List of NFL franchise post-season droughts

This is a list of current National Football League (NFL) franchise post-season and Super Bowl droughts (multiple consecutive seasons of not winning). Listed here are both appearance droughts and winning droughts in almost every level of the NFL playoff system.

All 32 active NFL teams have qualified for and won a game in the playoffs. Teams that have never made it beyond each successive milestone are listed under the year in which they began NFL play.

Of the 12 teams that have never won the Super Bowl, four are expansion franchises younger than the Super Bowl itself (the Bengals, Panthers, Jaguars, and Texans), while the Falcons began playing during the season in which the Super Bowl was first played. The other seven clubs (Cardinals, Lions, Oilers/Titans, Chargers, Browns, Bills, and Vikings) all won an NFL or AFL championship prior to the AFL–NFL merger; in the case of the Vikings, however, the Super Bowl existed at the time they won their only league title (in 1969), leaving them and the Falcons as the only two teams to have never won the highest championship available to them. The longest drought since a championship of any kind is that of the Cardinals, at 76 seasons.

Note that for continuity purposes, the Cleveland Browns are officially considered to have suspended operations for the 1996, 1997, and 1998 seasons. Since returning 25 years ago, they have only made the playoffs three times, while the Baltimore Ravens are considered to be a separate team that began play in 1996. The Ravens, as a result of the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy, absorbed the Browns' personnel upon their suspension, but not their history.

Playoff game victory droughts
Sortable table, click on the header arrows.

AFC/NFC Divisional playoffs game appearance droughts
This is also a list of the last time a particular club won a wild card playoff game or had a first-round bye.


 * The Washington Commanders last appeared in the NFC Divisional playoff game as the Washington Redskins.
 * The Las Vegas Raiders last appeared in the AFC Divisional playoff game as the Oakland Raiders.

AFC/NFC Championship Game appearance droughts
This is also a list of the last time a particular club won a divisional playoff game.


 * The Washington Commanders last appeared in the NFC Championship Game as the Washington Redskins.
 * The Browns were dormant from 1996–1998. Since returning 25 years ago, the Browns have never played in an AFC Championship Game.
 * The Las Vegas Raiders last appeared in the AFC Championship Game as the Oakland Raiders.
 * The Los Angeles Chargers last appeared in the AFC Championship Game as the San Diego Chargers.

Super Bowl appearance droughts
This is also the last time club won AFC or NFC championship game.
 * The Browns are considered to have suspended operation from 1996–1998. Since returning in 1999, or 25 ago they have never appeared in the Super Bowl, while the franchise that moved in 1995, has made two appearances in the Super Bowl since the relocation controversy.
 * The Washington Commanders last appeared in the Super Bowl as the Washington Redskins.
 * The Los Angeles Chargers last appeared in the Super Bowl as the San Diego Chargers.
 * The Las Vegas Raiders last appeared in the Super Bowl as the Oakland Raiders.
 * Super Bowl was first played in 1967, while the final official NFL championship game pre-AFL-NFL merger was played in 1969.

Super Bowl or NFL championship win droughts
This list also counts all seasons since a team last won the league championship or Super Bowl. Of active NFL teams 20 have won the Super Bowl, Of active NFL teams 7 have not won a Super Bowl, but have won an AFL or NFL championship pre-merger Of active NFL teams 5 have not won any championship or Super Bowl.

NFL or AFL Championship pre-1970s Merger

 * Team won as the Chicago Cardinals in 1947.
 * Team won as the Houston Oilers in 1961.
 * Team won as the San Diego Chargers in 1963.
 * Super Bowl was first played in 1967, while the final official NFL or AFL championship game pre-AFL-NFL merger were played in 1969.

Super Bowl win droughts
This list counts all seasons since a team last won the Super Bowl.


 * The Browns suspended operation from 1996–1998. Since returning in 1999, or 25 years ago they have never won the Super Bowl, while the franchise that moved in 1995, has won the Super Bowl twice since the relocation controversy.
 * Team won Super Bowl XVIII as the Los Angeles Raiders.
 * Team won Super Bowl XXXVI as the Washington Redskins

Cities/regions awaiting first Super Bowl crown
Listed according to seasons waited. Current NFL cities/regions only.

Division title droughts
Listed according to seasons waited.

**Does not include the three seasons (1996–1998) during which the franchise suspended operations.

Closest approaches without winning the Super Bowl
Counted from the first Super Bowl season, 1966, to present.


 * First round in 1982 playoffs for Minnesota, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Los Angeles Chargers, Arizona, Cleveland, Detroit
 * Second round in 1982 playoffs for Minnesota, Los Angeles Chargers

Longest NFL / AFL / Super Bowl championship droughts through history
This list only shows droughts of 30 or more seasons for teams. A championship is listed as winning an NFL Championship (1920—1969), AFL Championship (1960—1969), and Super Bowl Championship (1966—present). Active droughts are listed in bold type.

Longest NFL / AFL / Super Bowl championship appearance droughts through history
This list only shows droughts of 30 or more seasons for teams. A championship appearance is listed as appearing in an NFL Championship (1932—1969), AFL Championship (1960—1969), or Super Bowl Championship (1966—present). Active droughts are listed in bold type.

Playoff droughts of at least five seasons

 * Sort by clicking on desired column heading.
 * Teams grouped together when sorting -
 * Arizona, Phoenix, St. Louis and Chicago Cardinals
 * Indianapolis and Baltimore Colts
 * Los Angeles, St. Louis and Cleveland Rams
 * Tennessee Titans, Houston Oilers and Tennessee Oilers
 * Las Vegas, Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders


 * In 1944, during World War II, Pittsburgh and the Chicago Cardinals were a combined team called Card-Pitt.
 * The Cleveland Rams suspended operations in the 1943 season due to World War II.

Most consecutive post-season losses in team history
This is a sortable table of all 32 current NFL teams. Ten teams have multiple losing streaks where they lost an equal number of post season games before breaking the drought.

Updated through the 2023-24 playoffs

Longest post-season droughts in team history
Note that the NFL did not institute a permanent playoff tournament until 1967 and that the NFL Championship Game and any impromptu one-game playoffs (played only in the event of a tie atop the division standings) were the only postseason matchups in this era. The Bert Bell Benefit Bowl (aka the Playoff Bowl; 1960–1969) is considered an exhibition game for the purpose of this list.

Updated through the 2023-24 playoffs