The division was created in 1967 as the Central Division of the NFL's Western Conference and existed for three seasons before the AFL–NFL merger. After the merger, it was renamed the NFC Central in 1970 and retained that name until the NFL split into eight divisions in 2002.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers were also members from 1977, one year after they joined the league as an expansion team, until 2002 when they moved to the NFC South.
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.
Historical helmets can be found on the The Helmet Project website.
- Division Teams
- Team Profiles
- Division History
- Division Champions
Division Navigation
Division Teams
TEAMS |
FIRST SEASON | NFL | NFC | SB | STADIUM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  |
CHICAGO BEARS |
1920 | 9 | 2 | 2 |  SOLDIER FIELD (CHICAGO, IL) (2003-) |
  |
DETROIT LIONS |
1930 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 
FORD FIELD (DETROIT, MI) (2002-) |
  |
GREEN BAY PACKERS |
1921 | 13 | 3 | 4 |  LAMBEAU FIELD (GREEN BAY, WI) (1957-) |
  |
MINNESOTA VIKINGS |
1961 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 
U.S.BANK STADIUM
(MINNEAPOLIS, MN) (2016-) |
LEGEND
Chicago Bears, who have played in Chicago since 1921, are planning to move to a $5bn new stadium in Hammond, Indiana which forms part of the Chicago metropolitan area, also known as Chicagoland, region and therefore will not be changing their historic name but will mean there will possibly be two teams in Indiana, the other being the Indianapolis Colts.
Ref: Chicago Bears’ $5bn move to Indiana a ‘done deal’ claims ESPN’s Adam Schefter
Team Profiles
Chicago Bears (1920-present)
Team history
- Decatur Staleys (1920)
- Chicago Staleys (1921)
- Chicago Bears (1922–present)
Stadiums
- Staley Field, Decatur,IL (1919–1920)
- Wrigley Field, Chicago,IL (1921–1970)
- Soldier Field, Chicago,IL (1971–2001, 2003–present)
Temporary stadiums
1970 due to renovations to Wrigley Field:- Dyche Stadium, Evanston,IL (one game)
- Memorial Stadium, Champaign,IL
League / Conference Affiliations
- National Football League (1920–present)
- Western Division (1933–1949)
- National Conference (1950–1952)
- Western Conference (1953–1969)
- Central Division (1967–1969)
- National Football Conference (1970–present)
- NFC Central (1970–2001)
- NFC North (2002–present)
League Titles: 9
- NFL championships (8) (pre‑1970 AFL–NFL merger): 1921, 1932, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1946, 1963
- Super Bowl: 1985 (XX)
Conference championships: 4
Division Titles: 20
- NFL Western: 1933, 1934, 1937, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1946
- NFC Central: 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 2001
- NFC North: 2005, 2006, 2010, 2018, 2025
Playoff Appearances
- NFL: 1932, 1933, 1934, 1937, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1946, 1950, 1956, 1963, 1977, 1979, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1994, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2018, 2020, 2025
Detroit Lions
Team history
- Portsmouth Spartans (1928–1933)
- Detroit Lions (1934–present)
Stadiums
- University of Detroit Stadium, Detroit,MI (1934–1937)
- Tiger Stadium, Detroit,MI (1938–1974)
- Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac,MI (1975–2001)
- Ford Field, Detroit,MI (2002–present)
League / Conference Affiliations
- National Football League (1925–present)
- Western Division (1933–1949)
- National Conference (1950–1952)
- Western Conference (1953–1969)
- Central Division (1967–1969)
- National Football Conference (1970–present)
- NFC Central (1970–2001)
- NFC North (2002–present)
League Titles: 4
- NFL championships (pre-1970 AFL–NFL merger) (3): 1935, 1952, 1953, 1957
Conference championships: 4
- NFL National: 1952
- NFL Western: 1953, 1954, 1957
Division Titles: 6
- NFL Western: 1935
- NFC Central: 1983, 1991, 1993
- NFC North: 2023, 2024
Playoff Appearances: 20
- NFL: 1932, 1935, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1957, 1970, 1982, 1983, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2023, 2024
Green Bay Packers (1919-present)
Stadiums
- Hagemeister Park, Green Bay,WI (1919–1922)
- Bellevue Park, Preble, WI (1923–1924)
- City Stadium, Green Bay,WI (1925–1956)
- Borchert Field, Milwaukee,WI (1933)
- Wisconsin State Fair Park, Milwaukee,WI (1934–1951)
- Marquette Stadium, Milwaukee,WI (1952)
- Milwaukee County Stadium, Milwaukee,WI (1953–1994)
- Lambeau Field, Green Bay,WI (1957–present)
League / Conference Affiliations
- Independent (1919–1920)
- National Football League (1921–present)
- Western Division (1933–1949)
- National Conference (1950–1952)
- Western Conference (1953–1969)
- Central Division (1967–1969)
- National Football Conference (1970–present)
- NFC Central (1970–2001)
- NFC North (2002–present)
League Titles: 13†
- NFL Championships (pre-1970 AFL–NFL merger) (11): 1929, 1930, 1931, 1936, 1939, 1944, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967
- Super Bowls (4): 1966 (I), 1967 (II), 1996 (XXXI), 2010 (XLV)
† – Does not include 1966 and 1967 NFL championships won during the same season that the Super Bowl was contested.
Conference Championships: 9
Division Titles: 21
- NFL West: 1936, 1938, 1939, 1944
- NFL Central: 1967
- NFC Central: 1972, 1995, 1996, 1997
- NFC North: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021
Playoff Appearances
- NFL: 1936, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1944, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1972, 1982, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Minnesota Vikings (1961-present)
League / Conference Affiliations
- National Football League (1961–present)
- Western Conference (1961–1969)
- Central Division (1967–1969)
- National Football Conference (1970–present)
- NFC Central (1970–2001)
- NFC North (2002–present)
Stadiums
- Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington,MN (1961–1981)
- Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis,MN (1982–2013)
- TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis,MN (2014–2015)
- U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis,MN (2016–present)
League Titles: : 0†
- NFL championships (1) (pre‑1970 AFL–NFL merger): 1969
† – Does not include 1969 NFL championship won during the same season that the Super Bowl was contested.
Conference championships: 4
Division Titles
- NFL Central: 1968, 1969
- NFC Central: 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2000
- NFC North: 2008, 2009, 2015, 2017, 2022
Playoff Appearances: 32
Division History
| NFL Western Conference: Central Division | |
|---|---|
| 1967-1969 | CHICAGO BEARS DETROIT LIONS GREEN BAY PACKERS MINNESOTA VIKINGS |
| NFC Central | |
| 1970-2001 | CHICAGO BEARS DETROIT LIONS GREEN BAY PACKERS MINNESOTA VIKINGS |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers < AFC West |
|
| NFC North | |
| 2002- | CHICAGO BEARS DETROIT LIONS GREEN BAY PACKERS MINNESOTA VIKINGS |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers › NFC South |
|
DIVISION CHAMPIONS
The current season champions and standings are listed below.
| SEASON | TEAM |
|
|---|---|---|
NFL Central (pre-merger) |
||
| 1967 | | Green Bay Packers (1) |
| 1968 |
| Minnesota Vikings (1) |
| 1969 |
| Minnesota Vikings (2) |
NFL Central (post-merger) |
||
| 1970 |
| Minnesota Vikings (3) |
| 1971 |
| Minnesota Vikings (4) |
| 1972 |
| Green Bay Packers (2) |
| 1973 |
| Minnesota Vikings (5) |
| 1974 |
| Minnesota Vikings (6) |
| 1975 |
| Minnesota Vikings (7) |
| 1976 |
| Minnesota Vikings (8) |
| 1977 |
| Minnesota Vikings (9) |
| 1978 |
| Minnesota Vikings (10) |
| 1979 |
 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1) |
| 1980 |
| Minnesota Vikings (11) |
| 1981 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2) |
| 1982 |
| Green Bay Packers+ |
| 1983 |
| Detroit Lions (1) |
| 1984 |
| Chicago Bears (1) |
| 1985 |
| Chicago Bears (2) |
| 1986 |
| Chicago Bears (3) |
| 1987 |
| Chicago Bears (4) |
| 1988 |
| Chicago Bears (5) |
| 1989 |
| Minnesota Vikings (12) |
| 1990 |
| Chicago Bears (6) |
| 1991 |
| Detroit Lions (2) |
| 1992 |
| Minnesota Vikings (13) |
| 1993 |
| Detroit Lions (3) |
| 1994 |
| Minnesota Vikings (14) |
| 1995 |
| Green Bay Packers (3) |
| 1996 |
| Green Bay Packers (4) |
| 1997 |
| Green Bay Packers (5) |
| 1998 |
| Minnesota Vikings (15) |
| 1999 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3) |
| 2000 |
| Minnesota Vikings (16) |
| 2001 |
| Chicago Bears (7) |
NFC NORTH |
||
| 2002 |
| Green Bay Packers (6) |
| 2003 |
| Green Bay Packers (7) |
| 2004 |
| Green Bay Packers (8) |
| 2005 |
| Chicago Bears (8) |
| 2006 |
| Chicago Bears (9) |
| 2007 |
| Green Bay Packers (9) |
| 2008 |
| Minnesota Vikings (17) |
| 2009 |
| Minnesota Vikings (18) |
| 2010 |
| Chicago Bears (10) |
| 2011 |
| Green Bay Packers (10) |
| 2012 |
| Green Bay Packers (11) |
| 2013 |
| Green Bay Packers (12) |
| 2014 |
| Green Bay Packers (13) |
| 2015 |
| Minnesota Vikings (19) |
| 2016 |
| Green Bay Packers (14) |
| 2017 |
| Minnesota Vikings (20) |
| 2018 | |
Chicago Bears (11) |
| 2019 | | Green Bay Packers (15) |
| 2020 | | Green Bay Packers (16) |
| 2021 | | Green Bay Packers (17) |
| 2022 | | Minnesota Vikings (21) |
| 2023 | | Detroit Lions (4) |
| 2024 | | Detroit Lions (5) | 2025 | |
Chicago Bears (12) |
Division Standings
| Team | T | RT | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Vikings | 21 | 2022 |
| Green Bay Packers | 17 | 2021 |
| Chicago Bears | 12 | 2025 |
| Detroit Lions | 5 | 2024 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 3 | 2001 |
Does not include Green Bay's 1966 season Super Bowl I win or include Tampa Bay's 1976 season (AFC West) and 2002+ seasons (NFC South).