12 NFL Teams That Have Never Won A Super Bowl

The Arizona Cardinals have been around since way back in 1920 when they were known as the Chicago Cardinals. They won a couple of championships in the NFL but never snagged the Lombardy trophy.

The Cardinals only made it to the playoffs nine times during the Super Bowl (SB) era.

One of their big moments came in 2009 when Kurt Warner led them to the SB, but unfortunately, they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a close game, 27-23.

The Buffalo Bills had some tough luck in the NFL. They used to be a team in the AFL and managed to win two championships back then. But when it came to the Super Bowl, things got tough for them. They’re the only team in NFL history to make it to four games in a row from 1990 to 1993, losing every single one of those games.

Their closest shot at winning the title was in 1991 during XXV. It was a close game, but unfortunately, the kicker missed, and they lost to the New York Giants 20-19. That was the only game out of the four where the Bills were expected to win.

After that, they lost to the Washington Redskins in XXVI and then had to face a solid Dallas Cowboys team in the next two SB. 

Since 1966, the Atlanta Falcons have been part of the NFL but haven’t clinched the trophy yet. They haven’t had an excellent overall record, being below average with fewer wins than losses, which is 389 over 500.

Among their numerous seasons, they’ve only reached the playoffs 14 times. However, despite this limited playoff appearance, they made it to the Super Bowl twice.

Their first shot for the trophy was in 1998. They surprised everyone by beating a strong Minnesota Vikings team in the NFC Championship Game. However, they didn’t perform well when they reached the game and lost pretty convincingly to the Denver Broncos 34-19.

Their second appearance was in 2016, led by quarterback Matt Ryan, and they had a massive lead of 28-3 during the game before losing to Brady and Co.

Since joining the NFL in 1970, the Cincinnati Bengals have had their ups and downs. They’ve made it to the Super Bowl three times, showing some really strong periods of competitiveness. However, they haven’t been able to seal the deal and win the championship yet.

In the 1980s, they reached the game twice but lost both times to the San Francisco 49ers. One of those games, on XXIII, was super close. The Bengals were leading 16-13 with just a few minutes left, but the 49ers made a great comeback and snatched the victory with a late touchdown.

They made it to the playoffs for five years in a row from 2011 to 2015. But whenever they faced tough teams like the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, or Indianapolis Colts, they couldn’t quite make it all the way.

The Carolina Panthers have a unique story among the teams without a Super Bowl win because they joined the NFL as a new team in 1995. At the start, they played well, even reaching the NFC Championship Game in 1996.

Although they lost to the Green Bay Packers, who ended up winning the game that year. But after those early years, they didn’t make it to the playoffs again until 2003.

That 2003 season was a big one for them. Led by players like Jake Delhomme, Steve Smith, and Muhsin Muhammad, they had a fantastic 11-5 season and made it to the trophy but lost to the Patriots.

In 2015, with NFL MVP Cam Newton, the Panthers had an amazing regular season, winning 15 out of 16 games. They were expected to win in the SB against the Denver Broncos, but they lost 28-24.

The Cleveland Browns have a storied history with championships before the Super Bowl era, winning multiple titles in the 1950s and ’60s. But since then, things haven’t been so great they’ve never even made it to the game.

In the 1980s, they were a strong team with quarterback Bernie Kosar, but they faced tough losses in the AFC title games against the Denver Broncos. 

The Brown’s postseason appearances have been rare since 1990, only making it three times. They also had a tough season in 2017, becoming only the second team ever to go 0-16 in a whole season.

The Houston Texans is NFL’s newest team since 2002, pinned hopes on David Carr as their top-pick quarterback, but their initial seasons were rough. It took until 2009 for a winning season and 2011 for a playoff appearance.

Despite dominating the AFC South six times in the 2010s, they fell short of AFC championship games. The recent shift arrived with C.J. Stroud, chosen as the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Stroud’s arrival indicates a potential transformation for the team. Coupled with the appointment of DeMeco Ryans as the new head coach, optimism abounds in Houston. Stroud carries the promise of being a game-changer, sparking hope for a brighter future.

For Detroit Lions fans, it’s been a tough journey. Back in the day, they were quite successful, winning four NFL championships from 1935 to 1957. But since then, things haven’t gone so well.

They’ve only managed to win a single playoff game, which seems pretty unbelievable considering their history.

In the 1990s, there was a glimmer of hope as the Lions made it to the playoffs six times. However, after that, they faced long periods without postseason action. They’ve only made it to the playoffs three times since then, but each time, they lost in the first round.

The Minnesota Vikings stand out among the teams without a Super Bowl win. They’ve had a good track record in the regular season, often being a competitive team since the late 1960s.

However, despite their success, they’ve never clinched a victory, going 0-4 in those games, all during a time known as the “Purple People Eaters” era from 1969 to 1976.

Their closest chance came in IV, where they were considered strong favorites against the Kansas City Chiefs, being 12-point favorites in the first year after the AFL/NFL merger. Unfortunately, they lost that game 23-7, and they haven’t returned to the game since then.

Another near-miss came in 2017 when Case Keenum guided them to the NFC Championship Game following the unforgettable Minneapolis Miracle. However, their journey ended with a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Tennessee Titans once known as the Oilers, have made it to just one Super Bowl. Their lone appearance happened in 1999, marking a significant moment in their history.

In the 1992 postseason, the Oilers were part of a memorable but unfortunate game. They experienced a tough loss to the Buffalo Bills in a game where the Bills made a historic comeback from a huge 35-3 deficit to win 41-38 in overtime.

A memorable image captured wide receiver Kevin Dyson reaching out, but he fell short at the one-yard line as time ran out. The Titans lost a close game, 23-16, in SB XXXIV.

The Jacksonville Jaguars one of the NFL’s expansion teams in 1995 alongside the Carolina Panthers, have had quite a roller-coaster ride in their history. They began strongly, making the playoffs in four out of their first five seasons.

However, their postseason appearances have been irregular since 2000, totaling just four times. Despite this, they’ve never reached the Super Bowl, even though they’ve been in three conference championship games.

Their closest shot came in 2017 during the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots. At one point, the Jaguars held a 20-10 lead, and there was a pivotal moment where linebacker Myles Jack forced a fumble and seemed to recover it for a touchdown.

However, the play was ruled down by contact. Unfortunately for the Jaguars, they ended up losing that game 24-20, falling just short of making it to the Super Bowl.

The Los Angeles Chargers, previously known as the San Diego Chargers until 2017, have a strong franchise history, though they are out of Super Bowl success. They’ve reached the playoffs 15 times since 1970 and made it to four AFC title games, appearing in one game.

During the 1980s, the Chargers had the renowned offense led by Dan Fouts, which helped them get to the AFC title games in 1980 and 1981. Unfortunately, they didn’t win either of those games.

Their lone appearance came in 1994, led by quarterback Stan Humphries, running back Natrone Means, and linebacker Junior Seau.

They faced the San Francisco 49ers in SB XXIX but were considered underdogs by a significant margin (18-point favorites for the 49ers by Las Vegas oddsmakers) and ended up losing decisively, 49-26.