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Longest championship droughts and playoff droughts in NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL
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- Longest championship droughts and playoff droughts in NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL
Brad Penner-Imagn Images
What is the longest championship drought ever? While there are great dynasties throughout sports history, plenty of NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB teams have gone decades without being on top of the world. Whether curses are to blame or just bad management and worse luck, fans put up with a lot.
For many of these teams, these streaks of decades without a championship extend beyond one generation. Fans growing up as children hoping desperately to see their favorite club they were raised to support one day lift the banner declaring the champions. Time flies by and those same fans are capturing their children and even grandchildren in that same feeling.
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Of course, some have it worse than others. While championship droughts are the focus, some fan bases have gone more than a decade without even seeing their team in the playoffs. It's one thing to never hoist the championship trophy and witness a parade, but not even experiencing the brief second of joy from a playoff game makes rooting for teams even more painful.
Longest active playoff droughts in sports
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New York Jets (NFL) –14 years
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Buffalo Sabres (NHL) –13 years
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Los Angeles Angels (MLB) –10 years
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Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB) –9 years
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Charlotte Hornets (NBA) –8 years
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Detroit Red Wings (NHL) –8 years
Here are the longest championship droughts and playoff droughts in the four major American professional sports.
Longest championship drought in NFL
The Arizona Cardinals have the longest championship drought in the NFL, with their last title coming in 1947 as the Chicago Cardinals. While the Cardinals appeared in Super Bowl XLIII in 2009, their lone Super Bowl appearance, this organization has never hoisted the Lombardi Trophy.
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Some believe a curse is a reason for this title drought. Back in 1925, the Cardinals faced the Pottsville Maroons in the 1925 NFL Championship game. Pottsville won the game 21-7, a win that should have secured the championship. However, they were stripped of the title and the Maroons were suspended by the NFL for playing an exhibition game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The NFL then gave the title to the Cardinals.
Of course, the Cardinals aren't the only franchise with a championship drought beyond 50 years. The Detroit Lions are one of seven teams without a Super Bowl win. The last time the Lions won a championship came in 1957, when they defeated the Cleveland Browns in the NFL Championship Game.
Also Read:: NFL teams that have never won a Super Bowl
Longest NFL playoff droughts right now
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New York Jets –14 seasons
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Carolina Panthers –7 seasons
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Atlanta Falcons –6 seasons
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New Orleans Saints –4 seasons
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Chicago Bears –4 seasons
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Longest NFL playoff droughts of all time
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Cardinals –25 seasons – (1949-1974)
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Commanders– 25 seasons – (1946-1971)
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Steelers –24 seasons – (1948-1972)
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Saints –20 seasons – (1967-1987)
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Browns –17 seasons – (2003-2020)
The New York Jets signed Aaron Rodgers before the 2023 season, hoping he would end the longest playoff drought in the NFL. Instead, the Jets missed the playoffs in 2023 after he suffered an Achilles tear in Week 1. One year later, after firing their general manager and head coach, the Jets were eliminated from NFL playoff contention in 2024 following a Week 14 loss to the Miami Dolphins. In the 2027 NFL season, the jets can tie the Cleveland Browns for the fifth-longest NFL playoff drought ever.
On Dec. 24, 2023, the Detroit Lions officially won the NFC North for the first time in franchise history. The Lions had a six-year playoff drought entering the 2023 season, with many believing the streak would end this year. Sure enough, a streak of 29 consecutive seasons without a division title has come to a close.
Who has the longest NFL playoff drought?
The New York Jets have the longest active playoff drought in the NFL, having missed the playoffs in 14 consecutive seasons. The Jets last playoff appearance came in the 2020 AFC Championship Game and the Jets last playoff win came in the 2010 AFC Divisional Round.
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Longest World Series drought in MLB
The Cleveland Guardians have the longest active championship drought in MLB, with their last World Series title coming in 1948. Cleveland reached the World Series multiple times (1954, '95, '97 and 2016). Ironically, the 2016 World Series loss to the Chicago Cubs snapped the longest championship drought ever, with the Cubs going 107 years without a title.
Longest championship droughts in MLB
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Cleveland Guardians –75 years
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Milwaukee Brewers –56 years
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San Diego Padres –56 years
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Seattle Mariners –48 years
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Pittsburgh Pirates –45 years
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Baltimore Orioles –41 years
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Detroit Tigers –40 years
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New York Mets –38 years
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Oakland Athletics –35 years
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Cincinnati Reds –34 years
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Minnesota Twins –33 years
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Colorado Rockies –32 years
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Toronto Blue Jays –31 years
While the Seattle Mariners are far behind some others in the length of their title drought, they are in MLB history for another unfortunate reason. The Mariners went 20 years without reaching the MLB playoffs , it was the longest active postseason drought in the top four American men's sports before they made the playoffs in 2022.
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In 2023, the Texas Rangers won their first World Series title in franchise history. The Rangers franchise first started playing in Texas at the start of the 1972 season, so the Texas franchise did not have one of the longest championship droughts in MLB.
How many MLB teams have never won a World Series?
Entering the 2025 season, five MLB teams have never won the World Series and the Seattle Mariners are the one franchise to never appear in a World Series.
What MLB teams have never won a World Series?
The San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners and Colorado Rockies have never won the World Series.
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Longest MLB playoff droughts of all time
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Nationals –29 years – (1982-2011)
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Royals –27 years – (1986-2013)
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Rangers –26 years – (1969-1995)
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Guardians –25 years (1969-1993)
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Brewers –24 years – (1983-2007)
Longest MLB playoff drought current
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Los Angeles Angels –10 years
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Pittsburgh Pirates –9 years
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Colorado Rockies –6 years
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Washington Nationals –5 years
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Chicago Cubs –4 years
The Seattle Mariners snapped one of the longest playoff droughts ever in 2022, making it into the MLB postseason for the first time in two decades. The Mariners last made the playoffs in 2001, an unforgettable season for the team. Seattle tied the record for the most wins in an MLB season (116), but lost in the American League Championship Series to the New York Yankees. Seattle then went 20 years without making it back to the postseason, but that streak is now over. When the Mariners hosted the Houston Astros in Game 3 of the American League Division Series in 2022, it was Seattle's first MLB playoff game since Oct. 18, 2001.
In 2024, the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals snapped their postseason droughts. In each of the last three seasons, some of the longest MLB playoff droughts have been snapped.
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What is the longest MLB playoff drought?
The Los Angeles Angels have the longest active playoff drought in MLB, having not made the playoffs in 10 years. The Angels last made the playoffs in 2015 and their last postseason series victory came in 2009.
NBA teams with the longest championship droughts
The Sacramento Kings have the longest championship drought in the NBA and had one of the longest playoff droughts in American sports prior to last season. It's par for the course from a team that has battled to even reach mediocrity during its best seasons in the last two decades.
Basketball fans must go all the way back to the 1951 NBA to find the last Kings' championship. Keep in mind, that this happened when this franchise played in Rochester, New York as the Rochester Royals. The Royals beat the New York Knicks in seven games to win the 1951 NBA Finals.
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Also Read:: Who is the oldest NBA player? (All-time and active)
The Kings also have one of the longest playoff droughts in American professional sports. Following the 2021-'22 NBA season, Sacramento has missed the playoff in 16 consecutive seasons. It is the longest playoff drought in NBA history, surpassing the Los Angeles Clippers (15, 1977-19992) and Minnesota Timberwolves (13, 2005-'18).
Longest championship droughts in NBA
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Sacramento Kings –74 years
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Atlanta Hawks –67 years
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Phoenix Suns –57 years
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Los Angeles Clippers –55 years
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New York Knicks –52 years
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Utah Jazz –51 years
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Indiana Pacers –49 years
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Brooklyn Nets –49 years
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Portland Trail Blazers –48 years
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Washington Wizards –47 years
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Oklahoma City Thunder –46 years
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Philadelphia 76ers –42 years
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Orlando Magi –36 years
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Minnesota Timberwolves –36 years
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Houston Rockets –30 years
The Phoenix Suns have the longest championship drought by a team without a single title. There are 10 NBA teams that have never won a championship in league history.
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The Boston Celtics ended their 16-year championship drought after defeating the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals. Notably, prior to winning the NBA Finals, Boston sports teams were in the midst of their second-longest championship drought ever.
Which NBA team has the longest championship drought?
The Sacramento Kings have the longest championship drought in NBA history at 74 years. When the Kings last won a championship in 1951, they were known as the Rochester Royals.
Have the Nuggets ever won a championship?
The Denver Nuggets won their first NBA title in 2023 with a win over the Miami Heat in five games. Previously, Denver was one of the NBA teams with the longest championship droughts.
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Longest playoff droughts in NBA
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Charlotte Hornets –9 seasons
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San Antonio Spurs –6 seasons
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Portland Trail Blazers –4 seasons
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Washington Wizards –4 seasons
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Utah Jazz –3 seasons
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Toronto Raptors –3 seasons
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Chicago Bulls –3 seasons
The Sacramento Kings ended their 16-year playoff drought in 2023, hosting a series in the Western Conference against the Golden State Warriors. Sacramento ended the longest playoff drought in the NBA as did the Cleveland Cavaliers (four years). It was also the first time the Cavaliers made the playoffs without LeBron James since 1998.
In 2025, the Detroit Pistons (five seasons) and Houston Rockets (four seasons) ended two of the longest NBA playoff droughts with both advance to the first round of the NBA playoffs.
Longest Stanley Cup title drought in NHL
The Toronto Maple Leafs have the longest championship drought in the NHL, a massive fall for a dynasty. From 1917-'67, Toronto won the Stanley Cup finals 13 times, they still have the second-most Stanley Cup wins in NHL history.
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Unfortunately, the wheels have fallen off in recent decades. The Maple Leafs have now gone 55 years without being crowned NHL champions. To make matters worse, this team isn't even coming close to the Stanley Cup finals. In fact, the last time Toronto hosted an Eastern Conference finals game came in 2002.
At least the Maple Leafs aren't totally alone. The Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks are the other NHL teams to go 50-plus years without winning the Stanley Cup. Sadly for hockey fans in Philly, the Philadelphia Flyers aren't far behind. Buffalo's future is bright, but it is currently riding the longest playoff drought in NHL history with 11 consecutive seasons without an appearance in the NHL playoffs.
Longest championship droughts in NHL history
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Toronto Maple Leafs –57 years – ACTIVE
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Buffalo Sabres –55 years – ACTIVE
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New York Rangers –53 years (1941-1994)
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Vancouver Canucks –53 years – ACTIVE
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St. Louis Blues –53 years – (1968-2019)
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Philadelphia Flyers –49 years – ACTIVE
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Chicago Blackhawks –48 years – (1962-2010)
The Toronto Maple Leafs have the longest Stanley Cup drought in NHL history. The Maple Leafs now haven't won the Stanley Cup in 56 years. The last time the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup was in 1967.
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Longest playoff droughts in NHL right now
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Buffalo Sabres –14 years
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Detroit Red Wings –9 years
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Ottawa Senators –7 years
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Anaheim Ducks –7 years
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San Jose Sharks –6 seasons
The Buffalo Sabres have the longest active playoff drought in the NHL at 13 seasons. The Sabres last played in the NHL playoffs in 2011. The Sabres hold the record for the longest playoff drought in NHL history.
In 2025, the Ottawa Senators snapped a seven-year playoff drought by reaching the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs against the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have the longest Stanley Cup drought in NHL history.
