document_title: United States Armed Forces

question_text: how many service members are there in the us military

text: United States Armed Forces

text: History[edit]

text: The history of the U.S. Armed Forces dates to 1775, even before the Declaration of Independence marked the establishment of the United States. The Continental Army, Continental Navy, and Continental Marines were created in close succession by the Second Continental Congress in order to defend the new nation against the British Empire in the American Revolutionary War.

text: These forces demobilized in 1784 after the Treaty of Paris ended the War for Independence. The Congress of the Confederation created the United States Army on 3 June 1784, and the United States Congress created the United States Navy on 27 March 1794, and the United States Marine Corps on 11 July 1798. All three services trace their origins to the founding of the Continental Army (on 14 June 1775), the Continental Navy (on 13 October 1775) and the Continental Marines (on 10 November 1775), respectively. The 1787 adoption of the Constitution gave the Congress the power to "raise and support armies", "provide and maintain a navy", and to "make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces", as well as the power to declare war. The President of the United States is the U.S. Armed Forces' commander-in-chief.

text: Rising tensions at various times with Britain and France and the ensuing Quasi-War and War of 1812 quickened the development of the U.S. Navy (established 13 October 1775) and the United States Marine Corps (established 10 November 1775). The U.S. Coast Guard dates its origin to the founding of the Revenue Cutter Service on 4 August 1790; that service merged with the United States Life-Saving Service in 1915 to establish the Coast Guard. The United States Air Force was established as an independent service on 18 September 1947; it traces its origin to the formation of the Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps, formed 1 August 1907, and was part of the Army before becoming an independent service.

text: The reserve component formed a military strategic reserve during the Cold War, to be called into service in case of war.[14][15][16] Time magazine's Mark Thompson has suggested that with the War on Terror, the reserves deployed as a single force with the active component and America no longer has a strategic reserve.[17][18][19]

text: Command structure[edit]

text: Command over the U.S. Armed Forces is established in the United States Constitution. The sole power of command is vested in the President by Article II as Commander-in-Chief. The Constitution also allows for the creation of "executive Departments" headed by "principal officers" whose opinion the President can require. This allowance in the Constitution formed the basis for creation of the Department of Defense in 1947 by the National Security Act. The Defense Department is headed by the Secretary of Defense, who is a civilian and member of the Cabinet. The Defense Secretary is second in the Armed Forces' chain of command(with the exception of the Coast Guard, which is under the Secretary of Homeland Security), just below the President, and serves as the principal assistant to the President in all defense-related matters.[20] Together, the President and the Secretary of Defense comprise the National Command Authority, which by law, is the ultimate lawful source of military orders.[21]

text: To coordinate military strategy with political affairs, the President has a National Security Council headed by the National Security Advisor. The collective body has only advisory power to the President, but several of the members who statutorily comprise the council (the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Energy, and the Secretary of Defense) possess executive authority over their own departments.[22]

text: Just as the President and the Secretary of Defense are in charge of the entire military establishment, maintaining civilian control of the military, so too are each of the Defense Department's constitutive military departments headed by civilians. The four DoD branches are organized into three departments, each with civilian heads. The Department of the Army is headed by the Secretary of the Army, the Department of the Navy is headed by the Secretary of the Navy, and the Department of the Air Force is headed by the Secretary of the Air Force. The Marine Corps is organized under the Department of the Navy. The Coast Guard is not under the administration of the Defense Department, but the Department of Homeland Security and receives its operational orders from the Secretary of Homeland Security. However, the Coast Guard may be transferred to the Department of the Navy by the President or Congress during a time of war, thereby placing it within the Defense Department.[23]

text: The President, Secretary of Defense, and other senior executive officials are advised by a seven-member Joint Chiefs of Staff, which is headed by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest-ranking officer in the United States military, and the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.[24] The rest of the body is composed of the heads of each of the Defense Department's service branches (the Chief of Staff of the Army, the Chief of Naval Operations, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force) as well as the Chief of the National Guard Bureau. Although commanding one of the five military branches, the Commandant of the Coast Guard is not a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Despite being composed of the highest-ranking officers in each of the respective branches, the Joint Chiefs of Staff does not possess operational command authority. Rather, the Goldwater-Nichols Act charges them only with advisory power.[25]

text: All of the branches work together during operations and joint missions in Unified Combatant Commands, under the authority of the Secretary of Defense with the exception of the Coast Guard. Each of the Unified Combatant Commands is headed by a Combatant Commander, a senior commissioned officer who exercises supreme command authority per 10 U.S.C. § 164 over all of the forces, regardless of branch, within his geographical or functional command. By statute, the chain of command flows from the President to the Secretary of Defense to each of the Combatant Commanders.[26] In practice, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff often acts as an intermediary between the Secretary of Defense and the Combatant Commanders.

text: Budget[edit]

text: The United States has the world's largest military budget. In the fiscal year 2016, $580.3 billion in funding were enacted for the Department of Defense (DoD) and for "Overseas Contingency Operations" in the War on Terrorism.[4] Outside of direct DoD spending, the United States spends another $218 to $262 billion each year on other defense-related programs, such as Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, nuclear weapons maintenance, and the State Department.

text: By service, $146.9 billion was allocated for the Army, $168.8 billion for the Navy and Marine Corps, $161.8 billion for the Air Force and $102.8 billion for defense-wide spending.[4] By function, $138.6 billion was requested for personnel, $244.4 billion for operations and maintenance, $118.9 billion for procurement, $69.0 billion for research and development, $1.3 billion for revolving and management funds, $6.9 billion for military construction, and $1.3 billion for family housing.[4]

text: In FY 2009, major defense programs saw continued funding:

text:
$4.1 billion was requested for the next-generation fighter, F-22 Raptor, which was to roll out an additional 20 planes in 2009
$6.7 billion was requested for the F-35 Lightning II, which is still under development, but 16 planes were slated to be built
The Future Combat System program is expected to see $3.6 billion for its development.
A total of $12.3 billion was requested for missile defense, including Patriot CAP, PAC-3 and SBIRS-High.

text: Loren Thompson, a defense analyst with the Lexington Institute, has blamed the "vast sums of money" squandered on cutting-edge technology projects that were then canceled on shortsighted political operatives who lack a long-term perspective in setting requirements. The result is that the number of items bought under a given program are cut. The total development costs of the program are divided over fewer platforms, making the per-unit cost seem higher and so the numbers are cut again and again in a death spiral.[27] Although the United States was the world's biggest exporter of major weapons in 2010–14, the US was also the world's eight biggest importer during the same period. US arms imports increased by 21 percent between 2005–2009 and 2010–14.[10]

text: Cost containment measures in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Obama administration's energy policy will play critical determining roles because health care and fuel costs are the two fastest-growing segments of the defense budget.[28][29]

text: Personnel[edit]

text: The projected active duty end strength in the armed forces for FY 2017 was 1,281,900 people,[4] with an additional 801,200 people in the seven reserve components.[4] It is an all-volunteer military, but conscription through the Selective Service System can be enacted at the President's request and Congress' approval. All males ages 18 through 25 who are living in the United States are required to register with the Selective Service for a potential future draft.

text: The U.S. Armed Forces is the world's second largest after China's People's Liberation Army, and has troops deployed around the globe.

text: From 1776 until September 2012, a total of 40 million people have served in the United States Armed Forces.[30]

text: The FY 2017 DoD budget request[4] plan calls for an active duty end strength of 1,281,900, a decrease of 19,400 from the 2016 baseline as a result of decrements in the Army (15,000 fewer personnel) and Navy (4,400 fewer personnel) strength. The budget request also calls for a reserve component end strength of 801,200, a decrease of 9,800 personnel.

text: As in most militaries, members of the U.S. Armed Forces hold a rank, either that of officer, warrant officer, or enlisted, to determine seniority and eligibility for promotion. Those who have served are known as veterans. Rank names may be different between services, but they are matched to each other by their corresponding paygrade.[31] Officers who hold the same rank or paygrade are distinguished by their date of rank to determine seniority, while officers who serve in certain positions of office of importance set by law, outrank all other officers in active duty of the same rank and paygrade, regardless of their date of rank.[32] Currently, only one in four persons in the United States of the proper age meet the moral, academic and physical standards for military service.[33]

text: Personnel in each service[edit]

text: 2010 Demographic Reports and end strengths for reserve components.[4][34][35] (should be updated using 2011 Demographic Reports[36] and Dec.2011 DMDC military personnel data[37])

text:
Component
Military
Enlisted
Officer
Male
Female
Civilian

 United States Army
541,291
438,670
98,126
465,784
75,507
299,644

 United States Marine Corps
195,338
173,474
21,864
181,845
13,493
20,484

 United States Navy
317,237
260,253
52,546
265,852
51,385
179,293

 United States Air Force
333,772
265,519
64,290
270,462
63,310
174,754

 United States Coast Guard
42,357

9,752[38]
35,567
6,790
7,057

Total Active
1,429,995
1,137,916
236,826
1,219,510
210,485

 Army National Guard of the United States
342,000

 United States Army Reserve
198,000

 United States Marine Corps Reserve
38,900

 United States Navy Reserve
57,400

 Air National Guard of the United States
105,500

 United States Air Force Reserve
69,200

 United States Coast Guard Reserve
8,100

Total Reserves
818,000

Other DoD Personnel

108,833

tag: table

text: These numbers do not take into account the use of Private Military and Private Security Companies (PSCs). Quarterly PSC census reports are available for United States Central Command (USCENTCOM)'s area of operations—i.e., Iraq and Afghanistan.[39] As of March 2011, there were 18,971 private security contractor (PSC) personnel in Afghanistan working for DoD; in Iraq, there were 9,207 PSC personnel, down from a high of 15,279 in June 2009.[40] As of October 2012, in Afghanistan, there were 18,914 PSC personnel working for DoD; in Iraq, there were 2,116 PSC personnel.[41] The total number of DoD contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan was more than 137,400; reported PSCs were only a part of the number.

text: Personnel stationing[edit]

text: Overseas[edit]

text: As of 31 December 2010, U.S. Armed Forces troops were stationed in 150 countries; the number of non-contingent deployments per country ranges from 1 in Suriname to over 50,000 in Germany.[42] Some of the largest deployments are: 103,700 in Afghanistan, 52,440 in Germany (see list), 35,688 in Japan (USFJ), 28,500 in South Korea (USFK), 9,660 in Italy, and 9,015 in the United Kingdom. These numbers change frequently due to the regular recall and deployment of units.

text: Altogether, 77,917 military personnel are located in Europe, 141 in the former Soviet Union, 47,236 in East Asia and the Pacific, 3,362 in North Africa, the Near East, and South Asia, 1,355 in sub-Saharan Africa and 1,941 in the Western Hemisphere excluding the United States itself.

text: Domestic[edit]

text: Including U.S. territories and ships afloat within territorial waters

text: As of 31 December 2009, a total of 1,137,568 personnel were on active duty within the United States and its territories (including 84,461 afloat).[43] The vast majority (941,629 personnel) were stationed at bases within the contiguous United States. There were an additional 37,245 in Hawaii and 20,450 in Alaska; 84,461 were at sea, 2,972 in Guam, and 179 in Puerto Rico.

text: Types of personnel[edit]

text: Enlisted[edit]

text: Prospective service members are often recruited from high school or college, the target age ranges being 18–35 in the Army, 18–28 in the Marine Corps, 18–34 in the Navy, 18–39 in the Air Force, and 18–27 (up to age 32 if qualified for attending guaranteed "A" school) in the Coast Guard. With the permission of a parent or guardian, applicants can enlist at age 17 and participate in the Delayed Entry Program (DEP), in which the applicant is given the opportunity to participate in locally sponsored military activities, which can range from sports to competitions led by recruiters or other military liaisons (each recruiting station's DEP varies).

text: After enlistment, new recruits undergo basic training (also known as "boot camp" in the Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard), followed by schooling in their primary Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), rating, Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) at any of the numerous training facilities around the United States. Each branch conducts basic training differently. The Marine Corps send all non-infantry MOS's to an infantry skills course known as Marine Combat Training prior to their technical schools. Air Force Basic Military Training graduates attend Technical Training and are awarded their Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) at the apprentice (3) skill level. All Army recruits undergo Basic Combat Training (BCT), followed by Advanced Individual Training (AIT), with the exceptions of cavalry scouts, infantry, armor, combat engineers, and military police recruits who go to One Station Unit Training (OSUT), which combines BCT and AIT. The Navy sends its recruits to Recruit Training and then to "A" schools to earn a rating. The Coast Guard's recruits attend basic training and follow with an "A" school to earn a rating.

text: Initially, recruits without higher education or college degrees will hold the pay grade of E-1, and will be elevated to E-2 usually soon after basic training. Different services have different incentive programs for enlistees, such as higher initial ranks for college credit, being an Eagle Scout, and referring friends who go on to enlist as well. Participation in DEP is one way recruits can achieve rank before their departure to basic training.

text: There are several different authorized pay grade advancement requirements in each junior-enlisted rank category (E-1 to E-3), which differ by service. Enlistees in the Army can attain the initial pay grade of E-4 (specialist) with a four-year degree, but the highest initial pay grade is usually E-3 (members of the Army Band program can expect to enter service at the grade of E-4). Promotion through the junior enlisted ranks occurs after serving for a specified number of years (which, however, can be waived by the soldier's chain of command), a specified level of technical proficiency, or maintenance of good conduct. Promotion can be denied with reason.

text: Non-commissioned officers / Petty officers[edit]

text: With very few exceptions, becoming a non-commissioned officer (NCO) or petty officer in the U.S. Armed Forces is accomplished by progression through the lower enlisted ranks. However, unlike promotion through the lower enlisted tier, promotion to NCO is generally competitive. NCO ranks begin at E-4 or E-5, depending upon service, and are generally attained between three and six years of service. Junior NCOs function as first-line supervisors and squad leaders, training the junior enlisted in their duties and guiding their career advancement.

text: While considered part of the non-commissioned officer corps by law, senior non-commissioned officers (SNCOs) referred to as chief petty officers in the Navy and Coast Guard, or staff non-commissioned officers in the Marine Corps, perform duties more focused on leadership rather than technical expertise. Promotion to the SNCO ranks, E-7 through E-9 (E-6 through E-9 in the Marine Corps) is highly competitive. Personnel totals at the pay grades of E-8 and E-9 are limited by federal law to 2.5 percent and 1 percent of a service's enlisted force, respectively. SNCOs act as leaders of small units and as staff. Some SNCOs manage programs at headquarters level and a select few wield responsibility at the highest levels of the military structure. Most unit commanders have a SNCO as an enlisted advisor. All SNCOs are expected to mentor junior commissioned officers as well as the enlisted in their duty sections. The typical enlistee can expect to attain SNCO rank after 10 to 16 years of service.

text: Each of the five services employs a single Senior Enlisted Advisor at departmental level. This individual is the highest ranking enlisted member within that respective service and functions as the chief advisor to the service secretary, service chief, and Congress on matters concerning the enlisted force. These individuals carry responsibilities and protocol requirements equivalent to three-star general or flag officers. They are as follows:

text:
Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman
Sergeant Major of the Army
Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard

text: Warrant officers[edit]

text: Additionally, all services except for the Air Force have an active warrant officer corps. Above the rank of warrant Officer One, these officers may also be commissioned, but usually serve in a more technical and specialized role within units. More recently though they can also serve in more traditional leadership roles associated with the more recognizable officer corps. With one notable exception (Army helicopter and fixed-wing pilots), these officers ordinarily have already been in the military often serving in senior NCO positions in the field in which they later serve as a warrant officer as a technical expert. Most Army pilots have served some enlisted time. It is also possible to enlist, complete basic training, go directly to the Warrant Officer Candidate School at Fort Rucker, Alabama, and then on to flight school.

text: Warrant officers in the U.S. military garner the same customs and courtesies as commissioned officers. They may attend the officer's club, receive a command and are saluted by junior warrant officers and all enlisted service members.

text: The Air Force ceased to grant warrants in 1959 when the enlisted grades of E-8 and E-9 were created. Most non-flying duties performed by warrant officers in other services are instead performed by senior NCOs in the Air Force.

text: Commissioned officers[edit]

text: Officers receive a commission in one of the branches of the U.S. Armed Forces through one of the following routes.

text:
Service academies (United States Military Academy (Army), United States Naval Academy, United States Air Force Academy, United States Coast Guard Academy, and the United States Merchant Marine Academy)
Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC)
Officer Candidate School (OCS) (Officer Training School (OTS) in the Air Force): This can be through active-duty schools, or through state-run schools in the case of the Army National Guard.
Direct commission: civilians who have special skills that are critical to sustaining military operations and supporting troops may receive direct commissions. These officers occupy leadership positions in law, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, intelligence, supply-logistics-transportation, engineering, public affairs, chaplain, oceanography, and others.
Battlefield commission: Under certain conditions, enlisted personnel who have skills that separate them from their peers can become officers by direct commissioning of a commander so authorized to grant them. This type of commission is rarely granted and is reserved only for the most exceptional enlisted personnel; it is done on an ad hoc basis, typically only in wartime. No direct battlefield commissions have been awarded since the Vietnam War. The Navy and Air Force do not employ this commissioning path.
Limited Duty Officer: Due to the highly technical nature of some officer billets, the Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard employ a system of promoting proven senior enlisted members to the ranks of commissioned officers. They fill a need that is similar to, but distinct from that filled by warrant officers (to the point where their accession is through the same school). While warrant officers remain technical experts, LDOs take on the role of a generalist, like that of officers commissioned through more traditional sources. LDOs are limited, not by their authority, but by the types of billets they are allowed to fill. However, in recent times, they have come to be used more and more like their more-traditional counterparts.

text: Officers receive a commission assigning them to the officer corps from the President with the Senate's consent. To accept this commission, all officers must take an oath of office.

text: Through their careers, officers usually will receive further training at one or a number of the many staff colleges.

text: Company grade officers in pay grades O-1 through O-3 (known as "junior" officers in the Navy and Coast Guard) function as leaders of smaller units or sections of a unit, typically with an experienced SNCO (or CPO in the Navy and Coast Guard) assistant and mentor.

text: Field grade officers in pay grades O-4 through O-6 (known as "senior" officers in the Navy and Coast Guard) lead significantly larger and more complex operations, with gradually more competitive promotion requirements.

text: General officers, (known as flag officers in the Navy and Coast Guard) serve at the highest levels and oversee major portions of the military mission.

text: Five-star ranking[edit]

text: These are ranks of the highest honor and responsibility in the U.S. Armed Forces, but they are almost never given during peacetime and only a very small number of officers during wartime have held a five-star rank:

text:
General of the Army
Fleet Admiral
General of the Air Force

text: No corresponding rank exists for the Marine Corps or the Coast Guard. As with three- and four-star ranks, Congress is the approving authority for a five-star rank confirmation.

text: The rank of General of the Armies is considered senior to General of the Army, but was never held by active duty officers at the same time as persons who held the rank of General of the Army. It has been held by two people: John J. Pershing who received the rank in 1919 after World War I, and George Washington who received it posthumously in 1976 as part of the American Bicentennial celebrations. Pershing, appointed to General of the Armies in active duty status for life, was still alive at the time of the first five-star appointments during World War II, and was thereby acknowledged as superior in grade by seniority to any World War II–era Generals of the Army. George Washington's appointment by Public Law 94-479 to General of the Armies of the United States was established by law as having "rank and precedence over all other grades of the Army, past or present", making him not only superior to Pershing, but superior to any grade in the Army in perpetuity.

text: In the Navy, the rank of Admiral of the Navy theoretically corresponds to that of General of the Armies, though it was never held by active-duty officers at the same time as persons who held the rank of Fleet Admiral. George Dewey is the only person to have ever held this rank. After the establishment of the rank of Fleet Admiral in 1944, the Department of the Navy specified that the rank of Fleet Admiral was to be junior to the rank of Admiral of the Navy. However, since Dewey died in 1917 before the establishment of the rank of Fleet Admiral, the six-star rank has not been totally confirmed.

text: Women in the military[edit]

text: The Woman's Army Auxiliary Corps was established in the United States in 1942. Women saw combat during World War II, first as nurses in the Pearl Harbor attacks on 7 December 1941. The Woman's Naval Reserve, Marine Corps Women's Reserve, and Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) were also created during this conflict. In 1944 WACs arrived in the Pacific and landed in Normandy on D-Day. During the war, 67 Army nurses and 16 Navy nurses were captured and spent three years as Japanese prisoners of war. There were 350,000 American women who served during World War Two and 16 were killed in action; in total, they gained over 1,500 medals, citations and commendations. Virginia Hall, serving with the Office of Strategic Services, received the second-highest US combat award, the Distinguished Service Cross, for action behind enemy lines in France.

text: After World War II, demobilization led to the vast majority of serving women being returned to civilian life. Law 625, The Women's Armed Services Act of 1948, was signed by President Truman, allowing women to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces in fully integrated units during peace time, with only the WAC remaining a separate female unit. During the Korean War of 1950–1953 many women served in the Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals, with women serving in Korea numbering 120,000 during the conflict. During the Vietnam War, 600 women served in the country as part of the Air Force, along with 500 members of the WAC, and over 6,000 medical personnel and support staff. The Ordnance Corps began accepting female missile technicians in 1974,[45] and female crewmembers and officers were accepted into Field Artillery missile units.[46][47]

text: In 1974, the first six women naval aviators earned their wings as Navy pilots. The Congressionally mandated prohibition on women in combat places limitations on the pilots' advancement,[48] but at least two retired as captains.[49] In 1989, Capt Linda L. Bray, 29, became the first woman to command American soldiers in battle, during the invasion of Panama. The 1991 Gulf War proved to be the pivotal time for the role of women in the U.S. Armed Forces to come to the attention of the world media. There are many reports of women engaging enemy forces during the conflict.[50]

text: In the 2000s, women can serve on U.S. combat ships, including in command roles. They are permitted to serve on submarines.[51] Women can fly military aircraft and make up 2% of all pilots in the U.S. Military. In 2003, Major Kim Campbell was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for landing her combat damaged A-10 Thunderbolt II with no hydraulic control and only one functional engine after being struck by hostile fire over Baghdad.

text: On 3 December 2015, United States of America Defense Secretary, Ashton Carter, announced that all military combat jobs would become available to women.[52] This gave women access to the roughly 10% of military jobs which were previously closed off due to their combat nature.[53] The decision gave military services until January 2016 to seek exceptions to the rule if they believe that certain jobs, such as machine gunner's, should be restricted to men only.[54] These restrictions were due in part to prior studies which stated that mixed gender units are less capable in combat.[55] Physical requirements for all jobs remained unchanged, though.[55] Many women believe this will allow for them to improve their positions in the military since most high-ranking officers start in combat positions. Since women are now available to work in any position in the military, female entry into the draft has been proposed.[56]

text: Sergeant Leigh Ann Hester became the first woman to receive the Silver Star, the third-highest US decoration for valor, for direct participation in combat. In Afghanistan, Monica Lin Brown was presented the Silver Star for shielding wounded soldiers with her body.[57] In March 2012, the U.S. military had two women, Ann E. Dunwoody and Janet C. Wolfenbarger, with the rank of four-star general.[58][59] In 2016, Air Force General Lori Robinson became the first female officer to command a major Unified Combatant Command (USNORTHCOM) in the history of the United States Armed Forces.[60]

text: Order of precedence[edit]

text: Under current Department of Defense regulation, the various components of the U.S. Armed Forces have a set order of seniority. Examples of the use of this system include the display of service flags, placement of Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen in formation, etc. When the Coast Guard shall operate as part of the Department of the Navy, United States Coast Guard Academy cadets, the United States Coast Guard, and the Coast Guard Reserve shall take precedence, respectively, after United States Naval Academy midshipmen; the United States Navy; and Navy Reserve.[61]

text:
Cadets, U.S. Military Academy
Midshipmen, U.S. Naval Academy
Cadets, U.S. Coast Guard Academy (when part of the Department of the Navy)
Cadets, U.S. Air Force Academy
Cadets, U.S. Coast Guard Academy (when part of the Department of Homeland Security)
Midshipmen, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
United States Army
United States Marine Corps
United States Navy
United States Coast Guard (when part of the Department of the Navy)
United States Air Force
United States Coast Guard (when part of Department of the Homeland Security)
Army National Guard of the United States
United States Army Reserve
United States Marine Corps Reserve
United States Navy Reserve
United States Coast Guard Reserve (when part of the Department of the Navy)
Air National Guard of the United States
United States Air Force Reserve
United States Coast Guard Reserve (when part of the Department of Homeland Security)
Other training and auxiliary organizations of the Army, Marine Corps, Merchant Marine, Civil Air Patrol, and Coast Guard Auxiliary, as in the preceding order. The CAP was constituted through the Administrative Order 9 of 1 December 1941 and operated under the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. The CAP became the official civilian auxiliary of the newly independent USAF with the enactment of Public Law 80-557 on 26 May 1948.

text: Note: While the U.S. Navy is older than the Marine Corps,[62] the Marine Corps takes precedence due to previous inconsistencies in the Navy's birth date. The Marine Corps has recognized its observed birth date on a more consistent basis. The Second Continental Congress is considered to have established the Navy on 13 October 1775 by authorizing the purchase of ships, but did not actually pass the "Rules for the Regulation of the Navy of the United Colonies" until 27 November 1775.[63] The Marine Corps was established by act of said Congress on 10 November 1775. The Navy did not officially recognize 13 October 1775 as its birth date until 1972, when then–Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Elmo Zumwalt authorized it to be observed as such.[62]


document_title: List of NFL franchise post-season droughts

question_text: who hasn't made it to the super bowl

question_tokens: who has n 't made it to the super bowl

root

text: Active team droughts[edit]

text: All active drought listings now include the 2017 season for season total droughts.

tag: p

text: Post-season droughts[edit]

text: Updated through the end of the 2017 regular season.

text:
0^0
Longest drought in team history

text:
Playoff Droughts [1][2]

0Team0
Last appearance in post-season
Seasons

Cleveland Browns ^
2002 AFC Wild Card Playoffs
15

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2007 NFC Wild Card Playoffs
10

New York Jets
2010 AFC Championship Game
7

Chicago Bears
2010 NFC Championship Game
7

Los Angeles Chargers
2013 AFC Divisional Playoffs
4

San Francisco 49ers
2013 NFC Championship Game
4

Baltimore Ravens
2014 AFC Divisional Playoffs
3

Indianapolis Colts
2014 AFC Championship Game
3

Cincinnati Bengals
2015 AFC Wild Card Playoffs
2

Washington Redskins
2015 NFC Wild Card Playoffs
2

Arizona Cardinals
2015 NFC Championship Game
2

Denver Broncos
Super Bowl 50
2

Miami Dolphins
2016 AFC Wild Card Playoffs
1

Oakland Raiders
2016 AFC Wild Card Playoffs
1

New York Giants
2016 NFC Wild Card Playoffs
1

Detroit Lions
2016 NFC Wild Card Playoffs
1

Houston Texans
2016 AFC Divisional Playoffs
1

Dallas Cowboys
2016 NFC Divisional Playoffs
1

Seattle Seahawks
2016 NFC Divisional Playoffs
1

Green Bay Packers
2016 NFC Championship Game
1

2017 Playoff Teams

Buffalo Bills
2017 AFC Wild Card Playoffs
—

Tennessee Titans
2017 AFC Wild Card Playoffs
—

Kansas City Chiefs
2017 AFC Wild Card Playoffs
—

Jacksonville Jaguars
2017 AFC Wild Card Playoffs
—

Atlanta Falcons
2017 NFC Wild Card Playoffs
—

Carolina Panthers
2017 NFC Wild Card Playoffs
—

New Orleans Saints
2017 NFC Wild Card Playoffs
—

Los Angeles Rams
2017 NFC Wild Card Playoffs
—

Pittsburgh Steelers
2017 AFC Divisional Playoffs
—

New England Patriots
2017 AFC Divisional Playoffs
—

Minnesota Vikings
2017 NFC Divisional Playoffs
—

Philadelphia Eagles
2017 NFC Divisional Playoffs
—

text: Playoff game victory droughts[edit]

text:
Updated through the December 31, 2017 games.
Sortable table, click on header arrows.

text:
0^0
Longest drought in team history

0†0
Tied for longest drought in team history

0♦0
Most consecutive losses in team history

0¤0
Tied for most consecutive losses in team history

0♣ ♣0
Most consecutive losses in NFL history

text:
Current Playoff Loss Streak[1]

Team
Last playoff game win
Seasons
Since Win
Loss
Streak
Playoff Losses - Teams

Cincinnati Bengals ^
1990 AFC Wild Card Playoffs
27
♦ 8
1990 Divisional - L A Raiders
2005 Wild Card - Pittsburgh
2009 Wild Card - New York Jets
2011 Wild Card - Houston
2012 Wild Card - Houston
2013 Wild Card - San Diego
2014 Wild Card - Indianapolis
2015 Wild Card - Pittsburgh

Detroit Lions
1991 NFC Divisional Playoffs*
26
♣ ♣ 9
1991 NFC Championship - Washington
1993 Wild Card - Green Bay
1994 Wild Card - Green Bay
1995 Wild Card - Philadelphia
1997 Wild Card - Tampa Bay
1999 Wild Card - Washington
2011 Wild Card - New Orleans
2014 Wild Card - Dallas
2016 Wild Card - Seattle

Buffalo Bills ^
1995 AFC Wild Card Playoffs
22
♦ 4
1995 Divisional - Pittsburgh
1996 Wild Card - Jacksonville
1998 Wild Card - Miami
1999 Wild Card - Tennessee

Cleveland Browns ^
1994 AFC Wild Card Playoffs
20**
2
1994 Divisional - Pittsburgh
2002 Wild Card - Pittsburgh

Miami Dolphins ^
2000 AFC Wild Card Playoffs
17
4 ¤
2000 Divisional - Oakland
2001 Wild Card - Baltimore
2008 Wild Card - Baltimore
2016 Wild Card - Pittsburgh

Oakland Raiders ^
2002 AFC Championship*
15
2 ¤
2002 Super Bowl - Tampa Bay
2016 Wild Card - Houston

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Super Bowl XXXVII*
15
2
2005 Wild Card - Washington
2007 Wild Card - New York Giants

Tennessee Titans
2003 AFC Wild Card Playoffs
14
3 ¤
2003 Divisional - New England
2007 Wild Card - San Diego
2008 Divisional - Baltimore

Los Angeles Rams
2004 NFC Wild Card Playoffs
13
1
2004 Divisional - Atlanta

Washington Redskins
2005 NFC Wild Card Playoffs
12
4 ¤
2005 Divisional - Seattle
2007 Wild Card - Seattle
2012 Wild Card - Seattle
2015 Wild Card - Green Bay

Jacksonville Jaguars ^
2007 AFC Wild Card Playoffs
10
1
2007 Divisional - New England

Philadelphia Eagles
2008 NFC Divisional Playoffs
9
4
2008 NFC Championship - Arizona
2009 Wild Card - Dallas
2010 Wild Card - Green Bay
2013 Wild Card - New Orleans

Minnesota Vikings †
2009 NFC Divisional Playoffs*
8
3
2009 NFC Championship - New Orleans
2012 Wild Card - Green Bay
2015 Wild Card - Seattle

New York Jets
2010 AFC Divisional Playoffs
7
1
2010 AFC Championship - Pittsburgh

Chicago Bears
2010 NFC Divisional Playoffs*
7
1
2010 NFC Championship - Green Bay

New York Giants
2011 !Super Bowl XLVI
6
1
2016 Wild Card - Green Bay

Los Angeles Chargers
2013 AFC Wild Card Playoffs
4
1
2013 Divisional - Denver

New Orleans Saints
2013 NFC Wild Card Playoffs
4
1
2013 Divisional - Seattle

San Francisco 49ers
2013 NFC Divisional Playoffs
4
1
2013 NFC Championship - Seattle

Baltimore Ravens
2014 AFC Wild Card Playoffs
3
1
2014 Divisional - New England

Dallas Cowboys
2014 NFC Wild Card Playoffs
3
2
2014 Divisional - Green Bay
2016 Divisional - Green Bay

Indianapolis Colts
2014 AFC Divisional Playoffs
3
1
2014 AFC Championship - New England

Kansas City Chiefs
2015 AFC Wild Card Playoffs
2
2
2015 Divisional - New England
2016 Divisional - Pittsburgh

Arizona Cardinals
2015 NFC Divisional Playoffs*
2
1
2015 NFC Championship - Carolina

Carolina Panthers
2015 NFC Championship*
2
1
2015 Super Bowl - Denver

Denver Broncos
Super Bowl 50*
2
0
3 game win streak

2016 Playoff0
Winners

Houston Texans
2016 AFC Wild Card Playoffs
1
1
2016 Divisional - New England

Seattle Seahawks
2016 NFC Wild Card Playoffs
1
1
2016 Divisional - Atlanta

Pittsburgh Steelers
2016 AFC Divisional Playoffs
—
1
2016 AFC Championship - New England

Green Bay Packers
2016 NFC Divisional Playoffs
1
1
2016 NFC Championship - Atlanta

Atlanta Falcons
2016 NFC Championship*
—
1
2016 Super Bowl - New England

New England Patriots
Super Bowl LI*
—
0
3 game win streak

Team
Last playoff game win
Seasons
Since Win
Loss
Streak
Playoff Losses - Teams

text:
(*): Franchise earned a bye in the Wild Card round.
(**): Franchise dormant 1996–1998.

text: AFC/NFC Championship game appearance droughts[edit]

text: This is also a list of the last time a particular club won a Divisional playoff game.

text:
Drought Reference [1]

Seasons
Team
Last appearance
in Conference Championship Game
Result

29
Cincinnati Bengals ^
1988 AFC
Won vs. Buffalo

26
Washington Redskins ^
1991 NFC
Won vs. Detroit

26
Detroit Lions ^
1991 NFC
Lost vs. Washington

25
Miami Dolphins ^
1992 AFC
Lost vs. Buffalo

25 [d]
Cleveland Browns ^
1989 AFC
Lost vs. Denver

24
Buffalo Bills ^
1993 AFC
Won vs. Kansas City

24
Kansas City Chiefs †
1993 AFC
Lost vs. Buffalo

22
Dallas Cowboys ^
1995 NFC
Won vs. Green Bay

18
Jacksonville Jaguars ^
1999 AFC
Lost vs. Tennessee

16
Houston Texans ^
1985Never [c]
y —

16
Los Angeles Rams ^ [a]
2001 NFC
Won vs. Philadelphia

15
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2002 NFC
Won vs. Philadelphia

15
Oakland Raiders ^
2002 AFC
Won vs. Tennessee

15
Tennessee Titans
2002 AFC
Lost vs. Oakland

10
Los Angeles Chargers [b]
2007 AFC
Lost vs. New England

9
Philadelphia Eagles
2008 NFC
Lost vs. Arizona

8
New Orleans Saints
2009 NFC
Won vs. Minnesota

8
Minnesota Vikings
2009 NFC
Lost vs. New Orleans

7
New York Jets
2010 AFC
Lost vs. Pittsburgh

7
Chicago Bears
2010 NFC
Lost vs. Green Bay

6
New York Giants
2011 NFC
Won vs. San Francisco

5
Baltimore Ravens
2012 AFC
Won vs. New England

4
San Francisco 49ers
2013 NFC
Lost vs. Seattle

3
Indianapolis Colts
2014 AFC
Lost vs. New England

3
Seattle Seahawks
2014 NFC
Won vs. Green Bay

2
Denver Broncos
2015 AFC
Won vs. New England

2
Arizona Cardinals
2015 NFC
Lost vs. Carolina

2
Carolina Panthers
2015 NFC
Won vs. Arizona

.75
Z2016 Conference Finalists
2015
z

—
Pittsburgh Steelers
2016 AFC
Lost vs. New England

.5 —
New England Patriots
2016 AFC
Won vs. Pittsburgh

1
Green Bay Packers
2016 NFC
Lost vs. Atlanta

—
Atlanta Falcons
2016 NFC
Won vs. Green Bay

text:
a The Los Angeles Rams last appeared in the NFC Championship game as the St. Louis Rams.
b The Los Angeles Chargers last appeared in the AFC Championship game as the San Diego Chargers.
c The Texans first played in 2002 season
d The Browns were dormant from 1996–1998.

tag: ul

text: Super Bowl or NFL Championship appearance droughts[edit]

text:
Last appearance in Super Bowl or
NFL Championship[1][3]

Seasons
Team
Last appearance
in Super Bowl
NFL
Season
Result

60
Detroit Lions
7003195700000000000♠ 1957 NFL Championship Game
1957
Won vs. Cleveland

49
New York Jets
7003196800000000000♠ Super Bowl III
1968
Won vs. Baltimore Colts

48
Kansas City Chiefs
7003196900000000000♠ Super Bowl IV
1969
Won vs. Minnesota

45 [e]
Cleveland Browns
7003196910000000000♠1969.1 1969 NFL Championship Game
1969
Lost vs. Minnesota

41
Minnesota Vikings
7003197700000000000♠ Super Bowl XI
1976
Lost vs. Oakland

33
Miami Dolphins
7003198400000000000♠ Super Bowl XIX
1984
Lost vs. San Francisco

29
Cincinnati Bengals
7003198800000000000♠ Super Bowl XXIII
1988
Lost vs. San Francisco

26
Washington Redskins
7003199100000000000♠ Super Bowl XXVI
1991
Won vs. Buffalo

24
Buffalo Bills
7003199300000000000♠ Super Bowl XXVIII
1993
Lost vs. Dallas

23
Jacksonville Jaguars
7000100000000000000♠ Never (enfranchised 1995)

z —

23
Los Angeles Chargers [f]
7003199400000000000♠ Super Bowl XXIX
1994
Lost vs. San Francisco

22
Dallas Cowboys
7003199500000000000♠ Super Bowl XXX
1995
Won vs. Pittsburgh

18
Tennessee Titans
7003199900000000000♠ Super Bowl XXXIV
1999
Lost vs. St. Louis Rams

16
Houston Texans
7000200000000000000♠ Never (enfranchised 2002)

z —

16
Los Angeles Rams [g]
7003200100000000000♠ Super Bowl XXXVI
2001
Lost vs. New England

15
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
7003200200000000000♠ Super Bowl XXXVII
2002
Won vs. Oakland

15
Oakland Raiders
7003200210000000000♠ Super Bowl XXXVII
2002
Lost vs. Tampa Bay

13
Philadelphia Eagles
7003200400000000000♠ Super Bowl XXXIX
2004
Lost vs. New England

11
Chicago Bears
7003200600000000000♠ Super Bowl XLI
2006
Lost vs. Indianapolis

9
Arizona Cardinals
7003200800000000000♠ Super Bowl XLIII
2008
Lost vs. Pittsburgh

8
New Orleans Saints
7003200900000000000♠ Super Bowl XLIV
2009
Won vs. Indianapolis

8
Indianapolis Colts
7003200900000000000♠ Super Bowl XLIV
2009
Lost vs. New Orleans

7
Green Bay Packers
7003201000000000000♠ Super Bowl XLV
2010
Won vs. Pittsburgh

7
Pittsburgh Steelers
7003201010000000000♠ Super Bowl XLV
2010
Lost vs. Green Bay

6
New York Giants
7003201100000000000♠ Super Bowl XLVI
2011
Won vs. New England

5
Baltimore Ravens
7003201200000000000♠ Super Bowl XLVII
2012
Won vs. San Francisco

5
San Francisco 49ers
7003201210000000000♠ Super Bowl XLVII
2012
Lost vs. Baltimore Ravens

3
Seattle Seahawks
7003201420000000000♠ Super Bowl XLIX
2014
Lost vs. New England

2
Carolina Panthers
7003201500000000000♠ Super Bowl 50
2015
Lost vs. Denver

2
Denver Broncos
7003201500000000000♠ Super Bowl 50
2015
Won vs. Carolina

.75
ZSuper Bowl LI finalists
2016
2016
zz

0
Atlanta Falcons
7003201600000000000♠ Super Bowl LI
2016
Lost vs. New England

0
New England Patriots
7003201600000000000♠ Super Bowl LI
2016
Won vs. Atlanta

text:
e The Browns were dormant from 1996–1998.
f The Los Angeles Chargers last appeared in the Super Bowl as the San Diego Chargers.
g The Los Angeles Rams last appeared in the Super Bowl as the St. Louis Rams.

text: Super Bowl win droughts[edit]

text: This list also counts all seasons since a team last won the league championship.

text: Competing in the 2017 NFL Playoffs

text:
Drought References[1][3]

Seasons
Team
Last Super Bowl crown
(1966–present)
NFL
Season
Last League Championship crown
Before 1970 Merger
(1920–1969)
Seasons

52
Arizona Cardinals[a]
Never
—
1947 NFL Championship
70

52
Detroit Lions
Never
—
1957 NFL Championship
60

52
Philadelphia Eagles
Never
—
1960 NFL Championship
57

52
Tennessee Titans[b]
Never
—
1961 AFL Championship
56

52
Los Angeles Chargers
Never
—
1963 AFL Championship
54

52
Buffalo Bills
Never
—
1965 AFL Championship
52

49
Cleveland Browns [d]
Never
—
1964 NFL Championship
50

52
Minnesota Vikings
Never
—
1969 NFL Championship[c]
48

52
Atlanta Falcons
Never (enfranchised 1966)
—

50
Cincinnati Bengals
Never (enfranchised 1968)
—

49
New York Jets[e]
Super Bowl III
1968

48
Kansas City Chiefs[e]
Super Bowl IV
1969

44
Miami Dolphins
Super Bowl VIII
1973

34
Oakland Raiders[f]
Super Bowl XVIII
1983

32
Chicago Bears
Super Bowl XX
1985

26
Washington Redskins
Super Bowl XXVI
1991

23
Jacksonville Jaguars
Never (enfranchised 1995)
—

23
Carolina Panthers
Never (enfranchised 1995)
—

23
San Francisco 49ers
Super Bowl XXIX
1994

22
Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowl XXX
1995

18
Los Angeles Rams[g]
Super Bowl XXXIV
1999

16
Houston Texans
Never (enfranchised 2002)
—

15
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Super Bowl XXXVII
2002

11
Indianapolis Colts
Super Bowl XLI
2006

9
Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl XLIII
2008

8
New Orleans Saints
Super Bowl XLIV
2009

7
Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl XLV
2010

6
New York Giants
Super Bowl XLVI
2011

5
Baltimore Ravens
Super Bowl XLVII
2012

4
Seattle Seahawks
Super Bowl XLVIII
2013

2
Denver Broncos
Super Bowl 50
2015

.75
ZDefending champion
2015
z

0
New England Patriots
Super Bowl LI
2016

text:
a Team won as the Chicago Cardinals in 1947.
b Team won as the Houston Oilers in 1961.
c AFL and NFL league champions met in Super Bowls I thru IV before the 1970 merger (1966–1969). They are not generally counted in the overall league championship list.
d Cleveland's drought does not include three seasons (1996–98) when the franchise was dormant.
e Super Bowl winner was not the NFL league champion till after 1970 merger (Super Bowl V).
f Team was based in Los Angeles when it won Super Bowl XVIII.
g Team was based in St. Louis when it won Super Bowl XXXIV.

text: Super Bowl crown droughts by division[edit]

text:
Division
Last Super Bowl crown
Seasons

AFC South
XLI — Colts
11

NFC South
XLIV — Saints
8

NFC North
XLV — Packers
7

NFC East
XLVI — Giants
6

AFC North
XLVII — Ravens
5

NFC West
XLVIII — Seahawks
4

AFC West
50 — Broncos
2

AFC East
LI — Patriots
0

text: Cities/regions awaiting first Super Bowl crown[edit]

text: Listed according to seasons waited. Current NFL cities/regions only

text:
Last city to leave list - Seattle, 2013 season

City/region
Seasons waited
Conference Title(s)
Team(s)
Notes

Detroit
52
None
Detroit Lions (1966–)
Played in the 1991 NFC Championship Game

Philadelphia
52
1980, 2004
Philadelphia Eagles (1966–)
Played in Super Bowls XV and XXXIX

Buffalo
52
1990, 1991, 1992, 1993
Buffalo Bills (1966–)
Played in Super Bowls XXV, XXVI, XXVII, and XXVIII

Atlanta
52
1998, 2016
Atlanta Falcons (1966–)
Played in Super Bowls XXXIII and LI

Minneapolis–St. Paul
52
1969, 1973, 1974, 1976
Minnesota Vikings (1966–)
Played in Super Bowls IV, VIII, IX, and XI

Cincinnati
50
1981, 1988
Cincinnati Bengals (1968–)
Played in Super Bowls XVI and XXIII

Cleveland
49
None
Cleveland Browns (1966–1995, 1999-)
Played in the 1986, 1987, and 1989 AFC Championship Games

Houston
47
None
31 Oilers seasons (1966–1996) and 16 Texans seasons (2002–)
Played in the 1978 and 1979 AFC Championship Games

Phoenix
30
2008
Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals (1988–)
Played in Super Bowl XLIII

Jacksonville
23
None
Jacksonville Jaguars (1995–)
Played in the 1996 and 1999 AFC Championship Games

Charlotte
23
2003, 2015
Carolina Panthers (1995–)
Played in Super Bowls XXXVIII and 50

Nashville
21
1999
Tennessee Oilers/Titans (1997–)
Played in Super Bowl XXXIV

text: Division title droughts[edit]

text: Listed according to seasons waited. Updated through December 24, 2017 games.

text:
0^0
Longest drought in team history

text:
Franchise
0 0 Most recent0 0
division title
0Year0
Seasons

Cleveland Browns^
AFC Central
1989
25**

Detroit Lions^
NFC Central
1993
24

Buffalo Bills^
AFC East
1995
22

Oakland Raiders^
AFC West
2002
15

New York Jets
AFC East
2002
15

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC South
2007
10

Miami Dolphins^
AFC East
2008
9

Tennessee Titans
AFC South
2008
9

Los Angeles Chargers
AFC West
2009
8

Chicago Bears
NFC North
2010
7

New York Giants
NFC East
2011
6

Baltimore Ravens
AFC North
2012
5

San Francisco 49ers
NFC West
2012
5

Indianapolis Colts
AFC South
2014
3

Cincinnati Bengals
AFC North
2015
2

Denver Broncos
AFC West
2015
2

Washington Redskins
NFC East
2015
2

Carolina Panthers
NFC South
2015
2

Arizona Cardinals
NFC West
2015
2

Houston Texans
AFC South
2016
1

Dallas Cowboys
NFC East
2016
1

Green Bay Packers
NFC North
2016
1

Atlanta Falcons
NFC South
2016
1

Seattle Seahawks
NFC West
2016
1

2017 Division Champions

New England Patriots
AFC East
2017
—

Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC North
2017
—

Jacksonville Jaguars
AFC South
2017
—

Kansas City Chiefs
AFC West
2017
—

Philadelphia Eagles
NFC East
2017
—

Minnesota Vikings
NFC North
2017
—

New Orleans Saints
NFC South
2017
—

Los Angeles Rams
NFC West
2017
—

text: **Does not include the three seasons (1996–1998) during which the franchise suspended operations.

text: Historical team droughts[edit]

text: Closest approaches without winning the Super Bowl[edit]

text: Counted from the first Super Bowl seaon, 1966, to present. Updated through the 2016 playoffs.

text:
Team
Wild Card appearances1
Divisional Round appearances2
Conference Final appearances3
Super Bowl appearances
Fewest wins short of
Super Bowl Title

Minnesota Vikings
12
20
8
4
1 win short : 1969, 1973, 1974, 1976

Buffalo Bills
6
10
5
4
1 win short : 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993

Philadelphia Eagles
15
12
6
2
1 win short : 1980, 2004

Cincinnati Bengals
8
6
2
2
1 win short : 1982, 1988

Atlanta Falcons
6
9
4
2
1 win short : 1998, 2016

Carolina Panthers
3
7
4
2
1 win short : 2003, 2015

Los Angeles Chargers
6
10
4
1
1 win short : 1994

Tennessee Titans
12
12
4
1
1 win short : 1999

Arizona Cardinals
4
6
2
1
1 win short : 2008

Cleveland Browns
3
8
6

2 wins short : 1968, 1969, 1986, 1987, 1989

Jacksonville Jaguars
5
4
2

2 wins short : 1996, 1999

Detroit Lions
8
3
1

2 wins short : 1991

Houston Texans
4
3

3 wins short : 2011, 2012, 2016

text: Playoff droughts of 5 plus seasons[edit]

text:
0^0
Denotes active streak

text:
Last place NFL finishes
Last place AFL finishes (1960–1969)

text:
List of Droughts[1]

Seasons
Team
Drought Duration
Division or Conference Last Place
finishes during drought
League Worst win-loss record
during drought

Last Place
Seasons

7001250000000000000♠25
Washington Redskins A !Washington Redskins
1946–1970
4
1950, 1952, 1960–1961
1961

7001250000000000000♠25
Arizona Cardinals A !Chicago / St. Louis Cardinals
1949–1973
5
1951, 1953–1954, 1957, 1959
1953, 1954, 1957 tie, 19591959 tie

7001240000000000000♠24
Pittsburgh Steelers A !Pittsburgh Steelers
1948–1971
5
1955, 1965, 1967–1969
1965, 1969 tie

7001200000000000000♠20
New Orleans Saints A !New Orleans Saints
1967–1986
9
1967, 1970–1972, 1975, 1977, 1980–1981, 1986
19751975 tie, 1980

7001170000000000000♠17
Denver Broncos A !Denver Broncos
1960–1976
8
1960, 1963–1967, 1970–1971
1960, 1963, 1964, 1965 tie, 1967

7001170000000000000♠17
Philadelphia Eagles A !Philadelphia Eagles
1961–1977
7
1962–1963, 1968–1970, 1972, 1975
1968 tie

7001170000000000000♠17
New York Giants D !New York Giants
1964–1980
9
1964, 1966, 1971, 1973–1974, 1976–1978, 1980
1964, 1966, 1974 tie

7001170000000000000♠17
Buffalo Bills A !Buffalo Bills
2000–2016
8
2001–2002, 2008–2013
—

7001160000000000000♠16
Detroit Lions A !Detroit Lions
1936–1951
4
1942, 1946–1948
1942, 1946, 1948

7001150000000000000♠15
Arizona Cardinals B !Chicago Cardinals
1932–1946
10
1933, 1935–1936, 1938–1940, 1943–1946
1933, 1938 tie, 1939, 1943, 1944 tie[a], 1945

7001150000000000000♠15
Green Bay Packers A !Green Bay Packers
1945–1959
4
1949, 1953, 1957, 1958
1957 tie, 1958

7001150000000000000♠15
Arizona Cardinals C !St. Louis / Phoenix / Arizona Cardinals
1983–1997
7
1985–1986, 1990–1992, 1995, 1997
—

7001150000000000000♠15 ^
Cleveland Browns A !Cleveland Browns
2003–2017
13
2003–2006, 2008–2009, 2011–2017
2015 tie, 2016, 2017

7001140000000000000♠14
Pittsburgh Steelers B !Pittsburgh Pirates / Steelers
1933–1946
7
1933–1934, 1938–1939, 1941, 1944–1945
1938 tie, 1941, 1944 tie[a]

7001140000000000000♠14
Philadelphia Eagles B !Philadelphia Eagles
1933–1946
5
1935–1937, 1940, 1942
1935, 1936, 1940

7001140000000000000♠14
Kansas City Chiefs A !Kansas City Chiefs
1972–1985
5
1977–1979, 1983, 1985
19771977 tie

7001140000000000000♠14
Tampa Bay Buccaneers A !Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1983–1996
8
1983, 1985–1986, 1989, 1991, 1993–1995
19831983 tie, 1985 tie, 1986

7001140000000000000♠14
Cincinnati Bengals A !Cincinnati Bengals
1991–2004
6
1991–1993, 1998, 2001–2002
1993, 1998 tie, 2002

7001130000000000000♠13
Chicago Bears A !Chicago Bears
1964–1976
5
1969–1970, 1972–1974
1969 tie

7001130000000000000♠13
San Diego Chargers A !San Diego Chargers
1966–1978
3
1972–1973, 1975
1975 tie

7001130000000000000♠13
Oakland Raiders A !Oakland Raiders
2003–2015
6
2004–2007, 2013–2014
2003 tie, 2006

7001120000000000000♠12
Detroit Lions B !Detroit Lions
1958–1969
2
1966, 1968
—

7001120000000000000♠12
San Francisco 49ers A !San Francisco 49ers
1958–1969
3
1963–1964, 1969
1963

7001120000000000000♠12
New England Patriots A !Boston / New England Patriots
1964–1975
4
1967, 1970, 1972, 1975
1970

7001120000000000000♠12
Atlanta Falcons A !Atlanta Falcons
1966–1977
3
1967–1968, 1974
1967, 1968 tie

7001120000000000000♠12
Los Angeles Rams A !St. Louis / Los Angeles Rams
2005–2016
6
2007–2009, 2011, 2013–2014
2009, 2011 tie

7001110000000000000♠11
Los Angeles Rams B !Los Angeles Rams
1956–1966
4
1956, 1959, 1962, 1965
19591959 tie, 1962

7001110000000000000♠11
New York Jets A !New York Jets
1970–1980
1
1980
—

7001110000000000000♠11
Detroit Lions C !Detroit Lions
1971–1981
1
1979
19791979 tie

7001110000000000000♠11
Detroit Lions D !Detroit Lions
2000–2010
6
2001–2003, 2006, 2008–2009
2008

7001100000000000000♠10
Philadelphia Eagles C !Philadelphia Eagles
1950–1959
2
1956, 1958
1956

7001100000000000000♠10
Green Bay Packers B !Green Bay Packers
1983–1992
1
1988
—

7001100000000000000♠10
Seattle Seahawks A !Seattle Seahawks
1989–1998
4
1992–1994, 1996
1992 tie

7001100000000000000♠10 ^
Tampa Bay Buccaneers B !Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2008–2017
7
2009, 2011–2015, 2017
20142014 tie

7000900000000000000♠9
Green Bay Packers C !Green Bay Packers
1973–1981
2
1976, 1980
—

7000900000000000000♠9
Indianapolis Colts A !Baltimore / Indianapolis Colts
1978–1986
4
1978 - 1979, 1982, 1986
1981 tie, 1982

7000900000000000000♠9
San Diego Chargers B !San Diego Chargers
1983–1991
4
1984, 1986, 1989, 1991
—

7000900000000000000♠9
Los Angeles Rams C !Los Angeles / St. Louis Rams
1990–1998
6
1991–1994, 1997–1998
—

7000900000000000000♠9
Arizona Cardinals E !Arizona Cardinals
1999–2007
4
2000, 2002–2003, 2006
2003 tie

7000900000000000000♠9
Houston Texans A !Houston Texans
2002–2010
5
2002–2003, 2005–2007
2005

7000900000000000000♠9
Jacksonville Jaguars A !Jacksonville Jaguars
2008–2016
4
2008–2009, 2012, 2016
2012 tie

7000800000000000000♠8
New York Jets B !New York Titans / Jets
1960–1967
2
1962–1963
—

7000800000000000000♠8
Tennessee Titans A !Houston Oilers
1970–1977
4
1970, 1972–1973, 1976
1972, 1973

7000800000000000000♠8
San Francisco 49ers B !San Francisco 49ers
1973–1980
2
1978–1979
1978, 1979 tie

7000800000000000000♠8
Atlanta Falcons B !Atlanta Falcons
1983–1990
7
1983–1985, 1987–1990
1987

7000800000000000000♠8
San Diego Chargers C !San Diego Chargers
1996–2003
5
1997–1998, 2000–2001, 2003
2000, 2003 tie

7000800000000000000♠8
San Francisco 49ers C !San Francisco 49ers
2003–2010
2
2004–2005
2004

7000800000000000000♠8
Tennessee Titans B !Tennessee Titans
2009–2016
3
2010, 2014–2015
20142014 tie, 2015 tie

7000700000000000000♠7
Los Angeles Rams D !Cleveland Rams
1937–1944 [b]
2
1937, 1941
1937

7000700000000000000♠7
San Francisco 49ers D !San Francisco 49ers
1950–1956
0
—
—

7000700000000000000♠7
Oakland Raiders B !Oakland Raiders
1960–1966
2
1961–1962
1961, 1962

7000700000000000000♠7
Minnesota Vikings A !Minnesota Vikings
1961–1967
3
1961, 1966–1967
—

7000700000000000000♠7
Buffalo Bills B !Buffalo Bills
1967–1973
2
1968, 1971

1968
1971

7000700000000000000♠7
Cleveland Browns B !Cleveland Browns
1973–1979
3
1974–1975, 1977
—

7000700000000000000♠7
Seattle Seahawks B !Seattle Seahawks
1976–1982
3
1976, 1980–1981
—

7000700000000000000♠7
Detroit Lions E !Detroit Lions
1984–1990
1
1987
—

7000700000000000000♠7
New England Patriots A !New England Patriots
1987–1993
2
1990, 1992
1990, 1992 tie

7000700000000000000♠7
Indianapolis Colts B !Indianapolis Colts
1988–1994
2
1991, 1993
1991

7000700000000000000♠7
New Orleans Saints B !New Orleans Saints
1993–1999
3
1995–1996, 1999
—

7000700000000000000♠7
Miami Dolphins A !Miami Dolphins
2009–2015
1
2015
—

7000700000000000000♠7 ^
Chicago Bears B !Chicago Bears
2011–2017
4
2014–2017
—

7000700000000000000♠7 ^
New York Jets C !New York Jets
2011–2017
2
2014, 2016
—

7000600000000000000♠6
Chicago Bears C !Chicago Bears
1957–1962
0
—
—

7000600000000000000♠6
Dallas Cowboys A !Dallas Cowboys
1960–1965
1
1960
1960

7000600000000000000♠6
Arizona Cardinals E !St. Louis Cardinals
1976–1981
2
1979, 1981
—

7000600000000000000♠6
Tennessee Titans C !Houston Oilers
1981–1986
4
1983–1986
19831983 tie

7000600000000000000♠6
Buffalo Bills C !Buffalo Bills
1982–1987
2
1984–1985
1984, 1985 tie

7000600000000000000♠6
Philadelphia Eagles D !Philadelphia Eagles
1982–1987
1
1984
—

7000600000000000000♠6
New York Jets D !New York Jets
1992–1997
3
1994–1996
1995, 1996

7000600000000000000♠6
Washington Redskins B !Washington Redskins
1993–1998
2
1993–1994
—

7000600000000000000♠6
Oakland Raiders C !Los Angeles / Oakland Raiders
1994–1999
0
—
—

7000600000000000000♠6
Chicago Bears D !Chicago Bears
1995–2000
4
1997–2000
—

7000600000000000000♠6
Carolina Panthers A !Carolina Panthers
1997–2002
2
2001–2002
2001

7000600000000000000♠6
Miami Dolphins B !Miami Dolphins
2002–2007
3
2004, 2006–2007
2007

7000500000000000000♠5
New York Giants D !New York Giants
1951–1955
0
—
—

7000500000000000000♠5
Chicago Bears E !Chicago Bears
1951–1955
0
—
—

7000500000000000000♠5
Indianapolis Colts C !Baltimore Colts
1953–1957
1
1954
—

7000500000000000000♠5
Cleveland Browns C !Cleveland Browns
1959–1963
0
—
—

7000500000000000000♠5
Buffalo Bills D !Buffalo Bills
1975–1979
2
1976–1977
—

7000500000000000000♠5
Cincinnati Bengals B !Cincinnati Bengals
1976–1980
3
1978–1980
—

7000500000000000000♠5
Washington Redskins C !Washington Redskins
1977–1981
0
—
—

7000500000000000000♠5
Cincinnati Bengals C !Cincinnati Bengals
1983–1987
1
1987
—

7000500000000000000♠5
Dallas Cowboys B !Dallas Cowboys
1986–1990
2
1988, 1989
1988, 1989

7000500000000000000♠5
Tennessee Titans D !Houston / Tennessee Oilers
1994–1998
1
1994
1994

7000500000000000000♠5
Kansas City Chiefs B !Kansas City Chiefs
1998–2002
1
2002
—

7000500000000000000♠5
Washington Redskins D !Washington Redskins
2000–2004
1
2004
—

7000500000000000000♠5
Jacksonville Jaguars B !Jacksonville Jaguars
2000–2004
0
—
—

7000500000000000000♠5
New Orleans Saints C !New Orleans Saints
2001–2005
1
2005
—

7000500000000000000♠5
Denver Broncos B !Denver Broncos
2006–2010
1
2010
—

Seasons
Team
Drought Duration
Last Place
Seasons
League Worst win-loss record
during drought

Division or Conference Last Place
finishes during drought

text: Most consecutive post-season losses in team history[edit]

text: This is a sortable table of all 32 current NFL teams. Ten teams have multiple losing streaks where they lost an equal number of post season games before breaking the drought.

text: Updated through the 2016–17 playoffs.

text:
0^0
Denotes active drought

text:
Team
Streak lasted
Last win
Games Lost
Playoff Losses
Score
Opponent
Next win

Arizona Cardinals
7001510000000000000♠ 51 years
1947
Championship
4.1 !4
1948 NFL Champ.
1974 Div.
1975 Div.
1982 1st Round
-1 !0–7
14–30
23–35
16–41
Eagles
Vikings
Rams
Packers
1998 Wild Card

Atlanta Falcons
7000800000000000000♠ 8 years
2004 Divisional
4.2 !4
2004 NFC Champ.
2008 Wild Card
2010 Div.
2011 Wild Card
10–27
24–30
21–48
2–24
Eagles
Cardinals
Packers
Giants
2012 Divisional

Baltimore Ravens
7000700000000000000♠ 7 years
2001
Wild Card
3.1 !3
2001 Div.
2003 Wild Card
2006 Div.
10–27
17–20
6–15
Steelers
Titans
Colts
2008 Wild Card

Buffalo Bills^
7001210000000000000♠ 21 years
1995
Div !1995
Wild Card
4.3 !4
1995 Div.
1996 Wild Card
1998 Wild Card
1999 Wild Card
21–40
27–30
17–24
16–22
Steelers
Jaguars
Dolphins
Titans
TBD

Carolina Panthers
7000800000000000000♠ 8 years
2005
Divisional
3
2005 NFC Champ.
2008 Div.
2013 Div.
14–34
13–33
10–23
Seahawks
Cardinals
49ers
2014 Div !2014 Wild Card

Chicago Bears
7001120000000000000♠ 12 years
1994
AF !1994
Wild Card
3.2 !3
1994 Div.
2001 Div.
2005 Div.
15–44
19–33
21–29
49ers
Eagles
Panthers
2006 Divisional

Cincinnati Bengals^
7001260000000000000♠ 26 years
1990 Div !1990
Wild Card
8
1990 Div.
2005 Wild Card
2009 Wild Card
2011 Wild Card
2012 Wild Card
2013 Wild Card
2014 Wild Card
2015 Wild Card
10–20
17–31
14–24
10–31
13–19
10–27
10–26
16–18
Raiders
Steelers
Jets
Texans
Texans
Chargers
Colts
Steelers
TBD

Cleveland Browns
7001170000000000000♠ 17 years
1969 Divisional
6
1969 NFL Champ.
1971 Div.
1972 Div.
1980 Div.
1982 1st Round
1985 Div.
7–27
3–20
14–20
12–14
10–27
21–24
Vikings
Colts
Dolphins
Raiders
Raiders
Dolphins
1986 Divisional

Dallas Cowboys
7001130000000000000♠ 13 years
1996
Div !1996
Wild Card
6.2 !6
1996 Div.
1998 Wild Card
1999 Wild Card
2003 Wild Card
2006 Wild Card
2007 Div.
17–26
7–20
10–27
10–29
20–21
17–21
Panthers
Cardinals
Vikings
Panthers
Seahawks
Giants
2009 Wild Card

Denver Broncos
7000900000000000000♠ 9 years
1977
Conference
Championship
5.1 !5
1977 !Super Bowl XII
1978 Div.
1979 Wild Card
1983 Wild Card
1984 Div.
10–27
10–33
7–13
7–31
17–24
Cowboys
Steelers
Oilers
Seahawks
Steelers
1986 Divisional

Detroit Lions^
7001250000000000000♠ 25 years
1991
Divisional
9
1991.2 !1991 NFC Champ.
1993 Wild Card
1994 Wild Card
1995 Wild Card
1997 Wild Card
1999 Wild Card
2011 Wild Card
2014 Wild Card
2016 Wild Card
10–41
24–28
12–16
37–58
10–20
13–27
28–45
20–24
6-26
Redskins
Packers
Packers
Eagles
Buccaneers
Redskins
Saints
Cowboys
Seahawks
TBD

Green Bay Packers
005 (2 loss) streaks
7000400000000000000♠ 4 years
1997 Conference
Championship
2.2 !2
1997.2 !Super Bowl XXXII
1998 Wild Card
24–31
27–30
Broncos
49ers
2001 Wild Card

7000200000000000000♠ 2 years
2001
Wild Card
2.3 !2
2001.1 !2001 Div.
2002 Wild Card
17–45
7–27
Rams
Falcons
2003 Wild Card

7000400000000000000♠ 4 years
2003
Wild Card
2.4 !2
2003.1 !2003 Div.
2004 Wild Card
17–20 (OT)
17–31
Eagles
Vikings
2007 Divisional

7000300000000000000♠ 3 years
2007
Divisional
2.5 !2
2007.2 !2007 NFC Champ.
2009 Wild Card
20–23 (OT)
45–51 (OT)
Giants
Cardinals
2010 Wild Card

7000200000000000000♠ 2 years
2012
Wild Card
2.6 !2
2012 Div.
2013 Wild Card
31–45
20–23
49ers
49ers
2014 Divisional

Houston Texans
7000400000000000000♠ 4 years
2012 Wild Card
2
2012.1 !2012 Divisional
2015 Wild Card
28–41
0–30
Patriots
Chiefs
2016 Wild Card

Indianapolis Colts
002 (5 loss) streaks
7001240000000000000♠24 years
1971
Divisional
5.2 !5
1971.1 !1971 AFC Champ.
1975 Div.
1976 Div.
1977 Div.
1987 Div.
0–21
10–28
14–40
31–37 (2 OT)
21–38
Dolphins
Steelers
Steelers
Raiders
Browns
1995 Wild Card

7000800000000000000♠ 8 years
1995
Divisional
5.3 !5
1995.3 !1995 AFC Champ.
1996 Wild Card
1999 Div.
2000 Wild Card
2002 Wild Card
16–20
14–42
16–19
17–23 (OT)
0–41
Steelers
Steelers
Titans
Dolphins
Jets
2003 Wild Card

Jacksonville Jaguars
002 (2 loss) streaks
2 years
1996
Divisional
2.6 !2
1996.2 !1996 AFC Champ.
1997 Wild Card
6–20
17–42
Patriots
Broncos
1998 Wild Card

7000800000000000000♠ 8 years
1999
Divisional
2.7 !2
1999.2 !1999 AFC Champ.
2005 Wild Card
14–33
3–28
Titans
Patriots
2007 Div !2007 Wild Card

Kansas City Chiefs
7001210000000000000♠ 21 years
1993
Divisional
8
1993.2 !1993 AFC Champ.
1994 Wild Card
1995 Div.
1997 Div.
2003 Div.
2006 Wild Card
2010 Wild Card
2013 Wild Card
13–30
17–27
7–10
10–14
31–38
8–23
7–30
44–45
Bills
Dolphins
Colts
Broncos
Colts
Colts
Ravens
Colts
2015 Wild Card

Los Angeles Chargers
7001130000000000000♠ 13 years
1994
AFC Championship
4.8 !4
1994.2 !Super Bowl XXIX
1995 Wild Card
2004 Wild Card
2006 Div.
26–49
20–35
17–20 (OT)
21–24
49ers
Colts
Jets
Patriots
2007 Div !2007 Wild Card

Los Angeles Rams
7001230000000000000♠ 23 years
1951
Championship
5.5 !5
1952 Nat. Conf.
1955 NFL Champ.
1967 NFL W Conf.
1969 NFL W Conf.
1973 Div.
21–31
14–38
7–28
20–23
16–27
Lions
Browns
Packers
Vikings
Cowboys
1974 Divisional

Miami Dolphins
002 (4 loss) streaks
7000900000000000000♠ 9 years
1973
Super Bowl
4.5 !4
1974 Div.
1978 Wild Card
1979 Div.
1981 Div.
26–28
9–17
14–34
38–41 (OT)
Raiders
Oilers
Steelers
Chargers
1982 First Round

7001160000000000000♠ 16 years
2000
Wild Card
4.9 !4
2000 Div.
2001 Wild Card
2008 Wild Card
2016 Wild Card
0–27
3–20
9–27
12–30
Raiders
Ravens
Ravens
Steelers
TBD

Minnesota Vikings
7000900000000000000♠ 9 years
1988
Wild Card
6.3 !6
1988 Div.
1989 Div.
1992 Wild Card
1993 Wild Card
1994 Wild Card
1996 Wild Card
9–34
13–41
7–24
10–17
18–35
15–45
49ers
49ers
Redskins
Giants
Bears
Cowboys
1997 Wild Card

New England Patriots
7001220000000000000♠ 22 years
1963
Divisional
4.6 !4
1963 AFL Champ.
1976 Div.
1978 Div.
1982 1st Round
10–51
21–24
14–31
13–28
Chargers
Raiders
Oilers
Dolphins
1985 Wild Card

New Orleans Saints
7001320000000000000♠ 32 years
1967 Enfranchised
No Playoff
Wins
till 2000
4.7 !4
1987 Wild Card
1990 Wild Card
1991 Wild Card
1992 Wild Card
10–44
6–16
20–27
20–36
Vikings
Bears
Falcons
Eagles
2000 Wild Card

New York Giants
7001180000000000000♠ 18 years
1938
Championship
6.4 !6
1939 NFL Champ.
1941 NFL Champ.
1943 East Div.
1944 NFL Champ.
1946 NFL Champ.
1950 Am. Conf.
0–27
9–37
0–28
7–14
14–24
3–8
Packers
Bears
Redskins
Packers
Bears
Browns
1956 Championship

New York Jets
005 (2 loss) streaks
7001140000000000000♠ 14 years
1968
Super Bowl III
2.8 !2
1969 AFL Div.
1981 Wild Card
6–13
27–31
Chiefs
Bills
1982 First Round

7000400000000000000♠ 4 years
1982 2nd Round
2.9 !2
1982.1 !1982 AFC Champ.
1985 Wild Card
0–14
14–26
Dolphins
Patriots
1986 Wild Card

7001120000000000000♠ 12 years
1986 Wild Card
2.91 !2
1986 Div.
1991 Wild Card
20–23 (2 OT)
10–17
Browns
Oilers
1998 World !1998 Divisional

7000400000000000000♠ 4 years
1998 Divisional
2.92 !2
1998.1 !1998 AFC Champ.
2001 Wild Card
10–23
24–38
Broncos
Raiders
2002 Div !2002 Wild Card

7000500000000000000♠ 5 years
2004
Wild Card
2.93 !2
2004.1 !2004 Divisional
2006 Wild Card
17–20 (OT)
16–37
Steelers
Patriots
2009 Wild Card

Oakland Raiders
004 (2 loss) streaks
7000300000000000000♠ 3 years
1970
Divisional
2.94 !2
1970 AFC Champ.
1972 Div.
17–27
7–13
Colts
Steelers
1973 Divisional

7000700000000000000♠ 7 years
1983
Super Bowl XVIII
2.95 !2
1984 Wild Card
1985 Div.
7–13
20–27
Seahawks
Patriots
1990 Divisional

7000300000000000000♠ 3 years
1990 Divisional
2.96 !2
1990.2 !1990 AFC Champ.
1991 Wild Card
3–51
6–10
Bills
Chiefs
1993 Wild Card

7001140000000000000♠ 14 years
2002 AFC Championship
2.96 !2
1990.2 !Super Bowl XXXVIII
2016 Wild Card
24-41
14-27
Bucs
Texans
TBD

Philadelphia Eagles
7001120000000000000♠ 12 years
1980
Conference
Championship
5.4 !5
1980.1 !Super Bowl XV
1981 Wild Card
1988 Div.
1989 Wild Card
1990 Wild Card
10–27
21–27
12–20
7–21
6–20
Raiders
Giants
Bears
Rams
Redskins
1992 Wild Card

Pittsburgh Steelers
002 (3 loss) streaks
7000500000000000000♠ 5 years
1989
Wild Card
3.3 !3
1989.1 !1989 Div.
1992 Div.
1993 Wild Card
23–24
3–24
24–27
Broncos
Bills
Chiefs
1994 Divisional

7000400000000000000♠4 years
2010 AFC Championship
3
2010.1 !Super Bowl XLV
2011 Wild Card
2014 Wild Card
25–31
23–29
17–30
Packers
Broncos
Ravens
2015 Wild Card

San Francisco 49ers
7000400000000000000♠4 years
1984
Super Bowl XIX
3.4 !3
1985 Wild Card
1986 Div.
1987 Div.
3–17
3–49
24–36
Giants
Giants
Vikings
1988 Divisional

Seattle Seahawks
7001210000000000000♠ 21 years
1984
Su !1984
Wild Card
6.5 !6
1984.2 !1984 Div.
1987 Wild Card
1988 Div.
1999 Wild Card
2003 Wild Card
2004 Wild Card
10–31
20–23 (OT)
13–21
17–20
27–33 (OT)
20–27
Dolphins
Oilers
Bengals
Dolphins
Packers
Rams
2005 Divisional

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
002 (3 loss) streaks
7001180000000000000♠ 18 years
1979
Divisional
3.5 !3
1979.2 !1979 NFC Champ.
1981 Div.
1982 1st Round
0–9
0–38
17–30
Rams
Cowboys
Cowboys
1997 Wild Card

7000300000000000000♠3 years
1999
Divisional
3.6 !3
1999.3 !1999 NFC Champ.
2000 Wild Card
2001 Wild Card
6–11
3–21
9–31
Rams
Eagles
Eagles
2002 Divisional

Tennessee Titans^
004 (3 loss) streaks
7001170000000000000♠ 17 years
1961 AFL
Championship
3.7 !3[Hou]
1962 AFL Champ.
1967 AFL Champ.
1969 AFL Div.
17–20 (2 OT)
7–40
7–56
Chief !Dallas Texans
Raiders
Raiders
1978 Wild Card

7000300000000000000♠ 3 years
1988
Wild Card
3.8 !3[Hou]
1988 Div.
1989 Wild Card
1990 Wild Card
10–17
23–26 (OT)
14–41
Bills
Steelers
Bengals
1991
Wild Card

7000800000000000000♠ 8 years
1991
Div !1991
Wild Card
3.9 !3[Hou]
1991.1 !1991 Divisional
1992 Wild Card
1993 Divisional
24–26
38–41 (OT)
20–28
Broncos
Bills
Chiefs
1999
Wild Card

7001130000000000000♠ 13 years
2003
Wild Card
3.91 !3
2003.3 !2003 Div.
2007 Wild Card
2008 Div.
14–17
6–17
10–13
Patriots
Chargers
Ravens
TBD

Washington Redskins
002 (4 loss) streaks
7001100000000000000♠ 10 years
1972
NFC Championship
4.9 !4
1972.2 !Super Bowl VII
1973 Div.
1974 Div.
1976 Div.
7–14
20–27
10–19
20–35
Dolphins
Vikings
Rams
Vikings
1982 First Round

7001110000000000000♠ 11 years
2005
Wild Card
4.9 !4
2005 Div.
2007 Wild Card
2012 Wild Card
2015 Wild Card
10–20
14–35
14–24
18–35
Seahawks
Seahawks
Seahawks
Packers
TBD

Team
Streak lasted
Last win
Games Lost
Playoff Games
Score
Opponent
Next win

text: Hou These three streaks occurred when the team was known as the Houston Oilers.

text: Longest post-season droughts in team history[edit]

text: Note that the NFL did not institute a permanent playoff tournament until 1967 and that the NFL Championship Game and any impromptu one-game playoffs (played only in the event of a tie atop the division standings) were the only postseason matchups in this era (the Bert Bell Benefit Bowl is considered an exhibition game for the purpose of this list).

text: Updated through the 2017 regular season.

text:
0^0
Denotes active streak

text:
No post season appearances

Team
Longest streak with
no post-season appearances
Seasons

Washington Redskins
1946–1970
25

Arizona Cardinals
1949–1973
25

Pittsburgh Steelers
1948–1971
24

New Orleans Saints
1967–1986
20

Denver Broncos
1960–1976
17

Philadelphia Eagles
1961–1977
17

New York Giants
1964–1980
17

Buffalo Bills
2000–2016
17

Detroit Lions
1936–1951
16

Green Bay Packers
1945–1959
15

Cleveland Browns^
2003–2017^
15

Kansas City Chiefs
1972–1985
14

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1983–1996
14

Cincinnati Bengals
1991–2004
14

Chicago Bears
1964–1976
13

Los Angeles Chargers
1966–1978
13

Oakland Raiders
2003–2015
13

San Francisco 49ers
1958–1969
12

New England Patriots
1964–1975
12

Atlanta Falcons
1966–1977
12

Los Angeles Rams
2005–2016
12

New York Jets
1970–1980
11

Seattle Seahawks
1989–1998
10

Indianapolis Colts
1978–1986
9

Houston Texans
2002–2010
9

Jacksonville Jaguars
2008–2016
9

Tennessee Titans
1970–1977
2009–2016

8

Minnesota Vikings
1961–1967
7

Miami Dolphins
2009–2015
7

Dallas Cowboys
1960–1965
6

Carolina Panthers
1997–2002
6

Baltimore Ravens
1996–1999
4

Team
Longest streak with
no post-season appearances
Seasons

No post season victories

Team
Longest streak with
no post-season victories
Seasons

Arizona Cardinals
1948–1997
50

Pittsburgh Steelers
1933–1971
39

Detroit Lions
1958–1990
33

New Orleans Saints
1967–1999
33

Washington Redskins
1944–1971
28

Cincinnati Bengals^
1991–2017^
27

Indianapolis Colts
1972–1994
23

Los Angeles Rams
1952–1973
22

New York Giants
1959–1980
22

New England Patriots
1964–1984
21

Kansas City Chiefs
1970–1990
1994–2014
21

Buffalo Bills^
1996–2016^
21

San Francisco 49ers
1950–1969
20

Chicago Bears
1964–1983
20

Seattle Seahawks
1985–2004
20

Cleveland Browns^
1995, 1999–2017^
20

Philadelphia Eagles
1961–1978
18

Denver Broncos
1960–1976
17

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1980–1996
17

Miami Dolphins^
2001–2017^
17

Green Bay Packers
1945–1960
16

Tennessee Titans
1962–1977
16

Los Angeles Chargers
1964–1979
16

Oakland Raiders^
2003–2017^
15

New York Jets
1969–1981
13

Atlanta Falcons
1966–1977;
1979–1990
12

Dallas Cowboys
1997–2008
12

Houston Texans
2002–2010
9

Jacksonville Jaguars^
2008–2016^
9

Minnesota Vikings
1961–1968;
1989–1996
8

Carolina Panthers
2006–2013
8

Baltimore Ravens
2002–2007
6

Team
Longest streak with
no post-season victories
Seasons