Which NFL team holds the record for most Super Bowl appearances?

The New England Patriots hold the record for the most Super Bowl appearances, with twelve through Super Bowl LX. Their first appearance came after the 1985 season, and their most sustained run began when quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick led the team to nine appearances between 2001 and 2018.

New England’s appearances span several eras. The Patriots lost to the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XX and to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXI before winning their first championship in Super Bowl XXXVI. They later returned repeatedly, including five appearances from 2014 through 2018 and another in 2026.

The Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers are frequent contenders, but neither has matched New England’s total. The Patriots’ record is about appearances, not victories: Pittsburgh and New England have each won six Super Bowls, while other teams have also tied or approached that championship mark.

The Patriots’ most famous streak was eight consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances from 2011 through 2018, producing five Super Bowl trips.