How Many NFL Teams Have Never Won a Super Bowl?

By Sarah Miller · October 13, 2035

As of the 2024 NFL season, 12 teams have never won a Super Bowl. These franchises span multiple decades and include some with deep playoff histories but no Lombardi Trophy victories.

Teams That Have Never Won a Super Bowl

The National Football League (NFL) currently consists of 32 teams, and while 20 of them have claimed at least one Super Bowl title, a significant portion—12 teams—have yet to win the championship game. This section details each team that has never secured a Super Bowl victory.

Arizona Cardinals
Atlanta Falcons
Cincinnati Bengals
Buffalo Bills
Carolina Panthers
Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles Rams (pre-2000 only; won in 2000 and 2022)
Cleveland Browns
Detroit Lions
Houston Texans
Jacksonville Jaguars
Tennessee Titans

Historical Context and Near-Win Attempts

Several of these teams have come close to winning a Super Bowl:

Buffalo Bills: Lost four consecutive Super Bowls (XXV–XXVIII), the most by any team.
Minnesota Vikings: Though not on this list anymore? Wait—they’ve never won? Actually, correction: Minnesota has never won, but they are not included above because they haven’t appeared in a Super Bowl since 1977. However, they lost all four of their Super Bowl appearances. But wait—this contradicts earlier data. Let’s clarify: The correct count remains 12 teams without a win.
Minnesota Vikings actually are one of the 12 teams that have never won a Super Bowl despite four appearances. They were omitted in error from the initial list. Corrected list includes them.

NFL Team	First Season	Super Bowl Appearances	Last Super Bowl Appearance
Arizona Cardinals	1920	1	XLIII (2008)
Atlanta Falcons	1966	2	LI (2017)
Buffalo Bills	1960 (AFL), 1970 (NFL)	4	XXVIII (1994)
Cincinnati Bengals	1968 (AFL), 1970 (NFL)	3	LVI (2022)
Carolina Panthers	1995	2	50 (2016)
Los Angeles Chargers	1960 (AFL), 1970 (NFL)	1	XXXII (1998)
Cleveland Browns	1950	0	N/A
Detroit Lions	1930	0	N/A
Houston Texans	2002	0	N/A
Jacksonville Jaguars	1995	0	N/A
Tennessee Titans	1960 (as Oilers)	1	XXXIV (2000)
Minnesota Vikings	1961	4	IX (1975)

Table data source:1, 2

The data shows that among the 12 teams without a Super Bowl win, several have made deep runs. The Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings each lost four Super Bowls, highlighting sustained excellence without ultimate success. In contrast, five teams—Browns, Lions, Texans, Jaguars, and Falcons—have either never reached or narrowly missed victory. The Cincinnati Bengals recently ended a long drought by reaching Super Bowl LVI and LVIII, signaling potential future success.

Factors Behind the Lack of Super Bowl Wins

Multiple factors contribute to a team's inability to win a Super Bowl, even after decades of competition:

Front Office Stability: Poor drafting, coaching turnover, and management decisions hinder long-term growth.
Quarterback Development: Sustained success often hinges on elite QB play—teams like the Texans and Jaguars have struggled here.

Competitive Divisions

Injuries and Timing: Even strong teams can miss titles due to bad luck or narrow losses in key games.

Recent Developments and Future Outlook

Some teams are closer than ever to breaking through:

Cincinnati Bengals: Reached Super Bowl LVI and LVIII under Joe Burrow, indicating a rising contender.
Los Angeles Chargers: With Justin Herbert, they possess a young franchise QB capable of leading a deep playoff run.
Detroit Lions: After a breakthrough 2023 season and division title, they’re poised to make their first Super Bowl appearance.
Houston Texans: Under C.J. Stroud and DeMeco Ryans, the team showed dramatic improvement in 2023 and could become competitive soon.

Frequently Asked Questions About NFL Teams Without a Super Bowl Win

Which NFL teams have never won a Super Bowl?

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

Have the Buffalo Bills ever won a Super Bowl?

No, the Buffalo Bills have never won a Super Bowl. They hold the unfortunate record of losing four consecutive Super Bowls (XXV–XXVIII) from 1991 to 1994.

Have the Minnesota Vikings ever won a Super Bowl?

No, despite appearing in four Super Bowls (IV, VIII, IX, XI), the Minnesota Vikings have never won a Super Bowl, making them one of the most notable teams without a championship.

Which team has gone the longest without a Super Bowl appearance?

The Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions share the longest active drought without a Super Bowl appearance, as neither has ever played in the game since its inception in 1967.

Has every NFL team been to a Super Bowl?

No, not every NFL team has appeared in a Super Bowl. The Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, and Jacksonville Jaguars have never reached the Super Bowl.

Which team is most likely to win their first Super Bowl next?

Based on current rosters and performance, the Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Chargers, and Detroit Lions are among the top contenders to win their first Super Bowl in the near future.