College football may be the king of rivalries, but the NFL, as professional as it can be, has a few bitter rivalries that are nothing to scoff at.
In fact, the most notable rivalries in the NFL can go toe-to-toe in regards to hostility with the Auburn vs. Alabamas and Michigans vs. Ohio States of the world.
These four rivalries, in particular, take the cake in the NFL.
4. New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys
These are two of the NFL’s most notable teams and perhaps it’s the big names that have played in these games that have made this rivalry so intense.
Tony Romo, Troy Aikman, Eli Manning, Michael Irvin, Terrell Owens, Michael Strahan, Lawrence Taylor. Those are just a few of the names that this rivalry has featured.
Bill Parcells was the head coach of both teams over his illustrious career — Cowboys 2003-2006, Giants 1983-1990 — and speaking of coaches, Dallas legend Tom Landry is perhaps one of the most interesting pieces of this rivalry. Landry was the original head coach of the Cowboys, but he actually played football for the Giants from 1950-1955. He also got his coaching start in New York, having served as the Giants’ defensive coordinator, opposite Vince Lombardi, before his 29 seasons in Dallas.
3. New York Jets vs. New England Patriots
The Jets and Patriots have been on the opposite end of the success spectrum in recent memory — and that’s putting it lightly — but the Patriots’ Super Bowl success compared to the Jets’ lack of doesn’t take away any of the bad blood between these two teams.
Both teams are in the AFC East, so they play each other twice a year. In fact, they’ve been playing each other at least twice a year since 1960 when they were a part of the American Football League.
Not only is there divisional hatred between these two teams, but there have also been plenty of mutual connections — which has just upped the bad blood.
Perhaps most notable was the fact that Bill Belichick was actually supposed to be the head coach of the Jets — and was actually head coach for a day — before writing a resignation note on a napkin. He eventually ended up in New England, changing both franchise’s fortunes forever.
There have also been multiple players who have played for both teams. That’s a list that includes Danny Woodhead, Damien Woody, Darrelle Revis, Curtis Martin, and Ty Law, among others.
2. Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears
The Packers and Bears just played their 200th game against each other. It’s the NFL’s most notable rivalry and there is absolutely no good blood between these two teams and their fanbases. It’s all bad.
The NFC North as a whole is known for hard-hitting, physical matchups, and much of that tone has been set in games between the Packers and Bears. No matter the record and no matter the time of the season, these two teams play each other like it’s the Super Bowl. Sometimes, for either team, a win against their rival has made or broken a season.
Brett Favre, Brian Urlacher, Aaron Rodgers, Khalil Mack, Jay Cutler, Julius Peppers (who played for both teams), Devin Hester, Walter Peyton, Jim McMahon, William Perry, Mike Ditka, George Halas, Vince Lombardi. This rivalry spans back to the days of legends in the NFL, and it’s provided some of the most notable moments in the game’s history.
It’s tough, physical, and legendary. It’s arguably the greatest rivalry in sports, not just in the NFL.
1. Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Bengals and Steelers currently have the NFL’s most hostile rivalry, especially as of late. These are two teams that have been playing twice a year since 1970 but the heat has really ratcheted up over the past few years — this despite the fact the Bengals haven’t been that good. Perhaps, that’s been the reason why.
There was the hit from then Cincinnati linebacker Vontaze Burfict on then Steelers’ wideout Antonio Brown in 2015, which led to a three-game suspension for Burfict and who knows what kind of long-term issues for Brown (who subsequently lost his mind and is now out of the NFL).
In 2017, a Monday Night Football matchup between the two teams led to four unnecessary roughness penalties, one unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and two suspensions. Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier also suffered a gruesome back injury that led to a spinal contusion, spinal surgery and basically ended his career.
It’s been a brutal rivalry, especially as of late.
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