The NFL’s Most Prolonged Losing Streaks: A Look Back in History
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hold the record for the longest losing streak in the modern NFL era, dropping 26 games between 1976 and 1977. However, the longest losing skid in NFL history predates the AFL-NFL merger of 1970 by over a decade.
The Arizona Cardinals, previously known as the Chicago Cardinals, St. Louis Cardinals, and Phoenix Cardinals, own the dubious distinction of the NFL’s longest losing streak, spanning an astonishing 29 games over four seasons.
The Cardinals’ dismal streak began with a six-game losing slide to close out the 1942 season. They followed this up with back-to-back winless campaigns in 1943 and 1944. The streak continued into the 1945 season, with three consecutive losses, before finally coming to an end with a 16-7 victory over the Chicago Bears on October 14, 1945, at Wrigley Field.
Here’s a glance at the longest losing streaks in NFL history:
29 games • Chicago Cardinals (1942-45)
26 games • Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1976-77)
20 games • Jacksonville Jaguars (2020-21)
19 games • Detroit Lions (2007-09) • Oakland Raiders (1961-62)
18 games • Houston Oilers (1972-73)
17 games • Cleveland Browns (2016-17) • Cleveland Browns (2015-16) • St. Louis Rams (2008-09) • Houston Oilers (1982-83) • Washington Redskins (now Commanders) (1960-61) • Dayton Triangles (1927-29)
16 games • Oakland Raiders (2013-14) • Miami Dolphins (2006-07) • Pittsburgh Steelers (1969-70) • Rochester Jeffersons (1922-25)
15 games • Carolina Panthers (2001) • Buffalo Bills (1970-71) • Pittsburgh Steelers (1943-45)**
**The Chicago Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers merged to form “Card-Pitt” during the 1944 season due to both teams losing players to World War II military service. The team went 0-10.
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