NFC South
NFC division with all four teams reaching the Super Bowl since 2002.
The NFC South is a division within the National Football Conference (NFC) of the NFL, formed in 2002 when the league reorganized its divisions after expanding to 32 teams. Since then, its four members—the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers—have remained unchanged. Prior to 2002, the Buccaneers played in the AFC West and later the NFC Central, while the other three teams were part of the geographically mismatched NFC West.
Alongside the NFC West, the NFC South is one of only two divisions where every team has reached the Super Bowl since the 2002 realignment: Tampa Bay (2002 and 2020), Atlanta (2016), Carolina (2003 and 2015), and New Orleans (2009). It is also the only division where each team has won at least four division titles since 2002. On January 3, 2021, the Saints became the first team to sweep the NFC South in the regular season, though they lost to the Buccaneers—who went on to win the Super Bowl—in the playoffs.
As of 2025, the Saints lead the division in total wins and winning percentage, with a regular-season record of 417–480–5 and a 10–13 playoff record highlighted by their Super Bowl XLIV victory. The Falcons are 398–512–6 with a 10–14 playoff record, having lost Super Bowls XXXIII and LI. The Buccaneers hold a 318–457–1 record, winning both of their Super Bowl appearances (XXXVII and LV) and posting a 12–13 playoff mark. The Panthers have the best playoff winning percentage (9–8) among division teams, despite losses in Super Bowls XXXVIII and 50, and a regular-season record of 195–204–1.
The NFC South is the only NFC division without any of the twelve "old-line" franchises that predate the 1960 launch of the American Football League. The Falcons, the division's oldest team, began play in 1966, followed by the Saints in 1967. Every other NFC division has three clubs that started before 1960, with the remaining three such teams in the AFC.
The division has seen unique milestones: the 2014 Carolina Panthers became the second team in five years to win a division title with a losing record (7–8–1), following the 2010 Seattle Seahawks (7–9). Carolina also became the first repeat NFC South champion and the first to win three straight titles (2013–2015), while the Saints won four consecutive titles from 2017 to 2020.
Quick Facts
- Title
- NFC South
- Sport
- American football
- League
- National Football League
- Conference
- National Football Conference
- Founded
- 2002
- Teams
- 4
- Country
- United States
- Champion
- Carolina Panthers (6th title)
- Champ Season
- 2025
- Most Titles
- New Orleans Saints / Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7 titles each)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Before the 2002 season, the Buccaneers belonged to the AFC West and NFC Central, while the other three teams were part of the geographically inaccurate NFC West. The NFC South became the second division in five years to have a champion with a losing record, as the 2014 Carolina Panthers won the division with a 7–8–1 record. Additionally, Carolina became the first team to repeat as NFC South champions since the creation of the division. The Panthers were the first team to win the NFC South three consecutive times, from 2013 to 2015; while the Saints were the first team to win the division four consecutive times from 2017 to 2020.
Reader's Guide
The NFC South is notable for being the only NFC division without any of the twelve 'old-line' franchises that predate the 1960 launch of the American Football League. The oldest team is the Falcons, who began play in 1966, and the Saints began play only a year later in 1967. Each of the other NFC divisions has three clubs that began play earlier than 1960, while the remaining three such teams are in the American Football Conference. On January 7, 2018, two NFC South teams (the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints) met in the NFL playoffs for the first time since the division's creation in 2002. Before then, they were the only division left in the NFL that had never had teams face off against each other in the postseason. In 2024, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers tied with the New Orleans Saints for the most division titles, with seven. They also tied with the Saints for most consecutive division titles, with four, and broke the division record of most consecutive playoff appearances, with five.
Did You Know?
- On January 3, 2021, the Saints became the first-ever team to sweep the NFC South in the regular season, but they lost to the Buccaneers in the playoffs.
- The 2014 Carolina Panthers won the division with a 7–8–1 record, the second division champion in five years to have a losing record.
- Entering 2025, the Saints have the most wins and highest winning percentage among division members.
More in Club History & Eras
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