PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers were the undisputed “Team of the Decade” for the 1970s with wins in Super Bowls IX, X , XIII and XIV.
The New England Patriots are the irrefutable dynasty of the early part of the 21st century with wins in Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX and XLIX.
The Steelers remain the only team to win four Super Bowls in a span of six years, but the Patriots are one of only two teams -- the Cowboys being the other -- to have won three Super Bowl titles in four years.
Only eight NFL teams have won back-to-back Super Bowls.
The Patriots are on that list, but the Steelers of the 70s are the only NFL team to win consecutive Super Bowls twice.
On the surface, four Super Bowl titles in six seasons seems more impressive than four championships in a span of 14 years, but consider the challenges that the current Patriots face.
In this age of salary caps and free agency, winning four titles over one-and-a-half decades is remarkable.
Tom Brady has been a constant, but most of the players around him have changed.
Compare that with the players from the 70s Steelers, where four titles were won with primarily the same core of stars.
Future Hall of Famers Terry Bradshaw, Mike Webster, Franco Harris, Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, Joe Greene, Jack Lambert, Jack Ham and Mel Blount each won four Super Bowl rings over that time.
Which is the greater dynasty? That’s an argument that can only be settled with semantics.
The Steelers of the 70s may be the NFL’s best all-time team, but perhaps the Patriots of the last 14 years are the league’s most consistent winner of all time.
Both franchises have eight Super Bowl appearances, but perhaps fans of the Steelers can end the debate with another undeniable fact -- their team still has two more Vince Lombardi Trophies.