Buffalo Sabres End Playoff Drought, Leaving Jets With Longest Drought in Pro Sports

The New York Jets now stand alone with the longest active postseason drought across the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL at 15 seasons.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 9:08pm

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The Buffalo Sabres have clinched a playoff spot, ending their 14-season postseason drought. With the Sabres' drought now over, the New York Jets have taken over as the team with the longest active playoff drought across the four major North American professional sports leagues at 15 seasons.

Why it matters

The Jets' 15-year playoff drought is a testament to the team's struggles and inability to build a consistent winner. As one of the most high-profile franchises in the NFL, the Jets' futility has become a punchline among sports fans, and this dubious distinction only adds to the team's woes.

The details

The Sabres' playoff clinch means the Jets are now the clear leader in postseason futility, with their last playoff appearance coming in the 2010 season. The Jets have cycled through 18 different starting quarterbacks since that 2010 playoff run, underscoring the team's inability to find stability at the game's most important position.

  • The Sabres snapped their 14-year playoff drought in the 2025-26 NHL season.
  • The Jets last made the playoffs in the 2010 NFL season.

The players

Buffalo Sabres

An NHL franchise that has clinched a playoff spot, ending their 14-season postseason drought.

New York Jets

An NFL franchise that now holds the longest active playoff drought across the four major North American professional sports leagues at 15 seasons.

Rex Ryan

Former head coach of the New York Jets who led the team to the AFC Championship game in 2010.

Mark Sanchez

Former quarterback for the New York Jets who was part of the team's 2010 AFC Championship game appearance.

Geno Smith

Current starting quarterback for the New York Jets, who previously started games for the team in 2014.

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What they’re saying

“The Sabres' 14-season playoff drought was tied with the Jets entering the 2025 NFL season and 2025-26 NHL season. The Jets missed the playoffs, again, and the Sabres did not. Thus, the Jets streak now sits at 15 seasons, and they are alone with that dubious distinction of having the longest drought in the four major professional North American sports leagues.”

— Matt Reigle, OutKick Writer

What’s next

The Jets will look to end their playoff drought in the upcoming 2026 NFL season, but with a quarterback situation that remains unsettled, the path back to the postseason appears challenging.

The takeaway

The Jets' 15-year playoff drought is a testament to the team's inability to build a consistent winner and find stability at the quarterback position. As one of the most high-profile franchises in the NFL, the Jets' futility has become a source of frustration and mockery among sports fans.