Super Bowl 2011: Would a 7th Win Make The Steelers The Best Franchise in Sports?

The Pittsburgh Steelers are already among the proud franchises in the NFL.

Pittsburgh has won six Lombardi trophies and will be making its eighth Super Bowl appearance when it faces Green Bay at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The team's success was forged under legends like Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, the Blitzburgh defense and coach Chuck Noll. Bill Cowher, Jerome Bettis and Ben Roethlisberger helped lead the Steelers back to the top, and now Roethlisberger is set to win possibly his third Super Bowl.

But would a win over Green Bay catapult the Steelers to the top as the best pro franchise around?

Better than the Chicago Bulls under Michael Jordan? What about Red Auerbach's Celtics? If you went on just overall championships, the Steelers would fall well short, but for some, the amount of Hall of Famers produced may be just as critical. It's a subject that is both subjective, and highly debatable.

For the moment, here is where the Steelers stand among 11 other great franchises.

Moving up may be tough: 

11. San Francisco 49ers

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO - AUGUST 10: (L-R) Former San Francisco 49er players Steve Young, Jerry Rice and Joe Montana stand with a Super Bowl trophy during a public memorial service for former 49ers coach Bill Walsh August 10, 2007 at Monster Park in San Francisco,

You've got five Lombardi trophies, a legendary coach (Bill Walsh), quarterbacks (Joe Montana and Steve Young) and receiver (Jerry Rice). There were also the epic rivalries with the Cowboys, which produced one of the game's greatest plays ("The Catch"). 

Their series is an even one, too: San Francisco leads it overall 16-15-1, but Dallas has a 5-2 record against the 49ers in the playoffs. Which is why they'll be ranked ahead of their rivals.

10. Dallas Cowboys

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

IRVING, TX - SEPTEMBER 19: Troy Aikman, former Dallas Cowboys quaterback, speaks to the fans in front of former teammates Emmitt Smith (L) and Michael Irvin during a ceremony inducting Aikman into the Cowbos ring of honor at half-time of the game between

The value of America's Team has ballooned since Jerry Jones has become owner. Dallas has won five Super Bowls in its history, including three in a four year span in the 1990s (1992, 1993, 1995), and boasts the NFL's all-time leading rusher as well in Emmitt Smith. Dallas currently has nine players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including "The Triplets."

9. Chicago Bulls

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

CHICAGO - DECEMBER 9: (L-R) Scottie Pippen, Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan, formerly of the Chicago Bulls, look on during a ceremony retiring Pippen's #33 at halftime of a game between the Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers on December 9, 2005 at the Unit

Phil Jackson, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen helped lead the once moribound franchise to six world championships during their tenure on separate three-peats. Many wonder if they would have won seven straight if Jordan hadn't retired to pursue a baseball career.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers

A. Messerschmidt/Getty Images

Steelers head coach Bill Cowher holds the Vince Lombardi trophy after the Steelers won Super Bowl XL between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan on February 5, 2006. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

If we're talking simply just numbers, then this is where the Steelers are at the moment. They have tons of legendary players, and a seventh Lombardi trophy would amazing, but it couldn't even help them crack the top five if you're talking simple championships.

7. Detroit Red Wings

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 22: Cory Emmerton #48 of the Detroit Red Wings skates in his 1st NHL game and scores his 1st NHL goal against the Chicago Black Hawks on January 22, 2011 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The Hawks defeated the Wings 4-1.

Detroit has won 11 Stanley Cups, most recently in 2007-2008, and has 60 Hall of Famers. 

6. Green Bay Packers

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

GREEN BAY, WI - JANUARY 02: Nick Collins #36 of the Green Bay Packers is congratulated by Charles Woodson #21 after making an interception against the Chicago Bears to end their final drive in the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field on January 2, 2011 in Gre

If you're counting since the Super Bowl era began, the Packers have only three titles. But go before that, and that number is 12. 

If you're an old school sports fan, you've got to give the Pack respect. The home of Lombardi, Bart Starr, Paul Hornung, Brett Favre, Reggie White and many others are have given Green Bay a special place in the NFL and sports.  

5. Toronto Maple Leafs

Abelimages/Getty Images

TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 22: Carl Gunnarsson #36 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates up the ice during game action at the Air Canada Centre against the Washington Capitals January 22, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Abelimages/Getty Images)

The Maple Leafs rank second for most Stanley Cups in NHL history with 13, including their time as the Toronto Arenas and Toronto St. Pats. Toronto currently has 58 players in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

4. Boston Celtics

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

BOSTON - JUNE 08: Rajon Rondo #9 of the Boston Celtics walks past a logo of Red Auerbach's signature in Game Three of the 2010 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers on June 8, 2010 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly a

The Celtics have won 17 NBA titles, including eight in a row from 1959-1966. They've had 25 Hall of Fame players, including Bill Russell and Larry Bird, and a legendary coach in Red Auerbach.

3. Los Angeles Lakers

Noel Vasquez/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 21: Fans display their signage for the Los Angeles Lakers during their victory parade for the the NBA basketball champion team on June 21, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers beat the Boston Celtics 87-79 in 7 games for the

The Lakers have won 16 titles, including the two last two. Los Angeles has two three-peats already in franchise history, is on the cusp of a third, has produced countless legendary players, made history with the Showtime Lakers of the 1980s and has two legendary coaches in Pat Riley and Phil Jackson.

2. Montreal Canadiens

Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images

MONTREAL, CANADA - JANUARY 22: Carey Price #31 of the Montreal Canadiens makes a pad save on the puck in overtime on a shot by Bobby Ryan #9 of the Anaheim Ducks (not pictured) during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on January 22, 2011 in Montreal, Quebe

Simply put: 23 Stanley Cups, 24 if you count the one title won the year before the NHL was formed. They are the oldest hockey franchise in the world, one of the founding teams in the NHL, and have 52 players in the hall of fame.

1. New York Yankees

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Derek Jeter #2 of the New York Yankees celebrates with the trophy after their 7-3 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New Yor

They remain the gold standard for successful franchises.

The Yankees have won 27 World Series titles, the most recent in 2009. They've produced five Cy Young winners, 13 MVPs, 34 Hall of Famers and multiple dynasties, the most recent coming in the late 90s under Joe Torre.