With the conclusion of the big game on Sunday, the NFL will continue to add to its long and rich history. Winning the Lombardi Trophy, awarded to the winner of the Super Bowl, cements the legacies of individual players and coaches forever. Unfortunately, not every fan base has been able to taste victory throughout the existence of their favorite franchise.
Let’s take a look at how many Super Bowls there have been and a brief history of the big game.
How Many Super Bowls Have There Been?
There have been 57 Super Bowls before Sunday’s matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers.
The NFL and AFL merged before the 1966 season, making everything before Super Bowl 1 between the Green Bay Packers and Chiefs in 1967 be classified as an NFL Championship. The unification of the leagues started a new era that blended new players and teams as one.
Some teams were able to continue their high level of play after the unification, but others haven’t been so fortunate. Let’s take a look at which teams haven’t even made the Super Bowl yet in the first 58 years.
How Many NFL Teams Have Never Made a Super Bowl?
Four NFL teams have yet to make it to the Super Bowl: the Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, and Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Browns were successful before the NFL-AFL merger, winning eight championships before the creation of the Lombardi Trophy. They won four AAFC and four NFL titles before the Super Bowl was conceived. Though the franchise is now mostly known for its struggles, they’ve reached the AFC Conference Championship five times but have lost each contest.
The Lions were also more successful in the past, earning four NFL championships. They’ve been one of the most downtrodden franchises since the merger, though, earning only one NFC Championship Game appearance since 1967 (lost to Washington in 1991) before making it this year, where they lost to the 49ers.
It’s easier to believe that the NFL’s youngest franchises haven’t made it to a Super Bowl yet. The Jaguars were established in 1995 and were on the brink of an appearance in 1996, 1999, and 2017 but never got to the big game. Houston, who debuted in 2002, hasn’t made it to an AFC Championship Game yet.
How Many Teams Have Never Won A Super Bowl?
In addition to the four teams that haven’t made the Super Bowl, there are another eight franchises that have never won a Super Bowl. That list includes the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, and Tennessee Titans. A whopping 12 of 32 teams have never brought the Lombardi Trophy home.
Despite overtures for parity across the league, the franchises that are run the best have continued to win the most. The most recent team to win their first Super Bowl is the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 52.
Which NFL Team Has the Most Super Bowl Wins?
The Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots are tied for the lead with six Super Bowl wins each. The San Francisco and Dallas Cowboys have five apiece, and the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants have four each.
MORE: Ranking Every Super Bowl of All-Time From Worst to First
The Patriots have played in the most Super Bowls with 11 appearances, with a large part of that coming from their time with the duo of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.
Which NFL Team Has The Most Super Bowl Losses?
The Patriots and Denver Broncos both have five Super Bowl losses. The Patriots played in a total of 11 Super Bowls, while the Broncos are tied for the second-most appearances with eight, winning three. Quarterbacks John Elway (two Super Bowl wins) and Peyton Manning were at the helm of their offenses in those victories.
As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!