AFC
NORTH DIVISION
The Division was created after the NFL realigned its divisions upon expanding to 32 teams for the 2002 NFL season. Prior to this realignment, these teams were members of the AFC Central Division, along with the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Division Champion qualifies for the NFL Playoffs along with a Wild Card team with the next best record on the road to the Super Bowl.
Division Teams
TEAMS |
STADIUM | AFC | SB | FIRST SEASON | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  |
BALTIMORE RAVENS |
1996 | 2 | 2 |  M&T BANK STADIUM
(BALTIMORE, MD) (1998-) |
  |
CINCINNATI BENGALS |
1968 (AFL) 1970 (NFL) |
3 | 0 |  PAYCOR STADIUM (CINCINNATI, OH) (2000-) |
  |
CLEVELAND BROWNS |
1946 (AAFC) 1950 (NFL) |
0 | 0 |  Huntington Bank FIELD (CLEVELAND, OH) (1999-2028)  New Huntington Bank Field (Brook Park, OH) (2029-) |
  |
PITTSBURGH STEELERS |
1933 | 8 | 6 |  ACRISURE STADIUM
(PITTSBURGH, PA) (2001-) |
Cleveland Browns
In 1995, owner Art Modell, who had purchased the Browns in 1961, announced plans to move the team to Baltimore but due to legal action from both the city of Cleveland and their fans, it was agreed to approve the new Baltimore Ravens and to suspend the Cleveland Browns with a guaranteed return no later than the 1999 season but are not considered an expansion franchise.
Division History
AFC Central (1970-2001)
| 1970-1994 | CINCINNATI BENGALS CLEVELAND BROWNS HOUSTON OILERS PITTSBURGH STEELERS |
| 1995 | CINCINNATI BENGALS CLEVELAND BROWNS HOUSTON OILERS PITTSBURGH STEELERS |
Jacksonville Jaguars (Expansion) |
|
| 1996 | CINCINNATI BENGALS HOUSTON OILERS Jacksonville Jaguars PITTSBURGH STEELERS |
Baltimore Ravens (Expansion) |
|
CLEVELAND BROWNS (suspended operations until 1999) |
|
| 1997 | Baltimore Ravens CINCINNATI BENGALS Jacksonville Jaguars PITTSBURGH STEELERS |
HOUSTON OILERS > Tennessee Oilers (Memphis,TN) |
|
| 1998 | Baltimore Ravens CINCINNATI BENGALS Jacksonville Jaguars PITTSBURGH STEELERS |
Tennessee Oilers > Nashville,TN |
|
| 1999-2001 | Baltimore Ravens CINCINNATI BENGALS Jacksonville Jaguars PITTSBURGH STEELERS |
Cleveland Browns (expansion) |
|
Tennessee Oilers > Tennessee Titans |
AFC North (2002-)
| 2002- | Baltimore Ravens CINCINNATI BENGALS Cleveland Browns PITTSBURGH STEELERS |
Jacksonville Jaguars > AFC South |
|
Tennessee Titans > AFC South |
DIVISION CHAMPIONS
The current season champions and standings are listed below.
| SEASON | TEAM |
|
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | | Cincinnati Bengals (1) |
| 1971 |
| Cleveland Browns (1) |
| 1972 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (1) |
| 1973 |
| Cincinnati Bengals (2) |
| 1974 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (2) |
| 1975 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (3) |
| 1976 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (4) |
| 1977 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (5) |
| 1978 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (6) |
| 1979 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (7) |
| 1980 |
| Cleveland Browns (2) |
| 1981 |
| Cincinnati Bengals (3) |
| 1982 |
| Cincinnati Bengals (+) |
| 1983 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (8) |
| 1984 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (9) |
| 1985 |
| Cleveland Browns (3) |
| 1986 |
| Cleveland Browns (4) |
| 1987 | | Cleveland Browns (5) |
| 1988 |
| Cincinnati Bengals (4) |
| 1989 |
| Cleveland Browns (6) |
| 1990 |
| Cincinnati Bengals (5) |
| 1991 |  | Houston Oilers (1) |
| 1992 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (10) |
| 1993 | | Houston Oilers (2) |
| 1994 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (11) |
| 1995 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (12) |
| 1996 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (13) |
| 1997 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (14) |
| 1998 |  | Jacksonville Jaguars (1) |
| 1999 | | Jacksonville Jaguars (2) |
| 2000 |  | Tennessee Titans (3) |
| 2001 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (15) |
AFC North |
||
| 2002 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (16) |
| 2003 | | Baltimore Ravens (1) |
| 2004 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (17) |
| 2005 |
| Cincinnati Bengals (6) |
| 2006 | | Baltimore Ravens (2) |
| 2007 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (18) |
| 2008 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (19) |
| 2009 | | Cincinnati Bengals (7) |
| 2010 | | Pittsburgh Steelers (20) |
| 2011 | | Baltimore Ravens (3) |
| 2012 | | Baltimore Ravens (4) |
| 2013 | | Cincinnati Bengals (8) |
| 2014 | | Pittsburgh Steelers (21) |
| 2015 | | Cincinnati Bengals (9) |
| 2016 | | Pittsburgh Steelers (22) |
| 2017 | | Pittsburgh Steelers (23) |
| 2018 | | Baltimore Ravens (5) |
| 2019 | | Baltimore Ravens (6) |
| 2020 | | Pittsburgh Steelers (24) |
| 2021 | | Cincinnati Bengals (10) |
| 2022 | | Cincinnati Bengals (11) |
| 2023 | | Baltimore Ravens (7) |
| 2024 | | Baltimore Ravens (8) |
| 2025 | | Pittsburgh Steelers (25) |
Division Standings
| Team | T | RT | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 25 | 2025 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 11 | 2022 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 8 | 2024 |
| Cleveland Browns | 6 | 1989 |
| Houston Oilers* | 3 | 2000 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 2 | 1999 |
*Includes records of Houston & Tennessee Oilers (now Tennessee Titans) and Jacksonville Jaguars through 2001 season.