Most NFL teams involve a 53-member squad at full capacity. The NFL functions as the highest level of football competition in the world. The NFL is made up of 32 teams split into two pools; the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). These 32 teams battle it out for 17 games in the league stage to make it to the top of their conferences and then proceed to the playoffs where they get just one game to prove their mantle and make their way to the Super Bowl game.
The NFL Super Bowl acts as the end of an NFL season. The season finale or deciding game, the NFL Super Bowl determines which team will take home the coveted Lombardi trophy. The first NFL Super Bowl took place on January 15, 1967, in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The prestigious game took place between the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs which culminated in the Green Bay Packers taking home the Lombardi trophy after beating the Chiefs 35 - 10.
Which teams have appeared in the Super Bowl game but have never won?
The Minnesota Vikings and the Buffalo Bills stand at the top of the list of teams in the NFL with the most appearances in the Super Bowl with 0 wins. The Vikings and Bills have been to the Super Bowl 4 times but have failed to claim the trophy even once.
As of January 2025, the below teams have not won a single SB even after appearing in the big game.
| Team Name | Number of Appearances |
| Minnesota Vikings | 4 |
| Buffalo Bills | 4 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 3 |
| Carolina Panthers | 2 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 2 |
| Los Angeles Chargers | 1 |
| Tennessee Titans | 1 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 1 |
Which teams have never been to the Super Bowl?
As of January 2025, there are still four teams in the NFL that have never been to the Super Bowl. These four teams are the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, and the Jacksonville Jaguars. As for the Texans, they are the newest members of the NFL having joined the league only in 2002. The Jacksonville Jaguars' first season in the NFL was only in 1995 which makes them relatively new as well.
As for the Cleveland Browns and the Detroit Lions, both teams have won the NFL Championship Games before the 1966 merger of the AFL and the NFL, but they have not been able to reach the big game in the Super Bowl era.
FAQs on Teams With Super Bowl Appearances But No Victories
A. 12 teams in the NFL have never won a Super Bowl as of January 2025 (via ESPN).
A. The New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers have the most number of Super Bowl wins with a record 6 victories each.
A. The New England Patriots have the most number of Super Bowl appearances. The team has been to the game 11 times and won the title 6 times.
A. The player with the most number of Super Bowl rings is Tom Brady. He has won the Super Bowl 7 times.
