Defense is the headline for both Super Bowl LX teams: Seattle surrendered the fewest points in the NFL this season (292), while New England finished fourth in points allowed and has been stifling in the playoffs, giving up just two offensive touchdowns across three postseason games.
That makes this a good moment to celebrate some of the greatest Super Bowl defenses ever. Below are my top nine Super Bowl defenses, ranked from best to ninth-best — a subjective list based on reputation, regular-season numbers, playoff performance and overall talent.
1) 2015 Denver Broncos — One of the century’s elite units, Denver led the league in pass rush with 52 sacks and allowed under 200 passing yards per game. Stars included Von Miller, DeMarcus Ware, Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr. That defense held 2015 NFL MVP Cam Newton and the Panthers to a single touchdown in a 24-10 win in Super Bowl 50.
2) 1990 New York Giants — Anchored by Lawrence Taylor, arguably the greatest defensive player ever, and supported by Pro Bowlers such as nose tackle (Erik/Eric) Howard and inside linebacker Pepper Johnson, the Giants topped the league in scoring defense (13.2 PPG) and limited opponents to 10 points or fewer in nine of 19 games. They beat the Bills 20-19 in Super Bowl XXV.
3) 2013 Seattle Seahawks — The famed “Legion of Boom” secondary (Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor) combined with elite pieces like Bobby Wagner, Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril. Seattle led the NFL in multiple defensive categories and overwhelmed Peyton Manning’s top-ranked 2013 offense in a 43-8 win in Super Bowl XLVIII.
4) 1975 Pittsburgh Steelers — Possibly the best iteration of the 1970s “Steel Curtain” to reach the Super Bowl, this defense helped limit opponents to 11.6 points per game (second-best in the league) en route to a Super Bowl X victory over Dallas. Hall of Famers Joe Greene, Jack Ham, Jack Lambert and Mel Blount anchored a unit loaded with talent.
5) 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Built on the Tampa 2 scheme popularized by Tony Dungy, the Bucs featured four Hall of Famers in Ronde Barber, Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks and John Lynch, plus pass rusher Simeon Rice. Tampa Bay led the NFL in points allowed, red-zone efficiency and yards allowed, and they dismantled the Raiders 48-21 in Super Bowl XXXVII.
6) 1971 Dallas Cowboys — Dallas delivered one of the most dominant Super Bowl defensive performances, holding the Dolphins to just three points in Super Bowl VI. The Cowboys led the league with 51 takeaways that year and fielded five Hall of Famers, including Bob Lilly, Chuck Howley, Herb Adderley, Mel Renfro and Cliff Harris.
7) 1972 Miami Dolphins — The only perfect team in NFL history also had one of the best defenses ever, leading the league in scoring defense (12.2 PPG) and allowing no offensive touchdowns in their 14-7 win over Washington in Super Bowl VII. Nick Buoniconti was the unit’s Hall of Famer, flanked by Pro Bowlers Bill Stanfill, Dick Anderson and Jake Scott.
8) 2000 Baltimore Ravens — A historic run-stopping, turnover-generating defense that topped the NFL in points allowed (10.3), run defense and takeaways (49). Ray Lewis was the unit’s heart, with support from Hall of Famer Rod Woodson and Pro Bowlers including Sam Adams. Baltimore gave up just one offensive touchdown in four playoff games and beat the Giants 34-7 in Super Bowl XXXV.
9) 1985 Chicago Bears — Widely regarded as one of the most fearsome defenses in NFL history, the ’85 Bears featured four Hall of Famers (Mike Singletary, Steve McMichael, Dan Hampton and Richard Dent) and ran the suffocating “46” scheme. They shut down opponents in the postseason and limited New England to just one touchdown in a 46-10 Super Bowl XX win.
Fan Take: Defensive dominance in marquee games reminds fans that championships are often built in the trenches, not just with flashy offense. As defenses like Seattle’s and New England’s rise, the league could see a renewed emphasis on building complete, playoff-ready units rather than relying solely on high-powered scoring attacks.
