North American sports leagues have a rich history of legendary teams that have etched their names onto numerous trophies and written their names in their respective sports’ history books. The four most prominent competitions, the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball (MLB), and National Hockey League (NHL), have seen several teams enjoy dominant periods. But who are the most successful teams in those competitions? Let’s take a look.
NFL: The New England Patriots
The NFL has seen several teams enjoy dominant periods, but the New England Patriots‘ dominance under head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady between 2001 and 2019 was something else. The New England Patriots appeared in nine Super Bowls, winning six during this period. Those six championships tied the Patriots with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most in NFL history.
For almost two decades, the New England Patriots were the hot favorite with the sites at MyTopSportsbooks to win every game they played. Belichick’s brilliant strategic mind and Brady’s unparalleled skills formed the backbone of one of the greatest NFL teams ever. The fact the Patriots excelled during the salary cap era makes their success on the field even more impressive.
The Patriots won the Super Bowl in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, and 2018 despite constantly changing players to remain within the constraints of the league’s salary cap. Between 2001 and 2019, the Patriots only failed to reach the playoffs twice and almost enjoyed a perfect season in 2007, when the only game they lost was to the New York Giants at Super Bowl XLII.
Many teams have enjoyed bursts of success, but none can match the Patriots’ sustained dominance.
NBA: The Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are the NBA’s most successful team, with 18 championships. They were tied with the Los Angeles Lakers until 2024, when the Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks 4-1 in the NBA Finals to capture their 18th title. The Celtics’ dominant period was between 1957 and 1969, known as the Bill Russell era. This period saw them win an incredible 11 championships in 13 years, a run that had never been achieved or seen since.
The Boston Celtics of that era was a team built on defense, selflessness, and teamwork. Every member of the roster would have run through a brick wall for legendary coach Red Auerbach without question. In addition to five-time MVP Russell, the all-conquering Celtics team boasted the likes of Bob Cousy, John Havlicek, and Sam Jones. Nobody could lay a glove on the Celtics during the 1960s.
The 1980s saw the Celtics enjoy another successful period spurred on by NBA greats Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish. However, the Bill Russell era Celtics remain the best Celtics and NBA team ever.
MLB: The New York Yankees
No MLB team comes close to matching the New York Yankees‘ success. Arguably sports’ most famous team, the Yankees, are among North American sports’ winningest franchises. Among their many honors, the Yankees boast 20 American League (AL) East Division titles, 40 AL Pennants, and 27 World Series wins. Their 40 World Series appearances are more than double the 19 of the St. Louis Cardinals, and their 27 World Series wins dwarf the 11 of the Cardinals.
What makes the Yankees unique is their dominance over several periods. The first came in the 1920s with the iconic Babe Ruth; that team won the World Series in 1923, 1927, 1928, and 1932. The emergence of stars like Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio helped the Yankees win nine World Series titles between 1936 and 1951.
From 1949 to 1962, players like Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, and Mickey Mantle guided the Yankees to another ten championships, including five in a row from 1949 to 1953, a remarkable feat that remains unmatched today.
The Yankees won four more championships between 1996 and 2000, solidifying their dominance. They won again in 2009 but have not reached another World Series since. It is only a matter of time before the current Yankees team changes that fact.
NHL: The Montreal Candiens
The number of Stanley Cup appearances and wins is what NHL fans base their teams’ successes on, and no franchise has appeared and won more than the Montreal Canadiens. The Montreal Canadiens have featured in 35 Stanley Cups, 11 more than the Detroit Red Wings, and won a record 24, 11 more than the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Canadiens’ best period came between 1956 and 1979 when they won the Stanley Cup 15 times. They also won five consecutive championships between 1956 and 1960, during which Maurice “Rocket” Richard became the first player in NHL history to score 50 goals in a season.
The Canadiens last won the Stanley Cup in 1993, although they were the losing side in 2021, some 31 years ago. While that is a long time not to win NHL’s most prestigious prize, the Canadiens team of the 1960s and 1970s left an indelible mark on North American hockey and is a team that hockey fans continue talking about to this day.
Conclusion
The New England Patriots, Boston Celtics, New York Yankees, and Montreal Canadiens have all dominated their respective sports for significant periods and set the benchmarks for others to try and achieve. These four franchises established themselves as North American sports’ most successful franchises. Each team has defined eras, built devoted and loyal fan bases globally, and their players have become cultural icons.
Other teams will likely rise to greatness over the coming years, but regardless of what they achieve on the field, the four franchises detailed in this article will forever be remembered for being the first to reach the pinnacle of their sport.
