Four NFL Teams Have Never Played in the Super Bowl

The Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, and Jacksonville Jaguars are the only current NFL franchises without a Super Bowl appearance.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 3:07pm

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The Super Bowl has become the biggest annual sporting event, but four current NFL teams have never even made it to the big game. The Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, and Jacksonville Jaguars are the only franchises that have not appeared in a Super Bowl since the first one was played in 1967.

Why it matters

The Super Bowl is the pinnacle of the NFL season, and making it to the championship game is a major milestone for any franchise. These four teams have yet to reach that level of success, despite some having long histories in the league and even winning championships in the pre-Super Bowl era.

The details

The Browns, Lions, Texans, and Jaguars are the only current NFL teams that have never played in the Super Bowl. The Browns and Lions both won multiple NFL titles before the Super Bowl era, but have not returned to the championship game since then. The Texans are the newest NFL franchise, starting play in 2002, and have not even reached the AFC Championship game. The Jaguars, formed in 1996, have made it to the AFC Championship three times but have yet to advance to the Super Bowl.

  • The first Super Bowl was played in January 1967 in Los Angeles.
  • The Browns last won an NFL title in 1964, before the Super Bowl era began.
  • The Lions last won an NFL title in 1957, before the Super Bowl era began.
  • The Texans began play in the NFL in 2002.
  • The Jaguars were formed as an expansion team in 1996.

The players

Cleveland Browns

An NFL franchise that won four league championships in the pre-Super Bowl era but has not reached the Super Bowl since the game was first played in 1967.

Detroit Lions

The only NFC team that has never played in the Super Bowl, having won four NFL titles before the Super Bowl era began.

Houston Texans

The newest NFL franchise, formed in 2002, that has not yet reached the AFC Championship game, let alone the Super Bowl.

Jacksonville Jaguars

An expansion team formed in 1996 that has made it to the AFC Championship three times but has never reached the Super Bowl.

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The takeaway

The lack of Super Bowl appearances for these four franchises highlights the difficulty of sustained success in the NFL, even for teams with long histories. Reaching the pinnacle of the sport remains an elusive goal for the Browns, Lions, Texans, and Jaguars, who will all be hoping to finally break through and make their first Super Bowl in the coming years.