NFL
Which NFL team has the longest playoff drought? Where do the Jets rank?
The Carolina Panthers and New York Jets were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 14, extending lengthy postseason droughts for both teams.
The Carolina Panthers and New York Jets were both eliminated from playoff contention in Week 14 with losses to their opponents bringing their records to 3-10.
For the Panthers, this brings them to their seventh straight loss, the longest in franchise history. The Jets top that with their 14th straight season without a playoff berth.
NFL teams' longest postseason droughts
The Jets' 14th straight season without a playoff not only extends the longest drought in franchise history, but also the NFL’s longest active drought.
NFL’s longest active playoff droughts
1. New York Jets: 14 seasons
2. Denver Broncos: 8 seasons
3t. Carolina Panthers: 7 seasons
3t. Atlanta Falcons: 6 seasons
5t. Washington Commanders: 3 seasons
5t. Indianapolis Colts: 3 seasons
5t. Chicago Bears: 3 seasons
5t. New Orleans Saints: 3 seasons
9t. New England Patriots: 2 seasons
9t. Arizona Cardinals: 2 seasons
9t. Tennessee Titans: 2 seasons
9t. Las Vegas Raiders: 2 seasons
As ESPN’s Adam Schefter points out, the Jets' 14-season postseason drought is not only the longest active one in the NFL, but also the longest of any in the NBA, WNBA, NHL, and MLB.
Longest NFL playoff droughts in history
The Jets still don’t come close to the longest NFL drought in history though. That unwanted title belongs to the St. Louis Cardinals and Washington, who both went 25 straight seasons without a playoff berth. The Cardinals had their postseason drought from 1949 to 1974 and Washington from 1946 to 1971.
The Jets are tied for 12th on that list with their 14-season drought.
Longest NFL playoff droughts in history
1t. St. Louis Cardinals: 25 seasons (1949-1974)
1t. Washington: 25 seasons (1946-1971)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers: 24 seasons (1948-1972)
4. New Orleans Saints: 20 seasons (1967-1987)
5t. Cleveland Browns: 17 seasons (2003-2020)
5t. Buffalo Bills: 17 seasons (2000-2017)
5t. New York Giants: 17 seasons (1964-1981)
5t. Philadelphia Eagles: 17 seasons (1961-1978)
9t. Detroit Lions: 16 seasons (1936-1952)
10t. Arizona Cardinals: 15 seasons (1983-1998)
10t. Green Bay Packers: 15 (1945-1960)
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