Let’s face it: nothing stings more for NFL fans than watching their team miss the playoffs year after year. While some franchises seem to live in the postseason, others are stuck in the wilderness, waiting for their shot to compete. Whether it’s bad luck, rebuilding woes, or just plain bad football, playoff droughts can feel endless. So, who’s been waiting the longest?
Let’s dive into the longest playoff droughts in NFL history and see where teams stand today.
Longest Current NFL Playoff Droughts
As of 2024, the New York Jets top the list with the longest active playoff drought. They haven’t been to the postseason since 2010, making it 14 seasons and counting. Despite some hope with roster changes and new coaching strategies, the Jets remain on the outside looking in.
Behind the Jets are the Denver Broncos, who last made the playoffs in 2015. They went on to win Super Bowl 50 that year, but they’ve struggled since.
One team that has recently ended a significant drought is the Detroit Lions. The Lions hadn’t made the playoffs since 2016 but clinched the NFC North in 2023, earning the No. 3 seed in the NFC playoffs.
- Arizona Cardinals: 2021
- Atlanta Falcons: 2017
- Baltimore Ravens: 2023
- Buffalo Bills: 2023
- Carolina Panthers: 2017
- Chicago Bears: 2020
- Cincinnati Bengals: 2022
- Cleveland Browns: 2023
- Dallas Cowboys: 2023
- Denver Broncos: 2015
- Detroit Lions: 2023
- Green Bay Packers: 2023
- Houston Texans: 2023
- Indianapolis Colts: 2020
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 2022
- Kansas City Chiefs: 2023
- Las Vegas Raiders: 2021
- Los Angeles Chargers: 2022
- Los Angeles Rams: 2023
- Miami Dolphins: 2023
- Minnesota Vikings: 2022
- New England Patriots: 2021
- New Orleans Saints: 2020
- New York Giants: 2022
- New York Jets: 2010
- Philadelphia Eagles: 2023
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 2023
- San Francisco 49ers: 2023
- Seattle Seahawks: 2022
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2023
- Tennessee Titans: 2021
- Washington Commanders: 2020
Longest All-Time NFL Playoff Droughts
Historically, some teams have endured playoff droughts that spanned nearly two decades. The New Orleans Saints hold the infamous record for a 20-year playoff drought from 1967 to 1987. When they finally broke the streak, they celebrated with a 12-3 season in 1987, only to lose 10-44 in the Wild Card Round against the Minnesota Vikings.
Here are the longest playoff droughts in NFL history:
- New Orleans Saints: 20 years (1967-1987)
- Cleveland Browns: 17 years (2003-2020)
- Buffalo Bills: 17 years (2000-2017)
- Philadelphia Eagles: 17 years (1961-1978)
- New York Giants: 17 years (1964-1981)
- Arizona Cardinals: 15 years (1983-1998)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 14 years (1983-1997)
- St. Louis Cardinals: 14 years (1960-1974)
- Cincinnati Bengals: 14 years (1991-2005)
- Kansas City Chiefs: 14 years (1972-1986)
Other notable droughts include:
- Chicago Bears: 13 years (1964-1977)
- San Diego Chargers: 13 years (1966-1979)
- Oakland Raiders: 13 years (2003-2016)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 12 years (2008-2020)
- Los Angeles Rams: 12 years (2005-2017)
- Detroit Lions: Two separate 11-year droughts (1971-1982 and 2000-2011)
- New York Jets: 11 years (1970-1981 and 2011-present)
Longest Playoff Droughts Before The Super Bowl Era
Even before the modern playoff system, teams experienced brutal postseason absences. The longest playoff drought in professional football history belongs to Washington, which went 25 years without making the playoffs between 1946 and 1971. The Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers also had 25- and 24-year droughts, respectively, before breaking through in the 1970s.
Looking Ahead
Breaking a playoff drought isn’t just about the postseason- it’s about restoring hope to a fanbase. While some teams, like the Lions, have recently turned the corner, others, like the Jets, are still searching for their moment. Whether you root for a perennial contender or an underdog hoping to end a streak, these stories remind us why the journey to the playoffs is so compelling.
