at ten Super Bowl-winning teams that leaned more on good fortune than sheer dominance. These are the champions who got lucky—and got rings.
A Tale of Two Giants
Let’s start with the New York Giants, who might just be the poster franchise for postseason magic. Their 2011 squad barely squeaked into the playoffs at 9-7, then caught fire. They benefited from a last-second Hail Mary in the NFC Championship and a dropped Patriots interception in the Super Bowl. Eli Manning played his part, but let’s not pretend luck wasn’t in the huddle.
And speaking of the Patriots—2007 still stings in New England. That Giants team handed the undefeated Pats their only loss of the year, and they did it with one of the most improbable catches in Super Bowl history: David Tyree’s helmet grab. That play alone is reason enough to put this run in the “luck-fueled” category.
Defense Wins… But Also, So Does Timing
The 2015 Denver Broncos were all defense, all the time. Peyton Manning was limping toward retirement with more picks than touchdowns, yet the defense bailed him out week after week. In the Super Bowl, they faced a red-hot Carolina Panthers team that suddenly forgot how to play offense. Sometimes the breaks just go your way.
Same goes for the 2000 Ravens, a team with a legendary defense and an offense powered by Trent Dilfer (just typing that sounds like a dare). They feasted on weak playoff opponents and capped it off against a Giants team that brought a pillow to a fistfight.
Gifts from the Gridiron
Remember the 1980 Raiders? They were the first Wild Card team to win it all, and their path was greased with controversial calls and opponent meltdowns—including Cleveland’s infamous “Red Right 88” debacle.
The 1970 Colts won a Super Bowl so ugly it earned the nickname “The Blunder Bowl.” They turned the ball over seven times and still won. Not because they were great—but because the Cowboys were worse.
Fast forward to the 2012 Ravens, who needed a miracle 4th-and-29 conversion just to stay alive in the regular season, then got a total coverage bust against Denver that gifted them a game-tying touchdown in the AFC Championship. Add in the blackout during the Super Bowl and a goal-line stand that needed every inch of luck they could muster, and you’ve got a run held together by duct tape and destiny.
The Ones Who Slipped Through
Some teams lucked into a ring before we even got to Super Bowl Sunday. The 2018 Patriots weren’t the most feared version of Brady & Belichick, but they caught a massive break when the Saints were robbed by a no-call in the NFC Championship. That gave them a Rams team that suddenly forgot how to move the ball—and a sleepy 13-3 win.
And then there’s the original Brady miracle: the 2001 Patriots. The Tuck Rule game alone might be the most infamous lucky break in playoff history. Add in the fact that the Rams—the “Greatest Show on Turf”—forgot to show up for most of the first half in the Super Bowl, and it’s clear this Cinderella story had a few fairy godrefs along the way.
Champions, Yes. Invincible? Not Quite.
None of this is to say these teams didn’t work hard or earn their place in history. But luck? Oh, it played its part. Football is a game of inches—and sometimes, those inches bounce just right.
The difference between dynasty and disaster often comes down to a single dropped pass, a missed call, or a miracle moment. And in the case of these ten teams, the football gods smiled just a little brighter when it mattered most.
Related: 10 Super Bowl Winning Teams That Were More Lucky Than Good
