NFL: 3 Teams with the Longest Active Playoff Droughts

(Photo : hoto by Billie Weiss/Getty Images) FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 07: Aaron Rodgers #8 of the New York Jets looks on in the first half at Gillette Stadium on January 07, 2024 in Foxborough, Massachusetts

As we enter the NFL Playoffs this weekend, fans for some franchises get to see their favorite team play for a chance at the Super Bowl. While some are lucky to have that honor, others have been lacking the good fortune to see their teams get into the playoffs.

Throughout the NFL several teams have gone without a playoff appearance in quite a few years.

Here is a list of some teams with extended playoff droughts currently in the NFL.

NFL Playoff Drought: New York Jets

The title for longest playoff drought goes to the New York Jets, who lead the list by going 13 years without making a postseason appearance. The Jets also own the longest playoff drought in all of North American Sports.

The last time the Jets clinched a playoff was in 2010, when the team lost in the AFC Championship game 24-19 against the Pittsburgh Steelers following a season where the team went 11-5.

The Jets were led by quarterback Mark Sanchez, who took the team to two AFC Championship games in back to back years. Other notable names on the roster include Hall of Fame cornerback Darrelle Revis and running back LaDainian Tomlinson.

Since then, there has been a revolving door of head coaches and starting quarterbacks that has led this team to year after year of disappointment. The streak continues after the Jets have failed to make the postseason yet again this year, following a painful season of New York Jets football.

It was an offseason of hope for the Jets after trading the Green Bay Packers for Hall of Fame-bound quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who had suffered a season ending injury in their Week 1 matchup against the Bills.

Now they look one again to next season to hopefully end their dubious streak.

NFL Playoff Drought: The Denver Broncos

With the Detroit Lions ending their streak, the Denver Broncos are second on the list of longest-active playoff droughts.

The last time the Broncos made the playoffs was in 2015, the same season they won Super Bowl 50.

The Broncos went 12-4 that season and were led by Hall of Fame quarterback Payton Manning, who was in his later years, along with an elite defense that was led by linebackers Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware.

Since then, Denver has had several head coaches and a revolving door at quarterback during Elway's soon to end tenure as a team general manager.

The Broncos tried to remedy their case of playoff blues by trading the New Orleans Saints for head coach Sean Payton, only a year after Denver traded the Seattle Seahawks for quarterback Russell Wilson. However, this wasn't the season for the Broncos, who had finished the season at 8-9 and will likely be in the hunt for a new quarterback this offseason.

NFL Playoff Drought: Atlanta Falcons/Carolina Panthers

The Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers share third place on the list of active playoff drought streaks, both six years.

The last time this pair of division rivals made the playoffs was in 2017. Each team had their respective franchise quarterbacks, Cam Newton for the Panthers and Matt Ryan for the Falcons.

The Falcons, who were fresh off a Super Bowl appearance the season prior, had lost to the 2018 Super Bowl Champs Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Divisional game. While the Panther got bounced in the NFC Wild Card game against The New Orlean Saints in 2018, marking their last playoff appearance since.