What are the longest losing streaks in NFL history?

The longest losing streak in the modern NFL era belongs to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , who lost 26 games over the 1976 and 1977 seasons. The longest losing skid in NFL history happened long before the AFL-NFL merger of 1970. In fact, it happened more than a decade before the AFL was founded in 1959.

The Chicago Cardinals -- who later became the St. Louis Cardinals, then the Phoenix Cardinals, and now the Arizona Cardinals -- own the NFL's longest losing streak, at 29 games over four seasons.

The Cardinals ended the 1942 season on a six-game losing streak before going 0-10 in back-to-back campaigns in 1943 and 1944. The Cardinals started the 1945 season with three straight losses to extend the streak to 29 games before finally defeating the Chicago Bears 16-7 on Oct. 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 both teams losing players to World War II military service. The team went 0-10.

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