The Kansas City Chiefs’ pursuit of perfection and the NFL’s all-time winning streak ended with last Sunday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills. However, one of their AFC rivals still can make NFL history this season.
When the 8-2 Pittsburgh Steelers visit the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night in Week 12, they’ll have an opportunity to clinch a winning record with six games left on their schedule. That would tie the NFL record for consecutive non-losing seasons while extending a remarkable streak for head coach Mike Tomlin.
What’s the NFL Record for Consecutive Non-Losing Seasons?
The Dallas Cowboys own the record with 21 consecutive non-losing seasons, a run lasting from 1965 through 1985. However, just one of those seasons — the 1965 campaign — saw Dallas finish with a .500 record.
The Cowboys had a winning record in the next 20 seasons before going 7-9 in 1986. Dallas won two Super Bowls during the run (1971 and 1977).
The Steelers own the second-longest streak with 20 consecutive non-losing seasons, while the New England Patriots rank third with 19 (2001 through 2019). Pittsburgh has earned two Super Bowl titles during its run (2005 and 2008), whereas New England won six (2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, and 2018).
When Did Steelers Begin Their Streak of Non-Losing Seasons?
The Steelers began their run in 2004, going 15-1 a year after finishing 6-10. Pittsburgh lost to New England in the AFC Championship, but Ben Roethlisberger won the Offensive Player of the Year Award and led the Steelers to a championship the next season.
Here’s how the Steelers finished in each of the last 20 seasons:
- 2004: 15-1
- 2005: 11-5
- 2006: 8-8
- 2007: 10-6
- 2008: 12-4
- 2009: 9-7
- 2010: 12-4
- 2011: 12-4
- 2012: 8-8
- 2013: 8-8
- 2014: 11-5
- 2015: 10-6
- 2016: 11-5
- 2017: 13-3
- 2018: 9-6-1
- 2019: 8-8
- 2020: 12-4
- 2021: 9-7-1
- 2022: 9-8
- 2023: 10-7
Sure, you could ding the Steelers for going .500 in four of those seasons, whereas the Cowboys did it once (and the Patriots didn’t do it at all). Pittsburgh also went 9-8 in 2022 when the 17th game made it impossible to finish with a .500 record.
Still, that’s an incredible one. And, given the Patriots’ failures in the post-Tom Brady era, you could argue the Steelers are the NFL’s most consistent team in the 21st century.
Which Head Coach Holds Record for Consecutive Non-Losing Seasons?
Tomlin hasn’t had a losing season since replacing Bill Cowher as Pittsburgh’s head coach in 2007. He currently is on a run of 17 consecutive non-losing seasons, a streak that would reach No. 18 with a win over the Browns in Week 12.
Steelers HC Mike Tomlin is PFN's Coach of the Week 🏆
The Steelers defense held Lamar Jackson to season-lows in completion percentage (48.5%), yards per attempt (6.3), and passer rating (66.1).
Jackson's QB+ (65.6) was his fourth-worst since 2019. pic.twitter.com/tr26C2LZVZ
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) November 20, 2024
Tomlin’s streak ranks third all-time among NFL head coaches.
Tom Landry, who coached the Cowboys for their entire run, ranks first with 21 consecutive non-losing seasons. Bill Belichick ranks second with 19, a streak that ended when the Patriots went 7-9 in 2020 when Cam Newton was their starting quarterback.