Can You Identify the NFL Team If We Give You 3 of Its Legends From 3 Different Decades?



By: Gavin Thagard

6 Min Quiz

Image: Tech. Sgt. Michael Holzworth via WikiCommons/Ed Yourdon via WikiCommons/Mike Morbeck via WikiCommons

About This Quiz

Whether they're able to win championships or have to settle for setting franchise records, certain players that pass through the locker rooms are on a different level than everyone else. These players go beyond filling roster spots, and instead, they become leaders of the team — franchise players who will be remembered by fanbases long after they have hung up their cleats and retired. They are even brought back during special events to remind everyone of their contributions during their glory days.

How well do you know these players who defined the different decades for each NFL team? Be it from their championship runs to the years the team was in decline but that one player shined through, these stars always gave a city hope for both the present and the future. Some of them were drafted and raised within an organization, while others came in at the height of their careers to lend their talents for a few seasons while a team tried to get over the hump to win a title. 

In the end, all of these players left lasting legacies with their respective franchises. Now, see if their names provide enough information for you to identify each NFL team.

Jim Brown, Ozzie Newsome and Joe Thomas would have been a stellar offense for which NFL team if they played in the same decade?

The Cleveland Browns franchise did not operate from 1996 through 1998 because the owner, Art Modell, decided to move the team to Baltimore. He was sued by the city of Cleveland and forced to change the name of the team when he moved. In 1999, the Cleveland Browns were reintroduced as an expansion team.


Do you know which team had star-studded talent at all three levels on defense, with Joe Greene, Jack Lambert and Troy Polamalu?

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had several dominant eras throughout their history, but the franchise racked up the most titles in the '70s. Led by their defensive line, known as "The Steel Curtain," the Steelers dominated the decade, winning four Super Bowls in six years.


Which team had these three quarterbacks appear in three different decades: John Brodie, Joe Montana and Steve Young?

One of the toughest transitions for the San Francisco 49ers was moving on from legendary quarterback Joe Montana, who had delivered four Super Bowls to the franchise in the '80s. However, the '90s saw the rise of Steve Young, who brought them one more championship in 1994.


Can you name the team where Fran Tarkenton, Randy Moss and Adrian Peterson helped rack up points while winning individual awards?

Though stars like Fran Tarkenton and Randy Moss had stellar seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, Adrian Peterson might've had the best season of them all. In 2012, Peterson came eight yards short of tying the single season rushing record when he put up 2,097 yards. He would have beat it, had his team not needed a field goal to reach the playoffs.


What NFL team always had great linebackers, with players like Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary and Brian Urlacher on the field?

Culminating in a Super Bowl win, the 1985 Bears roster is often considered one of the greatest teams of all time. Led by a dominant defense and Walter Payton at running back, the team went 15-1 in the regular season before crushing every opponent in the playoffs.


Can you identify the team where Archie Manning, Pat Swilling and Drew Brees became franchise legends?

Even with stars like Archie Manning and Pat Swilling, the New Orleans Saints were abysmal for years, until they obtained the services of Drew Brees. Brees led the team to a championship in the 2009 season, when they defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31-17.


How well do you know Jackie Smith, Simeon Rice and Larry Fitzgerald and the team they starred on?

After suffering through the 2018 season, where the team went 3-13, the Arizona Cardinals received the first overall draft pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. They used the pick to select quarterback Kyler Murray out of Oklahoma. While also hiring a new head coach, the team hopes for more success in the future.


Any offense would have trouble running the ball with Andre Tippett, Richard Seymour and Vince Wilfork stuffing up the middle of the line. Who did they play for?

Tom Brady, the greatest postseason winner in league history, has played for the New England Patriots for two decades. During that time, many stars have come and gone on both sides of the ball, but Brady has been the one constant.


Are you familiar with the franchise that had legends like Deion Sanders, Tommy Nobis and Tony Gonzalez pass through its locker room?

The Atlanta Falcons started a new era for the franchise when the team moved into Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2017. Prior to that, the Falcons played in the Georgia Dome, an arena they inhabited since 1992.


Any team would have loved to have Bart Starr, Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers throwing the football for them, but which team got all three?

The number one thing that connects Bart Starr, Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers is that all three quarterbacks are Super Bowl champions with the Green Bay Packers. Starr won the first two Super Bowls to ever take place, Favre gained one in the '90s, and Rodgers won the title in 2010.


Do you know where Steve Largent, Shaun Alexander and Richard Sherman all played?

The Seattle Seahawks have made 17 playoff appearances in the history of the franchise, which dates back to 1976 when they played their first game. The most recent decade has been their best, as the Seahawks have reached the playoffs seven times since 2010.


Joe Namath, Joe Klecko and Darrelle Revis all competed hard for what NFL franchise?

Fans of the New York Jets still have to look back to the days of Joe Namath if they want to reflect on the only Super Bowl in franchise history. The team has been particularly bad in the past decade, making their last playoff appearance in 2010.


Select the team that found easy offense with legends like O.J. Simpson, Jim Kelly and LeSean McCoy?

The Buffalo Bills had one of the most dominant yet tragic runs in NFL history during the first half of the '90s. Relying on their high flying offense, the Bills reached the Super Bowl four straight seasons but lost every one of those championship games.


With players like Michael Irvin, Tony Dorsett and Jason Witten, every skill position on offense is filled with legends for which NFL team?

Without much success in recent decades, the Dallas Cowboys reflect on their dominance in the '70s and '90s whenever they fail to make the playoffs. They have good reason to, though, as "America's Team" brought home two titles in the '70s and three in the '90s.


What team would have a stacked defense if they could bring back stars like Derrick Thomas, Willie Lanier and Eric Berry?

The next decade for the Kansas City Chiefs looks bright, with star quarterback Patrick Mahomes on the roster. Mahomes was named the league MVP in 2018, only his second season in the NFL and his first season as a full time starter.


Can you identify the team that utilized legends like Dan Marino, Jason Taylor and Bob Griese?

The Miami Dolphins is the only franchise in the NFL to finish the regular season undefeated, then go on to win a Super Bowl. They accomplished this feat in 1972 under the guidance of head coach Don Shula.


Which team had these three legends leading the charge: Chuck Bednarik, Reggie White and Brian Dawkins?

When the Philadelphia Eagles won Super Bowl LII, the City of Brotherly Love was awarded the first Lombardi Trophy in franchise history. One unique aspect about that championship — it was won behind the arm of their backup quarterback, Nick Foles.


Plenty of passing touchdowns were scored for which team, between quarterbacks like Johnny Unitas, Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck?

2000 through 2009 proved to be one of the Indianapolis Colts' greatest decades, as the team reached the playoffs every season except one. The height of the decade was 2006 when they defeated the Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl.


Name the team where Marcus Allen, Jim Otto and Tim Brown played in different decades?

For nearly two decades in the '70s and '80s, the Oakland Raiders and, later, the Los Angeles Raiders were known for their nastiness on the field. By the end of the '80s, however, the team was in decline, and though they found some success in the '90s, they wouldn't return to the Super Bowl until 2002.


Though they haven't won a Super Bowl, the fanbase for which team has at least enjoyed watching players like Anthony Munoz, Chad Johnson and A.J. Green?

The Cincinnati Bengals finally fired longtime head coach Marvin Lewis in 2018, after he failed to make the playoffs for the third straight season. Lewis had been with the team since 2003 but never led the Bengals past the first round of the playoffs.


Are you familiar with the NFL team that had some of the most lethal pass rushers in the history of the game, with legends like Lawrence Taylor, Michael Strahan and Justin Tuck?

Lawrence Taylor, who spent his entire career with the New York Giants, is often regarded as the greatest defensive player of all time. However, it's Michael Strahan, also a lifetime Giant, who holds the NFL record for sacks in a season.


Sonny Jurgensen, Art Monk and Sean Taylor are all legends for which NFL team?

The Washington Redskins started playing football in 1932 and were able to establish themselves as a quality team by the end of the decade. They even took home an NFL Championship, before the Super Bowl era, in 1937.


Will you be able to identify the NFL franchise that had several lethal running backs, including Billy Sims, Doak Walker and Barry Sanders?

Other than playing for the Detroit Lions, Billy Sims, Doak Walker and Barry Sanders all have one thing in common: they retired early in their careers. Sims retired early due to injury, Walker chose to retire because of other business ventures, and Sanders no longer wanted to play for a poor team.


Identify the team that could wreak havoc up front, with defensive stars like Kevin Greene, Julius Peppers and Luke Kuechly?

Playing their first season in 1995, the Carolina Panthers are a newer NFL franchise, but the team has fared relatively well in its brief history. The Panthers have already reached two Super Bowls, though both were losses, while also appearing in the playoffs eight times.


Have you forgotten the team where John Elway, John Lynch and Peyton Manning established a legacy?

John Lynch played for the Denver Broncos between the eras of its two Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks, John Elway and Peyton Manning. Luckily, Lynch did win a title with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so he's not without a championship.


Offense was easy to come by for which team, with stars like Norm Van Brocklin, Eric Dickerson and Kurt Warner on the roster?

The Rams franchise has moved several times throughout the course of its history. The team started in Cleveland before moving to Los Angeles in 1946. It moved to St. Louis in 1995, only to return to Los Angeles in 2016.


Do you know what team had franchise legends like Jonathan Ogden, Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs on the team?

Jonathan Ogden was the very first pick ever made by the Baltimore Ravens when he was taken with the fourth pick in the 1996 NFL Draft. Ogden went on to spend his entire career in Baltimore.


Select the team that found success on both sides of the ball, with Lance Alworth, Junior Seau and LaDainian Tomlinson playing during different decades?

The Chargers, located in San Diego at the time, have only one Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. They made that appearance in 1994, where they faced off against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIX.


Earl Campbell, Bruce Matthews and Chris Johnson would make any offense shine. Who did they star for, though?

Of course, Earl Campbell technically played for the Oilers, not the Titans. The Houston Oilers made the move from Texas to Tennessee prior to the 1997 season. Though they kept the team's history, the Oilers renamed themselves the Titans in 1999, which they have gone by ever since.


Which team utilized the talent of these three stars: Tony Boselli, Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew?

Tom Coughlin was the first head coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars when the team played its first season in 1995. Coughlin was fired after the 2002 season, but he returned following his tenure with the New York Giants, taking on a position as the executive vice president of football operations.


Can you identify the franchise that's had some defensive studs in Hardy Nickerson, Ronde Barber and Lee Roy Selmon?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have one Super Bowl title, which they won in 2002 by defeating the Oakland Raiders. That year, they were coached by Jon Gruden, who had coached the Raiders the season before. Gruden was more than ecstatic to get the victory over his former team.


Name the team that had stars at all three levels of their defense, with players like Charles Woodson, Reggie White and Ray Nitschke on the roster?

The Green Bay Packers were coached from 1959 through 1967 by Vince Lombardi, who led the team to victories in the first two Super Bowls (AFL-NFL World Championship Games) in NFL history. For his contributions to the game, the NFL championship trophy was named the Lombardi Trophy.


Lynn Swann, Dermontti Dawson and Hines Ward all won championships with which NFL team?

The Pittsburgh Steelers, who expect to be in championship contention every year, missed the playoffs in 2018. Internal conflict is cited as to why they missed the playoffs, especially considering they had a roster filled with stars.


Are you familiar with the team that found star pass catchers with Pro Bowlers like Stanley Morgan, Randy Moss and Rob Gronkowski?

A Hall of Fame receiver, Randy Moss accomplished some incredible feats with the Patriots, despite only playing four seasons in New England. His greatest accomplishment was setting the NFL receiving touchdowns record for a season when he pulled in 23 touchdowns in 2007.


Which team found these three star quarterbacks in different decades: Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman and Tony Romo?

The only star quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys to not win a Super Bowl was Tony Romo. Despite his individual success, the Cowboys struggled to put together a strong roster around Romo, and eventually, injuries derailed his career.


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