11 NFL teams with longest division title droughts entering 2026 season
· Yahoo Sports
NFL teams are preparing for the 2026 season and several franchises are hoping to end their serious playoff struggles.
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The Seattle Seahawks are defending Super Bowl champions and 31 other teams are chasing them. However, the first step towards postseason success typically begins with a division title.
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Many NFL franchises have been waiting decades to reclaim their position atop their respective divisions, including the Cleveland Browns. In fact, Cleveland’s only managed to reach the playoffs three times since 2000.
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys are used to success in Super Bowl-era division play. That includes 25 and 24 division titles, respectively, for the all-time great franchises.
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NFL teams’ longest division title droughts in 2026
Jets’ Geno Smith during a 2016 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Some divisions are simply dominated by certain teams, including the AFC East. The New England Patriots featured the Tom Brady era that sparked 17 division titles during his era.
That’s kept franchises like the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets on the back-burner as they aim to seek their own success. Meanwhile, other divisions like the NFC West are highly competitive and feature several teams battling for titles regularly.
The Browns aren't the only NFL team working with a long division title drought 😅 https://t.co/9XHiQBwSidpic.twitter.com/R5Nq0tpLEX
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) August 10, 2026
The Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers and Seahawks all reached the playoffs a season ago. However, all three teams are regularly rotating when it comes to winning the competitive West Coast division.
These are the NFL teams with the longest divisional droughts entering the 2026 campaign.
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- Cleveland Browns – 1989
- Las Vegas Raiders – 2002
- New York Jets – 2002
- Miami Dolphins – 2008
- Los Angeles Chargers – 2009
- New York Giants – 2011
- Indianapolis Colts – 2014
- Arizona Cardinals – 2015
- Atlanta Falcons – 2016
- Washington Commanders – 2020
- New Orleans Saints – 2020
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