What NFL Teams Have Never Been to the Super Bowl by FlagOh

The Super Bowl is the NFL’s biggest stage, and most franchises have had at least one shot at it. But a small group is still chasing that first trip. If you’re searching for what NFL teams have never been to the Super Bowl, this guide from FlagOh gives you a verified list, a clear way to avoid the “never won” mix-up, and a quick look at how close each team has come, plus fan 

The Verified List of Teams With No Super Bowl Appearances

Below is the verified list of franchises with zero Super Bowl appearances, followed by the rules we use to confirm it. If you’ve ever wondered which NFL teams have never been to the Super Bowl, this section gives you the precise, up-to-date answer.

The Difference Between “Never Made It” vs. “Never Won”

To get the right answer, we have to be precise with our terms:

• Never Made It: This means 0 Super Bowl appearances. These teams have never played in the big game.
• Never Won: This refers to teams that have played in a Super Bowl but have 0 titles (like the Buffalo Bills or Minnesota Vikings). We will cover them later to ensure you have the full picture, but they are not on the “Never Made It” list.

Teams With 0 Super Bowl Appearances

These are the only four franchises that fit the exact intent behind your search.

How We Verify the List for Accuracy

Last updated: December 12, 2025. We verified Super Bowl appearance totals and playoff peaks by cross-checking official team histories and Pro Football Reference, then applying the three rules below.

• Franchise Lineage: The Cleveland Browns situation is the biggest confusion point. When the original team moved to Baltimore in 1996 to become the Ravens, an NFL agreement kept the Browns’ name, history, and records in Cleveland. The franchise was treated as “suspended operations” from 1996 to 1998 before returning in 1999. Thus, the Ravens’ Super Bowl wins do not count for the Browns.
• Seasons, Not Years: We track data by “NFL Seasons” (e.g., the 2023 season playoffs happened in early 2024). This prevents off-by-one errors common in casual debates.
• Clear cutoff: This list reflects results through the most recently completed Super Bowl as of the date above. It only changes if one of these franchises reaches a future Super Bowl.

The Four Teams Still Chasing a Super Bowl Trip

Why are these specific teams stuck on this list? It’s usually a mix of bad luck, historical timing, and agonizing near-misses.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns are on this list because they have zero Super Bowl appearances, even though the franchise was elite before the Super Bowl era and has had real near-miss seasons since. In the modern era, Cleveland reached the AFC Championship Game after the 1986, 1987, and 1989 seasons—falling to the Denver Broncos each time.

The franchise definition matters because the 1995 relocation can confuse the record. While the roster moved to Baltimore and later won a Super Bowl, the Browns’ name, history, and records stayed in Cleveland, and the team returned in 1999, so those Ravens titles do not count as Browns Super Bowl trips.

Detroit Lions

The Lions have the longest wait, and it’s a strange split: they were a powerhouse in the 1950s, but the Super Bowl era has often been frustrating. For years, the headline was their limited postseason success, but the story has shifted recently.

In the 2023 season, Detroit reached the NFC Championship Game and led the 49ers 24–7 at halftime before losing 34–31. It’s the kind of near-miss that shows how close the Lions have come to leaving this list.

Jacksonville Jaguars & Houston Texans

These two teams don’t have the 60+ year baggage of the Browns or Lions; their presence on the list is largely due to being the “new kids on the block.”

• Jacksonville Jaguars (1995 Expansion): They have actually been very successful relative to their age. They played in the AFC Championship Game in just their second season (1996), again in 1999, and most recently in 2017. That 2017 game against the Patriots is infamous among fans who insist “Myles Jack wasn’t down,” a play that could have sent them to the Super Bowl.
• Houston Texans (2002 Expansion): As the youngest franchise in the league, the Texans have a unique barrier. They are the only NFL team to never appear in a Conference Championship Game. While they have had strong seasons under J.J. Watt and C.J. Stroud, their deepest runs have always ended in the Divisional Round.

How Close These Teams Have Come to the Super Bowl

After you see what NFL teams have never been to the Super Bowl, the next question is how close each one has come—and the near-miss data includes seasons where they were one win away.

Deepest Playoff Runs by Round Reached

• Browns: AFC Championship Game (Peak seasons: 1986, 1987, 1989)
• Lions: NFC Championship Game (1991, 2023)
• Jaguars: AFC Championship Game (1996, 1999, 2017)
• Texans: Divisional Playoffs (Multiple seasons, but never advanced further)

Conference Championship Game (CCG) Appearances

This is the cleanest “one step from the Super Bowl” metric. It measures how many times a team was one win away from the big game.

• Browns: 0–3 in CCGs.
• Jaguars: 0–3 in CCGs.
• Lions: 0–2 in CCGs (Recent loss in the 2023 season).
• Texans: 0 Appearances.

For Readers Looking for Teams That Never Won the Super Bowl

If you arrived here looking for teams like the Buffalo Bills or Minnesota Vikings, you are thinking of “Teams that never won the Super Bowl.”

These are the teams with Super Bowl berths and zero titles—they made it to the big game but never won the Lombardi Trophy:

• Minnesota Vikings: 4 Losses
• Buffalo Bills: 4 Losses
• Cincinnati Bengals: 3 Losses
• Atlanta Falcons: 2 Losses
• Carolina Panthers: 2 Losses
• Arizona Cardinals: 1 Loss
• Los Angeles Chargers: 1 Loss
• Tennessee Titans: 1 Loss

Search Tip: If you want the list above, search for “teams with 0 Super Bowl wins.” If you want the four teams we are discussing in this article, stick with “teams with 0 Super Bowl appearances.”

Fan Guide to Showing Team Pride Through the Drought

Supporting a team on the “Never Made It” list isn’t about glory—it’s about grit, loyalty, and character. It takes zero effort to fly a Chiefs flag. It takes real dedication to hang a Browns or Lions banner after a tough season.

At FlagOh, we call this an “Underdog Wall”—a simple display that celebrates loyalty during the drought.

How to Build an Underdog Wall at Home

If you are a fan of one of these teams, lean into the story.

• Consistency: Pick one focal flag size (the standard is 3×5 ft) and keep your spacing consistent for a clean grid.
• Lighting: Use indirect LED lighting behind the flag (or track lighting above) so the team colors pop without creating glare.
• Context: Add a small “conversation hook” below the flag, like a framed photo of a franchise legend (Barry Sanders or Jim Brown) or the score of their closest game. It turns the decor into a story.

Choosing Flag Materials for Indoor and Outdoor Use

When choosing a flag, the material dictates where it should fly. Here is the breakdown:

Nylon (Best for Porches & Indoors)

• Feature: Lightweight weave (often around 200 denier).
• Advantage: It flies easily in a light breeze and has a glossy finish.
• Benefit: Ideal for everyday porch display where you want that classic “flutter,” or for indoor walls where the colors need to shine.

Polyester (Best for Open Areas & High Wind)

• Feature: Tougher, open-weave feel (look for “two-ply” or 100D+).
• Advantage: It lets wind pass through rather than catching it like a sail.
• Benefit: This is your “heavy-duty” option. If you live in a windy city or want to leave the flag out in rougher weather, polyester lasts longer.

A Simple Way to Pick the Right Flag for Your Setup

Whether you’re turning this topic into a watch-party tradition or building a permanent tribute to your team, the right flag makes the statement. Choose the material and print format you need—single-reverse for bold logo looks, or double-sided when you want text to read clearly from both sides—so it fits your space and how you plan to display it.

Ultimately, the list of what NFL teams have never been to the Super Bowl is short, but the history behind it is deep. It’s not just about zero appearances; it’s about the heart-stopping near-misses and the crucial difference between ‘never winning’ and ‘never playing.’ Use the data above to settle your next debate, but don’t let the drought stop you from displaying your colors. If you’re ready to turn that loyalty into a standout display—perhaps building your own ‘Underdog Wall’—explore the durable, vibrant Team Pride Flags available at FlagOh.