It is no secret that the National Football League (NFL) is one of the most popular sports in America. What may be less known, however, are the teams that have yet to win a Superbowl. This lack of success has led some people to label these teams as “choke artists.”
The NFL is a league where parity reigns supreme. In any given year, any team can go all the way. As evidence of this, six different teams have won the Superbowl in the past ten years.
This level of parity makes it difficult for even the best teams to maintain a consistent level of success. And it’s especially hard for teams that have never tasted championship glory. Here are five NFL teams that have yet to win a Superbowl.
Detroit Lions
Despite having Super Bowl odds of 35-1, the Detroit Lions continue to remain winless in Super Bowls. The historic NFL franchise suffers from an accumulation of poor performances and bad luck that have kept them from Super Bowl gold since joining the league in 1930. In the most recent Super Bowl LI, the Atlanta Falcons were seen as having better Super Bowl odds at 300-1 but went on to defeat the New England Patriots 34 – 28.
It is a fitting reminder that anything is possible and that you should never count out a team completely, regardless of their Super Bowl chances. Although they have been through lackluster seasons in recent memory, the Lions remain resilient with their ambitions of someday lifting the Super Bowl trophy perched firmly in sight and continuing to work hard for a long-awaited success.
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers have been a part of the National Football League since 1995 when they made their debut as an expansion team. Despite having numerous postseason appearances in years following their establishment, the team has yet to bring home the Vince Lombardi Trophy, making them one of only four teams that have been in existence for more than two decades without a Superbowl win.
While Panthers fans were hopeful that the 2016 season would finally give them the championship title they’ve long sought, unfortunately, that dream fell just short with a heartbreaking 24-10 Super Bowl loss against the Denver Broncos. As one of only a few teams still yet to secure a Superbowl victory, it appears as if many Panthers faithful will remain largely unsatisfied until this momentous occasion becomes a reality.
Atlanta Falcons
Despite joining the NFL in 1965, the Atlanta Falcons are yet to achieve football’s greatest accolade—winning the Super Bowl. Despite their best efforts and numerous standout players throughout their history, not even the illustrious likes of Mike Vick or Matt Ryan have been able to take them all the way to a Super Bowl Championship.
To date, they’ve only made it as far as two NFC Championship games; however, neither resulted in an ever-elusive victory. Nevertheless, it is clear that despite facing a number of difficulties along their journey so far, the Atlanta Falcons remain intent on one day hoisting up a Lombardi Trophy and joining the biggest names in American Football.
Cincinnati Bengals
Since its founding in 1968, the Cincinnati Bengals have yet to make a Superbowl appearance, let alone win one. This is despite them having had seven playoff appearances throughout these 53 years. Although they have had their share of talented coaches and players over the past decades, the team has been unable to put it all together and take home a championship.
With stalwarts at quarterback, such as Boomer Esiason and Andy Dalton, and an array of qualified running backs throughout, they have come close, but success has eluded them thus far. However, with a new season on the horizon, there is fresh hope that this iconic franchise will soon bring silverware back to Ohio.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Despite being part of the National Football League since its inception in 1995, the Jacksonville Jaguars have yet to win a Super Bowl. Given that they are part of the highly competitive AFC South division, which has seen four different champions over the last four years, breaking through and competing with some of the NFL’s oldest and most established teams continues to be challenging.
Yet despite these obstacles, Jaguars fans remain confident that their team can one day emulate other successful franchises and bring home a coveted Lombardi Trophy. Until then, fans will continue to cheer and support their team through every season.
Conclusion
The teams mentioned above have one thing in common—they have yet to achieve the ultimate prize of a Super Bowl win. Yet, despite differing histories and levels of success, these franchises share an ambition of achieving that dream and will continue striving for it until they can bring home the coveted Vince Lombardi trophy.
With each new season comes a wave of fresh hope for teams and their fans alike; the dream lives on as long as there is football. Whether you have been following them since inception or just recently become a fan, these teams deserve admiration for their spirit alone, and supporters can only cheer them on in anticipation of when their dreams come true.
