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.
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?
Ranking every 2022 NFL division champion before 2023 season
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFC South)
Here is something to ponder. Has this offseason for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers been worse than their erratic 2022 showing? Just two years after winning Super Bowl LV and one season after tying for the best record in the NFL (13-4), the club won the NFC South with an 8-9 record and was then humbled by the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Wild Card Playoffs.
That proved to be the last game for legendary quarterback Tom Brady. His retirement was also followed by the release of standout players such as left tackle Donovan Smith (now with the Chiefs), running back Leonard Fournette, and tight end Cameron Brate. Offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich was fired and replaced by Dave Canales. Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask are vying for the starting quarterback job.
7. Minnesota Vikings (NFC North)
The team is coming off a solid but flawed season under first-time NFL head coach Kevin O’Donnell. The Vikings finished 13-4 and won the NFC North for the first time since 2017. However, the club gave up more points (427) than it scored (424). The Purple Gang was one-and-out come playoff time, losing at home to the New York Giants.
This year, the team did bring in new defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who replaces veteran coach Ed Donatell. The Vikings dealt pass-rusher Za’Darius Smith to the Cleveland Browns, watched defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson via free agency, and parted ways with Adam Thielen and, more recently, running back Dalvin Cook. The club did use a first-round pick on wideout Jordan Addison.
6. Buffalo Bills (AFC East)
It has been a somewhat unsettling few months for a talented team that has dominated their division the past three seasons and been to the playoffs five of the past six years under head coach Sean McDermott.
The Bills are hoping to have outside linebacker Von Miller back as his late-season knee injury proved costly to the club a year ago. Buffalo added pass-rusher and former Rams’ teammate Leonard Floyd this offseason.
Wide receiver Stefon Diggs made some noise last month but it appears all is well between him, quarterback Josh Allen and the club. Speaking of the Bills’ field general, he continues to have issues with ball security. One thing is certain is that the organization has faith in McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane, who signed contract extensions in late June.
5. San Francisco 49ers (NFC West)
The franchise reached Super Bowl LIV in 2019 and reached the NFC title game each of the past two seasons. Still, there’s been no Super Bowl title under the regime of general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan. In fact, the 49ers’ last Super Bowl victory (XXIX) came nearly 30 years ago (1994).
The biggest question mark surrounding this club is quarterback as Jimmy Garoppolo signed with the Las Vegas Raiders. Will it be 2022 Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy, journeyman Sam Darnold, late of the Panthers, or talented but inexperienced Trey Lance? Last year’s top-ranked defense added Javon Hargrave (Eagles) in free agency. However, right tackle Mike McGlinchey inked a deal with the Denver Broncos.
4. Cincinnati Bengals (AFC North)
The team has won two consecutive division titles for the first time in the franchise’s history. The team owns a 22-11 regular-season record the past two seasons, as well as a 5-2 postseason mark. Resilient quarterback Joe Burrow has had a lot to do with that. However, the Bengals’ defense has made strides in recent years aided by a talented front.
The biggest change comes on the offensive line as Cincinnati signed left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. away from the Chiefs. There are also new faces in the secondary as safeties Jessie Bates III and Vonn Bell left for Atlanta and Carolina, respectively. The competition in the AFC North is expected to be stiff again. Keep in mind that three of the team’s four regular-season losses in 2022 came within the division.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (AFC South)
Thanks in part to the hot hand of quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the Jaguars overcame a midseason five-game losing streak and a 4-8 start a year ago. Doug Pederson’s squad won its final five games and Jacksonville captured the AFC South for the first time since 2017. Now the franchise is looking to repeat as division champions, something the Jaguars haven’t done since the 1998 and ’99 seasons under head coach Tom Coughlin.
The team saved its best work for the NFL draft as the offseason featured a lot of free-agent signings to aid the offensive and defensive lines. Jawaan Taylor left for the Kansas City Chiefs and the club used a first-round pick on University of Oklahoma tackle Anton Harris. Doug Pederson’s club is not necessarily lacking talent. It just needs a little more seasoning.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (NFC East)
General manager Howie Roseman does as good of a job as any executive around the Lake. This was a trying offseason for the Philadelphia Eagles considering both coordinators, Shane Steichen (offense) and Jonathan Gannon (defense), became the head coaches of the Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals, respectively.
There were also some changes on the field as right guard Isaac Seumalo signed with the Steelers while ball-hawking defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson left for Detroit. Roseman looks like he nailed the draft with the first-round selections of former Georgia Bulldogs Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith. The former offsets the loss of Javon Hargrave, who inked a big deal with the San Francisco 49ers. There are still plenty of veterans to lean on for a club that has reached the playoffs five of the past six seasons.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (AFC West)
The reigning Super Bowl champions did take a few hits this offseason in terms of free agency and a coaching change. Eric Bieniemy is now the Washington Commanders’ newest offensive coordinator. Then again, the Chiefs promoted Matt Nagy, who had the job for two years (2016-17) before heading to Chicago and becoming the Bears‘ head coach for four seasons.
There are new offensive tackles in Donovan Smith and Jawaan Taylor. Wide receivers Juju Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman signed with the Patriots and Jets, respectively. The Chiefs will need their younger wideouts such as Skyy Moore to step up. Of course, all this team did a year ago was deal away Pro Bowler Tyreek Hill and still wound up winning Super Bowl LVII.