Ask anyone in and around the league, and they will tell you the same thing: Winning in the NFL is incredibly hard.
It’s why there exists a constant cycle of head coaches and quarterbacks.
But there are a few franchises that have cracked the code; teams that have built consistent contenders.
We’re diving into the history books to find the longest NFL playoff streaks ever.
Longest Active Run of Playoff Appearances
1. Kansas City Chiefs, 9 Seasons (2015-23)
Andy Reid joined the Chiefs in 2013 and has made the NFL playoffs an annual occurrence in Kansas City. And with Patrick Mahomes leading his offense, expect to see the Chiefs play deep into January and beyond for several years.
2. Buffalo Bills, 5 (2019-23)
Buffalo owns one of the longest playoff appearance droughts in NFL history (17 seasons from 2000-16). But the Bills now appear to be one of the AFC’s top contenders, both in the short-term, and the long, thanks to Josh Allen.
Most Consecutive Playoff Appearances (All Time)
1. New England Patriots, 11 (2009-19)
The NFL has never seen dominance like the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady New England teams. After Brady tore his ACL at the beginning of the 2008 season, leading to New England missing the postseason, the Patriots made 11 consecutive playoff appearances, winning three Super Bowls along the way.
T-2. Indianapolis Colts, 9 (2002-10)
Arguably the Patriots’ biggest adversary during the first half of their dynasty, the Peyton Manning-led Colts were a worthy opponent. Indianapolis finally broke through in 2006, defeating the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI.
T-2. Dallas Cowboys, 9 (1975-83)
T-2. Kansas City Chiefs, 9 (2015-23)
- T-3. Green Bay Packers, 8 (2009-16)
- T-3. San Francisco 49ers, 8 (1983-90)
- T-3. Los Angeles Rams, 8 (1973-80)
- T-3. Pittsburgh Steelers, 8 (1972-79)
- T-3. Dallas Cowboys, 8 (1966-73)
Most Consecutive Seasons With a Playoff Win (All Time)
1. New England Patriots, 8 (2011-18)
The Patriots, understandably, are all over this list. That’s thanks in part to their regular-season dominance, especially over their AFC East foes. But what makes this era so unique is the sustained dominance they continued to have come playoff time.
T-2. Dallas Cowboys, 6 (1991-96)
This streak was kicked off by Jimmy Johnson’s Cowboys teams, which made three consecutive postseasons and won two Super Bowls. After Johnson’s infamous exit from Dallas, Barry Switzer picked up things right where Johnson left off with three more consecutive playoff appearances and another Super Bowl title.
T-2. Kansas City Chiefs, 6 (2018-23)
Even in what was considered a down year in 2023, Mahomes and Travis Kelce led the Chiefs to the AFC West title and past the Bills 27-24 in the divisional round in what was remarkably the quarterbacks’ first playoff road game.
- T-3. Seattle Seahawks, 5 (2012-16)
- T-3. Baltimore Ravens, 5 (2008-12)
- T-3. New England Patriots, 5 (2003-07)
- T-3. Philadelphia Eagles, 5 (2000-04)
- T-3. Green Bay Packers, 5 (1993-97)
- T-3. Oakland Raiders, 5 (1973-77)
Most Consecutive Postseason Wins (All Time)
1. New England Patriots, 10 (2002–06)
The dawn of the Patriots’ dominance was a special run. New England won the Super Bowl in 2001, then missed the playoffs, only to win the Super Bowl in back-to-back seasons in 2003 and 2004. The Patriots won a wild card game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2005 before losing to the Denver Broncos in the divisional round.
2. Green Bay Packers, 9 (1961-68)
Vince Lombardi earned his reputation somehow, right? Nine consecutive playoff wins will do just that, including five NFL championships and two Super Bowls. Green Bay was the first glimpse of a dynasty as the NFL entered the Super Bowl era, and have continued to hold that same cache 60 years later.
- T-3. Pittsburgh Steelers, 7 (1974–76)
- T-3. San Francisco 49ers, 7 (1989–91)
- T-3. Dallas Cowboys, 7 (1993–95)
- T-3. Denver Broncos, 7 (1997–99)
Most Consecutive Conference/League Championship Appearances (All Time)
1. New England Patriots, 8 (2011-18)
Is there a better representation of the Patriots’ dominance of the AFC than this? Making the playoffs 11 consecutive seasons is one thing. Being one step away from the most-watched game in American sports for eight consecutive seasons is completely different – and far more impressive.
T-2. Cleveland Browns, 6 (1950-55)
Before the Browns became the laughingstock of the league, they were one of the league’s most dominating forces. The Paul Brown-led Browns appeared in six straight NFL championships, winning three.
T-2. Kansas City Chiefs, 6 (2018-23)
Mahomes. Kelce. Reid. Enough said.
3. Oakland Raiders, 5 (1973-77)
Most Consecutive Super Bowl Appearances (All-Time)
1. Buffalo Bills, 4 (1990-93)
The Bills own what is likely the most famous – or infamous – streak in the history of the NFL. Buffalo lost all four Super Bowls, all to current NFC East teams. Only one game – Super Bowl XXV against the New York Giants – was decided by one possession.
T-2. New England Patriots, 3 (2016-18)
The final chapters of the Brady-Belichick era in New England were as compelling as any other climax to a great story. The Patriots reached three consecutive Super Bowls, including winning Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons in thrilling comeback fashion.
T-2. Miami Dolphins, 3 (1971-73)
Most Consecutive Super Bowl Victories (All Time)
Eight franchises make up the list of nine times in which the Super Bowl was won in consecutive years by the same team.
Naturally, there is no shortage of iconic players and coaches among these teams.
T-1. Kansas City Chiefs, 2 (2022-23)
Since the first Super Bowl, there had never been as long a drought between back-to-back champions until the Chiefs ended it at 19 years with consecutive three-point wins – 38-35 over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII and 25-22 over the San Francisco 49ers in overtime in Super Bowl LVIII. It gave the Chiefs three titles in a five-year span.
T-1. New England Patriots, 2 (2003-04)
New England’s back-to-back run in 2003 and 2004 concluded the first chapter of its dynasty, as the Patriots won three Lombardi Trophies in four years and Brady and Belichick cemented themselves among the greats early in their respective careers.
T-1. Denver Broncos, 2 (1997-98)
John Elway, at long last, won two rings with Broncos at the end of his career in the late 1990s.
T-1. Dallas Cowboys, 2 (1992-93)
T-1. San Francisco 49ers, 2 (1988-89)
The Cowboys and 49ers further established themselves as two of the great franchises in the history of the NFL with their consecutive titles. Dallas’ wins secured Jimmy Johnson’s legacy, while San Francisco’s first win capped off Bill Walsh’s legendary career and second win kicked off George Seifert’s impressive one.
T-1. Pittsburgh Steelers, 2 (1978-79 & 1974-75)
The Steelers, the only NFL team to win consecutive Super Bowls twice, dominated the 1970s with players like Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Jack Lambert and Joe Greene.
T-1. Miami Dolphins, 2 (1972-73)
The Dolphins, led by the NFL’s winningest head coach Don Shula, kicked off their streak with the famous perfect season, and followed that performance by proving it was no fluke.
T-1. Green Bay Packers, 2 (1966-67)
The team to do it first, in Super Bowl I and II, was the Packers, with none other than Vince Lombardi at the helm.
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