<P> The game was created as part of a merger agreement between the NFL and its then - rival league , the American Football League ( AFL ) . It was agreed that the two leagues ' champion teams would play in the AFL -- NFL World Championship Game until the merger was to officially begin in 1970 . After the merger , each league was redesignated as a `` conference '' , and the game has since been played between the conference champions to determine the NFL 's league champion . Currently , the National Football Conference ( NFC ) leads the league with 27 wins to 25 wins for the American Football Conference ( AFC ) . The Pittsburgh Steelers have the most Super Bowl championship titles , with six . The New England Patriots have the most Super Bowl appearances , with ten . Charles Haley and Tom Brady both have five Super Bowl rings , which is the record for the most rings won by a single player . </P>
<P> The game was created as part of a merger agreement between the NFL and its then - rival league , the American Football League ( AFL ) . It was agreed that the two leagues ' champion teams would play in the AFL -- NFL World Championship Game until the merger was to officially begin in 1970 . After the merger , each league was redesignated as a `` conference '' , and the game has since been played between the conference champions to determine the NFL 's league champion . Currently , the National Football Conference ( NFC ) leads the league with 27 wins to 25 wins for the American Football Conference ( AFC ) . The Pittsburgh Steelers have the most Super Bowl championship titles , with six . The New England Patriots have the most Super Bowl appearances , with ten . Charles Haley and Tom Brady both have five Super Bowl rings , which is the record for the most rings won by a single player . </P>
who has been to the super bowl most often
who has been to the super bowl most often
The New England Patriots
The New England Patriots