For fans of teams who've consistently missed out on the NFL playoffs, absence does not make the heart grow fonder.

There's no bigger thrill for a football fan than seeing your favorite team make the playoffs. Knowing that just a few wins is all that separates your team from a championship brings an immense amount of excitement. But there's two sides to every coin. For the teams on the list below, a sense of futility and frustration carried on for years, sometimes decades. In this article, we take a look at the NFL franchises that endured the longest playoff droughts with the most agonizing stretches for their loyal, long-suffering fans.

The 15 Longest NFL Playoff Droughts

1. Washington Redskins (1946-1970)

The then-Washington Redskins are tied for the longest playoff drought in the history of the NFL. The team suffered through 25 seasons without making it to the postseason, with just a handful of winning seasons during that span. Washington finally, mercifully, made it to Super Bowl VII in 1972, where they lost to the Miami Dolphins. The bright side of the story is that in the 22-year period after the drought ended, the 'Skins made the playoffs 13 times, appeared in 5 Super Bowls, and won the championship three times.

2. Chicago/St. Louis Cardinals (1949-1973)

Before settling in Arizona, the Cardinals organization played in Chicago and St. Louis, where they missed the playoffs for 25 consecutive seasons. Sadly for Cardinals fans, the franchise has still never won a Super Bowl, though the team captured NFL championships in 1920 and 1947 and made a Super Bowl appearance in 2009.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (1948-1971)

As fans of one of the most popular NFL teams, Steeler Nation has no shortage of fond memories thanks to Pittsburgh's six Super Bowl titles. But even the mighty Steelers have not been immune to a long postseason absence during their storied history. They went 24 seasons without a playoff appearance from 1948 to 1971. Of course, the Steelers became a dynasty throughout the rest of the 1970s, proving good things really do come to those who wait.

4. New Orleans Saints (1967-1986)

For the first 20 seasons of their franchise history, the New Orleans Saints failed to make the playoffs. While it's common across pro sports for expansion teams to struggle for awhile before finding their footing, the Saints two-decade dry spell was particularly grueling for fans wanting a reason to believe. The Saints eventually got their first playoff game in 1987 but didn't win a postseason game until 2000.

5. Denver Broncos (1960-1976)

Another team that struggled to make the playoffs after joining the NFL was the Denver Broncos. Starting with their first season in the league in 1960, the Broncos went 17 miserable seasons without a playoff berth. The good news was the Broncos ended the drought with three consecutive playoff appearances, including a run to Super Bowl XII in 1977, where they finished as NFL runner-up to the Dallas Cowboys.

6. Philadelphia Eagles (1961-1977)

The Philadelphia Eagles won three NFL championships in their early history, including a pre-Super Bowl title in the 1960 season. Immediately after that championship, the Eagles began a grueling, 17-season stretch of inadequacy. Philly made the playoffs in four straight years after that, and have had a history of playoff success since then. But old-time Eagles fans don't think back fondly on the '60s and '70s.

7. New York Giants (1964-1980)

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the New York Football Giants made it to five NFL championship games over a period of six seasons, losing all five of those games. Unfortunately for Giants fans, this was only a glimpse into the heartbreak to come, as the franchise proceeded to miss the postseason for the next 17 years. In keeping with a common theme of teams that face long playoff droughts, the G-Men eventually emerged from this low period as one of the most successful NFL franchises, owning four Super Bowl trophies.

8. Buffalo Bills (2000-2016)

In the 1999 season, the Buffalo Bills lost in one of the most memorable playoff games in NFL history — the Music City Miracle game vs. the Tennessee Titans. Following that gut punch, the Bills franchise went on a 17-year playoff drought characterized by consistently dreadful quarterback play. These doldrums coincided with the majority of the New England Patriots dynasty in the same division, adding insult to injury for Bills fans.

9. Cleveland Browns (2003-2019)

The Cleveland Browns have only made the playoffs three times since returning to NFL existence in the 1999 season. The team's infamous futility is highlighted by a long playoff drought lasting from 2003 to 2019. Quarterback draft busts like Johnny Manziel, Brandon Weeden and Brady Quinn played starring roles during this ugly span, while Browns fans watched in horror as their rivals the Ravens and Steelers won championships.

10. Detroit Lions (1936-1951)

The Detroit Lions have finally emerged as a competitive NFL franchise under coach Dan Campbell, but this success comes after decades of futility marked by multiple lengthy playoff droughts. The longest of these spanned 16 years, from 1936 to 1951, though things didn’t improve much afterward. Beginning in 1958, the Lions managed just one playoff win over a staggering 64-year period. They did have some championship-caliber runs sprinkled in between, however, as the franchise claimed NFL titles in 1935, 1952, 1953, and 1957.

11. Green Bay Packers (1945-1959)

There may not be a football team with as storied a history as the Green Bay Packers. The team has won titles both before and during the Super Bowl era. But even the tradition-rich Packers have had their low points. Green Bay failed to make the playoffs for 15 straight seasons from 1945 to 1959.

12. Kansas City Chiefs (1972-1985)

Before they were synonymous with postseason success, the Kansas City Chiefs were not always counted among the elites of the NFL. Prior to the exciting offenses spearheaded by quarterbacks like Joe Montana and Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs fans had to suffer through a 14-season nadir during which exciting stars and playoff wins were both hard to come by.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1983-1996)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers famously started off their franchise with a winless season in 1976. The Bucs made the playoffs a few times shortly after that but it didn't take long for things to turn sour. For 14 straight seasons Tampa Bay not only missed the playoffs, but also posted losing records.

14. Cincinnati Bengals (1991-2004)

The Cincinnati Bengals lost two Super Bowls to the San Francisco 49ers in the 1980s and were generally a playoff contender throughout the decade. The 1990s, however, told a very different story. The "Bungles" 14-season playoff drought bottomed out with a 2-14 record in 2002, after a string of bad draft picks and sideline mismanagement. Thankfully for Bengals fans, the franchise has recovered from that dark period, making the playoffs nine times in the past 20 years.

15. New York Jets (2011-Present)

The New York Jets hold the only active NFL playoff drought on our list, ranking 15th longest all-time. Their last postseason appearance was in 2011, when Mark Sanchez led them to the brink of the Super Bowl. Since then, the Jets have struggled with disastrous quarterback play and a carousel of head coaches. Turning these trends around is essential if they hope to return to playoff football.

NFL Playoff Drought Frequently Asked Questions 

Which NFL Team Has the Longest Active Playoff Drought?

There are currently three NFL teams with active playoff droughts longer than five seasons.

  • New York Jets (2011- )
  • Carolina Panthers (2017- )
  • Atlanta Falcons (2017- )

The team with the longest active playoff drought is the New York Jets, who have gone 14 seasons without a playoff appearance. They have struggled to find their franchise quarterback, with their most recent attempt being the unsuccessful Aaron Rodgers era.

Joining the Jets on the list of teams that have gone over five seasons without a playoff appearance are the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons. Both of these NFC South teams haven't found their franchise quarterback while employing multiple different head coaches. In a division where teams have historically not needed a great season to finish in first place, even serviceable quarterback play on a consistent basis could be enough to vault them back into the postseason.

Who has the longest playoff drought in NFL history?

The longest NFL playoff drought in history is 25 years, a dubious distinction shared by both the Washington Redskins and Arizona Cardinals.

Who has the longest playoff drought in the NFL right now?

The longest active playoff drought in the NFL belongs to the New York Jets, who've gone 14 years without a playoff berth.

What is the longest active playoff drought in sports?

The longest active postseason drought in all of sports belongs to the Jets, who have pulled ahead of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres by clinching their 14th straight season without playoff action this year.

Ready to Elevate Your Fantasy Football Experience? Join Sleeper! 

Whether or not your team is a mainstay in the NFL playoffs, you can put your fantasy football skills to the test with Sleeper. Sleeper Picks allows you to make selections on how players will perform throughout the postseason, while providing fantasy football tips and updated news on key players from the Wild Card round to the Super Bowl. Download Sleeper today or create an account to test your fantasy football knowledge throughout the playoffs.