Take A Look At Longest Playoffs & Championship Drought: NFL, MLB, NBA & NHL

These decades-long stretches without a title for several of these clubs go back more than one generation. Fans who have supported their favourite team since they were young have a burning desire to see them hoist the championship banner and become champions. Time flies, and those same supporters are instilling the same sentiment in their kids and even their grandkids. While the spotlight is on championship droughts, other fan communities haven’t even seen their club make it to the playoffs for over ten years.

Let’s take a look at both!

What NFL team has the longest championship drought?

The Cardinals own the longest title drought in all of North American sports at 76 years, despite having never won a Super Bowl but winning the NFL championship in 1947. In 2009, they were only four points away from winning the 2009 season when they lost to the Steelers in a thrilling Super Bowl.

Longest playoff droughts in the NFL

Here are the longest active playoff droughts in the NFL entering the 2022 season.

  • New York Jets – 13 seasons
  • Denver Broncos – 7 seasons
  • Detroit Lions – 6 seasons
  • Carolina Panthers – 4 seasons
  • Atlanta Falcons – 5 seasons
  • Houston Texans – 3 seasons

What is the longest drought in MLB history?

Between 1908 and 2016, the Chicago Cubs spent 107 seasons without winning a title.

Longest championship droughts in MLB

  • Cleveland Guardians – 73 years
  • Milwaukee Brewers – 54 years
  • San Diego Padres – 53 years
  • Seattle Mariners – 45 years
  • Pittsburgh Pirates – 43 years

MLB teams with longest postseason drought

  • Los Angeles Angels – 8 years
  • Detroit Tigers – 8 years
  • Pittsburgh Pirates – 8 years
  • Kansas City Royals – 8 years

What is the longest NBA championship drought?

72 seasons (last appearance 1950–51) with the Sacramento Kings Go embrace your neighborhood Kings fan, please. Since they played in Rochester, New York and were known as the Royals, the Kings have not advanced to the NBA Finals.

Longest championship droughts in NBA

  • Sacramento Kings – 72 years
  • Atlanta Hawks – 64 years
  • Phoenix Suns – 54 years
  • Los Angeles Clippers – 53 years
  • New York Knicks – 50 years
  • Indiana Pacers – 47 years
  • Brooklyn Nets – 46 years
  • Portland Trail Blazers – 46 years

Longest playoff droughts in NBA

  • Charlotte Hornets – 7 seasons
  • Detroit Pistons – 4 seasons
  • San Antonio Spurs – 4 seasons
  • Indiana Pacers – 3 seasons
  • Oklahoma City Thunder – 3 seasons
  • Houston Rockets – 3 seasons
  • Orlando Magic – 3 seasons

Who has the longest drought in NHL?

There are now 11 active clubs that haven’t taken home a Stanley Cup since the NHL’s first year of expansion. The Toronto Maple Leafs hold the record for the longest drought in sports history, having gone 55 years without winning the Cup since 1967.

What NHL team has gone the longest without playoffs?

Four seasons into their drought, Buffalo selected Jack Eichel with the second overall pick and moved the budding star to the New York Jets last season. In NHL history, the Sabres have had the longest postseason drought.

Longest championship droughts in NHL

  • Toronto Maple Leafs – 55 years – ACTIVE
  • New York Rangers – 53 years (1941-1994)
  • St. Louis Blues – 52 years – (1968-2019)
  • Buffalo Sabres – 51 years – ACTIVE
  • Vancouver Canucks – 51 years – ACTIVE
  • Chicago Blackhawks – 48 years – (1962-2010)
  • Philadelphia Flyers – 47 years – ACTIVE

Longest playoff droughts in NHL

  • Buffalo Sabres – 11 years
  • Detroit Red Wings – 6 years
  • Ottawa Senators – 5 years
  • Anaheim Ducks – 4 years
  • New Jersey Devils – 4 years

 

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