NFL Teams That Have Never Won a Super Bowl

By Sarah Miller · January 7, 2034

As of the 2024 NFL season, 12 franchises have never won a Super Bowl. These teams include the Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Los Angeles Chargers, and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Teams That Have Never Won a Super Bowl

Despite decades of competition, several NFL franchises have yet to secure a Super Bowl victory. While some have reached the big game multiple times, none have managed to win. Others are still chasing their first appearance.

Franchises with Multiple Super Bowl Appearances but No Wins

Minnesota Vikings – 4 appearances (Super Bowls IV, VIII, IX, XI)
Buffalo Bills – 4 consecutive appearances (Super Bowls XXV–XXVIII)
Cincinnati Bengals – 3 appearances (Super Bowls XVI, XXIII, LVI)
Atlanta Falcons – 1 appearance (Super Bowl LI)
Carolina Panthers – 2 appearances (Super Bowls XXXVIII, 50)
Tennessee Titans – 1 appearance (Super Bowl XXXIV)

Franchises Without Any Super Bowl Appearance

Arizona Cardinals – Oldest NFL franchise, last championship in 1947
Cleveland Browns – Re-established in 1999; last title in 1964 (pre-Super Bowl era)
Detroit Lions – First NFL champions under Super Bowl format in 1957; no appearance since
Houston Texans – Founded in 2002; fastest expansion team to reach playoffs but not Super Bowl
Jacksonville Jaguars – Founded in 1995; reached AFC Championship games but not Super Bowl
Los Angeles Chargers – Original AFL team; returned to LA in 2017; no Super Bowl berth

Detailed Analysis of Non-Winning Teams

The following table provides key data on each team that has never won a Super Bowl, including years founded, number of appearances, best finishes, and most recent playoff results as of the 2024 season.

Team	Founded	Super Bowl Appearances	Best Finish	Last Playoff Appearance	Last Conference Championship
Minnesota Vikings	1961	4	Loser (IV, VIII, IX, XI)	2024	2000
Buffalo Bills	1960 (AFL)	4	Loser (XXV–XXVIII)	2023	2023
Cincinnati Bengals	1968	3	Winner (LVI)	2022	2021
Atlanta Falcons	1966	1	Loser (LI)	2017	2016
Carolina Panthers	1995	2	Loser (XXXVIII, 50)	2017	2015
Tennessee Titans	1960 (as Oilers)	1	Loser (XXXIV)	2021	2020
Arizona Cardinals	1898	0	N/A	2021	2015
Cleveland Browns	1946	0	N/A	2023	2020
Detroit Lions	1930	0	N/A	2024	2023
Houston Texans	2002	0	N/A	2023	2019
Jacksonville Jaguars	1995	0	N/A	2022	2017
Los Angeles Chargers	1960 (AFL)	0	N/A	2022	2007

Table data source:1, 2

The data shows that while the Vikings and Bills have made the most attempts without winning, newer franchises like the Texans and Jaguars lack even a single Super Bowl appearance. The Cardinals, despite being the league’s oldest team, have not reached the Super Bowl era successfully. Several teams, including the Lions and Browns, have recently broken long playoff droughts but remain far from a championship.

Common Questions About Super Bowl–Winless Teams

Which NFL team has appeared in the most Super Bowls without winning?

The Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills are tied with four Super Bowl appearances each without a win. The Bills notably lost four consecutive Super Bowls from 1991 to 1994.

Have the Cincinnati Bengals ever won a Super Bowl?

No, the Cincinnati Bengals have not won a Super Bowl. They lost Super Bowls XVI and XXIII and most recently lost Super Bowl LVI to the Los Angeles Rams in 2022.

Which NFL team has never even appeared in a Super Bowl?

Six teams have never appeared in a Super Bowl: the Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Chargers, and Arizona Cardinals.

When was the last time the Detroit Lions played in a Super Bowl?

The Detroit Lions have never played in a Super Bowl. Their last NFL championship was in 1957, before the Super Bowl era began in 1966.

Are there any expansion teams that have never won a Super Bowl?

Yes, all expansion teams since the AFL–NFL merger in 1970 have yet to win a Super Bowl. This includes the Houston Texans (2002), Jacksonville Jaguars (1995), and Carolina Panthers (1995), though the Panthers have reached two Super Bowls.