The longest losing streak in the modern era of the NFL belongs to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who lost 26 games during the 1976 and 1977 seasons. The longest losing streak in NFL history occurred well before the AFL-NFL merger of 1970. In fact, this occurred more than a decade before the AFL’s founding in 1959.
The Chicago Cardinals – who later became the St. Louis Cardinals, then the Phoenix Cardinals and now the Arizona Cardinals – own the longest losing streak in the NFL, with 29 games over four seasons.
The Cardinals finished the 1942 season on a six-game losing streak before going 0-10 in back-to-back campaigns in 1943 and 1944. The Cardinals began the 1945 season with three straight losses to extend the streak to 29 games before finally overcome. the Chicago Bears 16-7 on October 14, 1945 at Wrigley Field.
Here’s a look at the longest losing streaks in NFL history:
29 games
▪︎Chicago Cardinals (1942-45)*
26 games
▪︎Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1976-77)
20 games
▪︎Jacksonville Jaguars (2020-21)
19 games
▪︎ Detroit Lions (2007-09)
▪︎Oakland Raiders (1961-62)
18 games
▪︎Houston Oilers (1972-73)
17 games
▪︎Cleveland Browns (2016-17)
▪︎Cleveland Browns (2015-16)
▪︎ St. Louis Rams (2008-09)
▪︎Houston Oilers (1982-83)
▪︎ Washington Redskins (now Commanders) (1960-61)
▪︎Dayton Triangles (1927-29)
16 games
▪︎Oakland Raiders (2013-14)
▪︎Miami Dolphins (2006-07)
▪︎ Pittsburgh Steelers (1969-70)
▪︎ Rochester Jeffersons (1922-25)
15 games
▪︎Carolina Panthers (2001)
▪︎Buffalo Bills (1970-71)
▪︎ Pittsburgh Steelers (1943-45)*
*The Chicago Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers merged to form “Card-Pitt” during the 1944 season, due to the loss of players from both teams to military service during World War II. The team went 0-10.
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