Making the playoffs is the epitome of success in any sports league, and that includes the NFL. One list you don’t want to find yourself on is a list of the longest playoff droughts. While making the NFL playoffs is a tough enough task for some franchises, winning a playoff game in the NFL is a whole other task some teams go years without completing.
Longest Current Playoff Droughts in the NFL
Below is a list of all the current playoff droughts. Teams with asterisks next to their name have been updated for the 2022 NFL season as they’ve been eliminated from playoff contention. A final version of this list will be updated following the conclusion of the season.
- New York Jets – 11 Years
- Denver Broncos – 7 Years*
- New York Giants – 5 Years
- Detroit Lions – 5 Years
- Miami Dolphins – 5 Years
- Atlanta Falcons – 5 Years*
- Carolina Panthers – 4 Years
- Jacksonville Jaguars – 4 Years
- Houston Texans – 3 Years*
- Indianapolis Colts – 2 Years*
- Cleveland Browns – 2 Years*
- Chicago Bears – 2 Years*
- Washington Commanders – 1 Year
- Baltimore Ravens – 1 Year
- New Orleans Saints – 1 Year
- Seattle Seahawks – 1 Year
- Arizona Cardinals – 1 Year*
- Los Angeles Rams – 1 Year*
Longest All-Time NFL Playoff Droughts
Below is a list of the longest NFL playoff droughts of all time. Only the New York Jets have a current active streak long enough to make this list, leading all teams with the longest current playoff drought in the NFL.
- 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)
- Chicago Bears – 13 Years (1964-1977)
- San Diego Chargers – 13 Years (1966-1979)
- Oakland Raiders – 13 Years (2003-2016)
- Pittsburgh Steelers – 12 Years (1960-1972)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 12 Years (2008-2020)
- Atlanta Falcons – 12 Years (1966-1978)
- Los Angeles Rams – 12 Years (2005-2017)
- Detroit Lions – 11 Years (1971-1982 and 2000-2011)
- New York Jets – 11 Years (1970-1981 and 2011-Present)
- Denver Broncos 11 Years (1966-1977)
- Washington Redskins – 11 Years (1960-1971)
What’s the Longest Playoff Drought in NFL History?
While the New Orleans Saints have the longest playoff drought in NFL history, professional football has seen longer. The Washington Commanders, Arizona Cardinals, and Pittsburgh Steelers had playoff droughts that lasted 25, 25, and 24 years, respectively, between the years of 1946 and 1973.
The Saints snapped their 20-year playoff drought in the 1987 season when they went 12-3 and won the NFC West Division. The celebrations were short-lived, however, as they had a quick exit in the Wild Card round, losing at home 10-44 to the Minnesota Vikings.