Updated September 15, 2026
Winning a Super Bowl is the ultimate goal for every NFL franchise, but more than half a century into the Super Bowl era, many teams are still searching for their first Lombardi Trophy. Some have come painfully close, while others have never even reached the sport’s biggest game.
Several of these franchises have won championships that predate the Super Bowl, but for this list, only championships won since the first Super Bowl following the 1966 season count. Fans following these teams and their journey to get off of this list can find weekly analysis and NFL predictions throughout the season here at ATS.
Here are the NFL teams that have never won a Super Bowl.
Few franchises have experienced more Super Bowl heartbreak than the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo reached an unprecedented four consecutive Super Bowls following the 1990 through 1993 seasons, but lost all four.
The first defeat was particularly painful, as Scott Norwood's potential game-winning field goal against the New York Giants sailed wide right in Super Bowl XXV. Buffalo then lost to Washington and twice to the Dallas Cowboys.
Despite the drought, the Bills have regularly become contenders in the Super Bowl futures markets in the modern era. Their four Super Bowl appearances remain tied for the most by a franchise that has never won the big game.
The Detroit Lions have never appeared in a Super Bowl, although the franchise enjoyed considerable success before the Super Bowl era.
Detroit won four NFL championships, with its most recent coming in 1957. The Lions then endured one of professional football's longest stretches without significant playoff success.
That began to change in the 2020s, when Detroit emerged as a legitimate NFC contender and reached the NFC Championship Game following the 2023 season. Still, the franchise continues to chase both its first Super Bowl appearance and first Super Bowl victory.
Founded in 2002, the Houston Texans are the NFL's newest franchise, and they have yet to reach a Super Bowl.
Houston has won multiple AFC South titles and has made several playoff appearances, but the franchise has repeatedly been stopped in the Divisional Round. Through the 2025 season, Houston was 0-7 in divisional playoff games and had never reached an AFC Championship Game.
That leaves the Texans as the only current NFL franchise that has never played in a conference championship game.
The Cincinnati Bengals have made three Super Bowl appearances, but each ended in defeat.
Cincinnati lost Super Bowl XVI and Super Bowl XXIII to the San Francisco 49ers. The second of those games ended when Joe Montana led San Francisco on a famous late touchdown drive.
More than three decades later, the Bengals returned with Joe Burrow at quarterback, reaching Super Bowl LVI following the 2021 season. Cincinnati led the Los Angeles Rams in the second half but ultimately fell 23-20.
The Los Angeles Chargers have appeared in one Super Bowl in franchise history.
Then based in San Diego, the Chargers advanced to Super Bowl XXIX following the 1994 season. They encountered a dominant San Francisco team led by Steve Young and lost 49-26.
The Chargers have fielded numerous star quarterbacks and high-powered offenses since then but have yet to return to the Super Bowl. Their championship drought extends back to the beginning of the Super Bowl era, although the franchise did win the 1963 AFL Championship before the leagues merged.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have never reached the Super Bowl since beginning play in 1995.
Jacksonville came remarkably close almost immediately. The Jaguars reached the AFC Championship Game following both the 1996 and 1999 seasons. They returned to the conference championship following the 2017 season, losing a close game to the New England Patriots.
Those three AFC Championship Game appearances represent the deepest postseason runs in Jaguars history. Jacksonville remains one of four franchises that have never played in a Super Bowl.
The Carolina Panthers have reached the Super Bowl twice despite being one of the NFL's younger franchises.
Carolina's first appearance came in Super Bowl XXXVIII, where the Panthers lost 32-29 to the New England Patriots on a late Adam Vinatieri field goal.
The Panthers returned 12 years later after going 15-1 during the 2015 regular season. Led by league NFL MVP Cam Newton, Carolina entered Super Bowl 50 with one of football's best offenses but lost 24-10 to the Denver Broncos.
Like Buffalo, the Minnesota Vikings are 0-4 in Super Bowl appearances.
Minnesota reached Super Bowl IV and later appeared in Super Bowls VIII, IX, and XI. The Vikings lost those games to the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders, respectively.
All four appearances came during an eight-season span dominated by head coach Bud Grant's teams and Minnesota's famous Purple People Eaters defense. Despite decades of additional playoff appearances, the Vikings have not returned to a Super Bowl since the 1976 season.
The Atlanta Falcons have reached two Super Bowls, with their second appearance becoming one of the most memorable championship games in NFL history.
Atlanta first reached Super Bowl XXXIII following the 1998 season but lost 34-19 to the Denver Broncos.
The Falcons returned for Super Bowl LI and built a 28-3 lead over the New England Patriots. New England mounted the largest comeback in Super Bowl history, eventually winning 34-28 in overtime. Atlanta has not returned to the game since.
The Tennessee Titans have made one Super Bowl appearance, and it ended only inches short of a possible game-tying touchdown.
Tennessee reached Super Bowl XXXIV following the 1999 season and faced the St. Louis Rams. On the game's final play, Titans receiver Kevin Dyson was tackled by Mike Jones one yard short of the end zone, preserving a 23-16 Rams victory.
The franchise, which previously played as the Houston Oilers, won AFL championships in 1960 and 1961 but has never captured a Super Bowl.
The Cleveland Browns are one of the most historically successful franchises never to appear in a Super Bowl.
Cleveland dominated professional football during the years before the Super Bowl was created, winning multiple AAFC and NFL championships. The Browns' most recent NFL championship came in 1964, two seasons before the first Super Bowl.
During the Super Bowl era, Cleveland came closest in the 1980s, reaching the AFC Championship Game three times. Each ended in defeat, including infamous losses to Denver that featured "The Drive" and "The Fumble."
The Arizona Cardinals have appeared in one Super Bowl despite being one of professional football's oldest franchises.
Arizona's breakthrough came following the 2008 season. Led by quarterback Kurt Warner and receiver Larry Fitzgerald, the Cardinals reached Super Bowl XLIII against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Arizona took a late 23-20 lead after a spectacular Fitzgerald touchdown, but Ben Roethlisberger answered with a game-winning drive capped by Santonio Holmes' touchdown catch with 35 seconds remaining. Pittsburgh won 27-23.
The Cardinals have won championships dating back to the pre-Super Bowl era, but their first Lombardi Trophy remains elusive.
