There are numerous NFL teams that have not won a Super Bowl. Fans consumed with an arch passion for their teams that have never received the ultimate form of compensation in return for their devotion. While franchises like the New England Patriots, or the Kansas City Chiefs, can rest easy on laurels of past domination; others still wallow in the ignominy of having never achieved the desired outcome of any singular season.
The National Football League was founded in 1920 under a previous name, the American Professional Football Association (APFA). Originally, it consisted of 10 teams from 4 different states. Only two teams from its initial conglomeration now remain; the Decatur Stanely’s, now the Chicago Bears; and the Racine Cardinals, now the Arizona Cardinals.
Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the league’s foundation stabilized. The first championship formally organized took place in 1933. By the 1950, particularly after 1958, when the leagues championship game began being referred to as the “most exciting game ever played,” the NFL became increasingly entrenched as a critical cultural marker in the American landscape.
The rival American Football League was founded in 1960 and achieved remarkable success, resulting in a merger with the more traditional NFL and expanding the imprint of the league across America. The merger also resulted in the concept and creation of the Super Bowl, which has now essentially become an American national holiday. The league has continued to expand, now featuring 32 teams. It is the most popular professional league in the United States, by a comfortable margin.
Even though it has been 50 years since the merger between the NFL and AFL, numerous franchises have yet to thrust the Lombardi Trophy triumphantly in the air after a Super Bowl victory. Four franchises, in fact, exist further outside the margins, having never reached a Super Bowl at all. In this article, we’ll identify the NFL franchises still seeking a Super Bowl victory, the fanbases that have lingered too long in the basement of defeat.
Detroit Lions – NFL Teams That Have Not Won A Super Bowl
In what must be a bitter realization for Detroit Lions fans, the Lions are actually among the oldest franchises in the NFL, founded in 1930. To this day, in 2025, they have yet to even appear in even a single Super Bowl, let alone winning one. Possessing perhaps the worst post-season resume of any NFL franchise, the Lions nevertheless made an emboldened run to the NFC Championship Game in 2023, before being eliminated. The strong, primarily young, core of the present Detroit Lions augurs an optimistic outlook on future seasons; with veteran QB Jared Goff, a dynamic playmaker in Amon-Ra St. Brown, and an improving defense that should grow into maturity.
Arizona Cardinals
Upending the Detroit Lion’s resume as perhaps having the worst post-season resume in NFL history are the Arizona Cardinals, founded in 1920, without any Super Bowl victories to merit their longevity. They are the NFL’s oldest existing franchise without a single Super Bowl victory. In contrast to the Detroit Lions, however, they came close: In 2009, after a superhuman reception from Larry Fitzgerald, the honorifics associated with the Vince Lombardi trophy seemed to be imminent for the Arizona Cardinals. Alas, it was not be; as the opposing Pittsburgh Steelers mounted a game-winning drive in the last seconds to abscond with another Super Bowl trophy. Entering their third season under the purview of Head Coach Jonathan Gannon, the Cardinals presently boast approximately $70 million dollars in cap space to aggressively talented prospects in the free agency market.
Houston Texans – NFL Teams That Have Not Won A Super Bowl
The fact that the Texans have yet to win a Super Bowl isn’t particularly egregious. As the newest franchise in the league, growing pains should be anticipated. Joining the NFL in 2002 as an expansion team, the Houston Texans have encountered expected up-and-downs. While the Texans have yet to reach a conference championship, the future outlook of the Houston Texans doesn’t look bleak. With the twin ascensions of QB CJ Stroud and Head Coach DeMeco Ryans, Texan fans have legitimate reasons to believe their Super Bowl aspirations are valid.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns, despite the absence of a Super Bowl, remain one of the more storied franchises in the NFL. Founded in 1944, the Browns won seven championships in their first 10 years as franchise prior to the Super Bowl era. Like Icarus, however, they may have flown too close to the sun in their early years; not seriously contending for the Super Bowl since its inception in 1967. In the last 30 years, the Browns have posted more winless seasons than division title appearances or Super Bowl appearances. Compounding their infamy further, the original organization of the Browns is now based in Baltimore, in the guise of the Ravens – Who have won 2 Super Bowls. In 1995, Browns owner Art Modell inexplicably announced he was moving the franchise to Baltimore, ignominiously leaving Cleveland without remorse. While the franchise was resurrected in 1999, the stain of Modell’s departure lingers like a stubborn wound.
Los Angeles Chargers – NFL Teams That Have Not Won A Super Bowl
The Chargers franchise was founded in 1959 in Los Angeles, but quickly transitioned South to San Diego in 1961; due to competition from the more popular Los Angeles Rams. The Chargers have been a relatively successful franchise, in spite of not attaining their ultimate goal. The Chargers did reach the Super Bowl in 1995 before falling to Joe Montana’s San Francisco 49ers in a rout. Regardless of their regular season success, having won 10 or more games 6 times in the last 20 years, the Chargers have nonetheless posted a lamentable post-season record of 19-19 in the same timeframe. With franchise QB Justin Herbert currently at their disposal and a proven coach in Jim Harbaugh, Chargers fans are hoping for a quick turnaround in their fortunes.
Tennessee Titans
Unlike most of the franchises posited in this article, the Titans have come desperately close to winning a Super Bowl. In 2000, facing the St. Louis Ram, the “Greatest Show on Turf,” Titans wide receiver Kevin Dyson came 1 yard short of etching the Titans into NFL lore on a last-minute play. Since then, the Titans have experienced modest results, peaking between 2016-2021, when they achieved 6 consecutive winning seasons and 4 playoff berths. With the #1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and a relatively new head coach in Brian Callahan, the Titans are presently in the process of rebuilding.
Jacksonville Jaguars – NFL Teams That Have Not Won A Super Bowl
The Jacksonville Jaguars joined the NFL in 1995 and discovered immediate success, making the playoffs 4 times in 5 seasons while also making 2 appearances in the AFC Championship game. Since their initial introduction to the scene, the success of the Jaguars has been more muted, making the playoffs only twice in the ensuing 17 years. While they did make an intrepid run to the AFC Championship Game again in 2017, their hopes were dashed at the hands of Tom Brady’s redoubtable Patriots; squandering their best opportunity at the Vince Lombardi Trophy since their transition to the league.
Buffalo Bills
Perhaps more than any other franchise still seeking a Super Bowl, the story of the Bills remains the most tragic. Between 1991 and 1994, the Buffalo Bills made 4 consecutive appearances in the Super Bowl, consequently losing all 4 times. The history of the Bills is nevertheless a decorated one, having won the two final AFL championships in 1964 and 1965; before the introduction of the Super Bowl after the 1966 season. In 2024, the Bills unexpectedly earned a No. 2 seed in the NFL playoffs, eventually making it to the AFC Championship Game. Under the guidance QB Josh Allen, the Bill are optimistic about positive returns in the future.
Minnesota Vikings – NFL Teams That Have Not Won A Super Bowl
The Minnesota Vikings have a heralded history of success: They, like the Bills, have appeared in the Super Bowl 4 times; they boast a 54.5 win percentage in the regular season; and they’ve usually remained a fixture in the playoff conversation. Their success, however, should be noted with a distinct caveat: Minnesota’s four Super Bowl appearances all transpired in the 1970’s and they’ve yet to return, though they have come close. In 2024, the Vikings accomplished an impressive 14-3 record, only for it to be diminished quickly in the playoffs against the Detroit Lions. Sam Darnold’s play has been capricious, astonishing at times, immensely frustrating at others. In the offseason, the Vikings will look to the free agency market to ameliorate some of the deficiencies they encountered this past season.
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons, similar to the Tennessee Titans, have a particularly painful memory intertwined with the Super Bowl: A stunning loss to the New England Patriots in 2017, where they held a 28-3 lead in the third quarter. Tom Brady presumed to organize the most intrepid comeback of his career, eventually winning the game 34-28. It remains the largest comeback in Super Bowl history and its sole instance of an overtime victory. In the seven seasons since, the Falcons have languished, reaching the playoffs only once. Though the Falcons fell short of their playoff aspirations in 2024, the Falcons have developed a talented roster that should challenge in 2025 for a playoff spot.
Carolina Panthers – NFL Teams That Have Not Won A Super Bowl
The Panters are another relatively new NFL franchise, introduced in 1995. Since then, they have reached two Super Bowls, losing both to generational quarterbacks. Despite these narrow losses, Carolina has maintained a winning record in the postseason and are 1 of only 13 teams with multiple Super Bowl appearances this century.
Cincinnati Bengals
The epicenter of the present iteration of the Cincinnati Bengals remains Joe Burrow, a former Heisman Trophy winner, who led the Bengals on a remarkable run to the Super Bowl in 2022, where they fell to the Los Angeles Rams 23-20. The Bengals have one additional appearance in the Super Bowl, in 1989, where they lost to Joe Montana and the 49ers. Though Burrow has continued to encounter pesky injuries that have militated against his playing time, the Bengals still have reasons for optimism in 2025.
