10 Sports Teams That Went From Worst To First

By Jacob Kornhauser

10 Sports Teams That Went From Worst To First

AFC Championship - New England Patriots v Denver Broncos — It's impressive when teams can have a huge turnaround in sports. Just when nobody expects them to compete, they challenge for championships. These 10 teams did that better than any others in history.

10. 1999 Indianapolis Colts

Peyton Manning #18

10. 1999 Indianapolis Colts

Peyton Manning #18 — 1998 Record: 3-13
1999 Record: 13-3

It's crazy what a difference a year with Peyton Manning can make. In his sophomore campaign, he proved he was the real deal, and ever since then he's been proving it wasn't a fluke.

9. 2005 Phoenix Suns

Orlando Magic v Phoenix Suns

9. 2005 Phoenix Suns

Orlando Magic v Phoenix Suns — 2004 Record: 28-54
2005 Record: 62-20

The Suns were pretty bad in the early 2000s, but 2005 marked the beginning of an era in Phoenix. They were stacked with Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire at the forefront and may be the best NBA team never to win a title.

8. 1991 Atlanta Braves

Terry Pendleton

8. 1991 Atlanta Braves

Terry Pendleton — 1990 Record: 65-97
1991 Record: 94-68, lost in World Series

The Braves met the other most improved team in the league, the Minnesota Twins, in the World Series in 1991. They battled it out, but the Twins proved to be the slightly more improved team, taking the series in seven games.

7. 2007 Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics v Los Angeles Clippers

7. 2007 Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics v Los Angeles Clippers — 2006 Record: 24-58
2007 Record: 66-16, won NBA Title

The Big Three in Boston were far more successful in the regular season than the Miami Heat's Big Three. Even though they won just one title, the one-season turnaround by adding Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen was unprecedented.

6. 1999 St. Louis Rams

Kurt Warner #13

6. 1999 St. Louis Rams

Kurt Warner #13 — 1998 Record: 4-12
1999 Record: 13-3, won Super Bowl

Behind unproven quarterback Kurt Warner, the Rams had one of the biggest turnarounds in NFL history. As the "greatest show on turf", the Rams made it all the way to the Super Bowl and won the title.

5. 1991 Minnesota Twins

Atlanta Braves v Minnesota Twins

5. 1991 Minnesota Twins

Atlanta Braves v Minnesota Twins — 1990 Record: 74-88
1991 Record: 95-67, won World Series

The Twins went from a mediocre team to World Series champions seemingly overnight. In one of the most classic World Series ever, the team knocked off the Braves in an intense Game 7.

4. 1969 New York Mets

Philadelphia Phillies v New York Mets

4. 1969 New York Mets

Philadelphia Phillies v New York Mets — 1968 Record: 73-89
1969 Record: 100-62, won World Series

They didn't call them the Miracle Mets for nothing. What they pulled off was nothing short of miraculous. To go from a below average team to a team that won 100 games and the World Series is unheard of.

3. 2013 Boston Red Sox

New York Yankees v Boston Red Sox

3. 2013 Boston Red Sox

New York Yankees v Boston Red Sox — 2012 Record: 69-93
2013 Record: 97-65, won World Series

The Red Sox seemed like a team of destiny last season. They came off a very disappointing 2012 season to somehow win it all and inspired the entire city that they play for.

2. 2001 New England Patriots

Dolphins v Patriots X

2. 2001 New England Patriots

Dolphins v Patriots X — 2000 Record: 5-11
2001 Record: 11-5, won Super Bowl

This season marked the christening of Tom Brady as the starting quarterback in New England. You could call it a successful season as the team won a Super Bowl and began football's most recent dynasty.

1. 2013 Auburn Tigers

Alabama v Auburn

1. 2013 Auburn Tigers

Alabama v Auburn — 2012 Record: 3-9
2013 Record: 12-2, lost in National Championship

This is the most impressive turnaround because it's harder to turn things around from year to year in college. Auburn seemed like a team of destiny last year, but they came up just a minute short of the national title.

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