NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

Ranking the 2023 offseason for the NFL’s 2022 first-place teams

By Russell S. Baxter

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JUNE 15: Head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs speaks to the press during Chiefs Mini Camp on June 15, 2023 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JUNE 15: Head coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs speaks to the press during Chiefs Mini Camp on June 15, 2023 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 5
Next

Repeating as a division champion is not an easy task. These eight clubs are hoping to do that, some having a better offseason this year than others.

Winning back-to-back division titles in the National Football League is a tall task. That’s why when you look at what the Kansas City Chiefs have done since 2016 and you have to be impressed. Make it seven consecutive years that Andy Reid’s team has captured the AFC West. All told, the team has reached the postseason eight consecutive years, and counting.

NFL
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 12: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs onto the field before playing against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium on February 12, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /

The only other clubs to have won back-to-back division titles are the Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Sean McDermott’s squad has captured the AFC East each of the past three seasons, quite the feat considering the team from Orchard Park went 24 consecutive seasons (1996-2019) without a division championship.

The Bengals reached the conference title game two straight years and made an appearance in Super Bowl. The Bucs have topped the NFC South the last two seasons, although they managed that feat with an 8-9 record in 2022. Then again, the team proved you don’t have to finish in first place to win a Super Bowl, as was the case in 2020 with head coach Bruce Arians and quarterback Tom Brady at the helm.

So, what about the other four reigning division champions? The Philadelphia Eagles are hoping to become the first NFC East title to repeat since the Birds did it four straight years from 2001-04. The Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, and San Francisco 49ers are all hoping to defend their 2022 first-place finishes as well. What has the offseason been like for these eight franchises?

Home/NFL