The Kansas City Chiefs ended a 50-year drought with their Super Bowl victory earlier this month. What other major teams are struggling through periods without winning titles?
Philadelphia Flyers
Any team that has a nickname that transcends the franchise belongs on this list. The “Broad Street Bullies” won back-to-back championships in 1974 and ’75 and have not had a drink from the Stanley Cup since.
Montreal Canadiens
The most iconic of all NHL franchises, Les Habitants have won the Stanley Cup 24 times, 23 of them since the founding of the NHL and 22 of them since 1927, when NHL teams became the only ones to compete for the hallowed trophy. The last Cup for the Habs came in 1992-93.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have not won the Stanley Cup since 1967. The team has won 13 Cups
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are one of the two greatest NBA franchises, sharing the honor with the Boston Celtics. The most recent title came in 2010. They have won and have won 16 NBA championships, second-most behind Boston.
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics have won 17 NBA titles. The most recent one came in 2008, which ended a drought that began after the 1986 championship. The franchise has won the most NBA championships with 17.
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls’ status comes from the Michael Jordan years. The last time Chicago won an NBA title was in 1998, which was the final one in the Air Jordan era. They are known for having one of the NBA’s greatest dynasties, winning six NBA championships between 1991-98 with two three-peats. The Bulls are the only NBA franchise to win multiple championships while never losing an NBA Finals series in their history.
Michigan
Michigan have been a Big Ten football powerhouse. The Wolverines have the most all-time wins in college football history. The Wolverines claim 11 national championships, most recently that of the 1997 squad voted atop the final AP Poll.
*USC
USC has been a powerhouse in the Pac-8, 10 and 12. The team has hit a rough patch in recent years. With a record of 34–19, USC has the highest all-time post-season winning percentage of schools with 25 or more bowl appearances. The last championship came in 2004, but that was vacated due to issues surrounding star RB Reggie Bush. The Trojans have 11 national titles (1928, ’31, ’32, ’39, ’62, ’67, ’72, ’74, ’78, ’03, and the previously mentioned ’04).
Notre Dame
Lou Holtz led Notre Dame to its last national championship, which came in 1988. The school claims 11 national championships, but the NCAA recognizes ND with 13.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin has one national championship from an NCAA-designated major selector (1942). The school makes no formal claim of this championship. Wisconsin is one of 26 college football programs to have won 700 or more games.
UCLA
The ultimate college basketball dynasty has fallen on mediocre to hard times. Mick Cronin is trying to restore glory to UCLA. It won’t be easy and it certainly will never approach the reign of John Wooden. During the 1994–1995 season, Jim Harricke led UCLA to a 32-1 record and the school’s 11th national championship, its first since the 1974–75 season
Michigan State
Tom Izzo is seeking another NCAA title. It has been a long time since the Spartans won one. In 1999–2000. Seniors Mateen Cleaves and Morris Peterson led the way for Michigan State. In the National Championship game, the Spartans triumphed over Florida, 89–76, despite losing Cleaves to an ankle injury in the second half. The win marked MSU’s second National Championship in basketball and Izzo’s first and only championship to date.
Georgetown
The Hoyas had many great teams under John Thompson (left, pictured with his son). That is why it is somewhat surprising they have one national championship, which came in 1984 when they defeated Houston, 84-75.
Syracuse
Jim Boeheim has coached Syracuse for decades. His lone championship came in 2003 when the Orange defeated Kansas, 81-78, in the final. Carmelo Anthony was named Most Outstanding Player.
Indiana
The most recent national title in hoops for the Hoosiers came in 1987. The Hoosiers were led by All-American Steve Alford and captured a share of the Big Ten title. The team won Indiana’s fifth national championship against Syracuse in the 1987 NCAA tournament with a game-winning jump shot by Keith Smart with five seconds of play remaining in the championship gam
*Louisville
The Cardinals have officially won two NCAA championships in 1980 and 1986 (with the 2013 title being vacated); and have officially been to 8 Final Fours (with the 2012 and 2013 appearances being vacated) in 38 official NCAA tournament appearances while compiling 61 tournament wins.
Atlanta Braves
The Braves’ last World Series win came in 1995. Prior to that, the championship came in 1957 … when the team was in Milwaukee.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers last World Series win was memorable because it came in the year 1988 when Kirk Gibson hobbled out of the dugout in Game 1 and delivered a game-winning home run off Dennis Eckersley and Oakland.
New York Yankees
The Yankees are in a tremendous drought for a team with 27 titles. The last one came in 2009. Prior to that it was in 2000.
Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles were once a powerhouse. Surprisingly, they only have three crowns, the last one coming in 1983. It just felt like they were always on the verge of winning the World Series.
Chicago Bears
The Bears have no won a Super Bowl since XX, which was played Jan. 26, 1986. That Chicago team crushed the Patriots, 46-10, to cap an one-loss season.
Cleveland Browns
Not sure if iconic describes this incarnation of the Browns. However, the team once was a power and had lots of pride. The most recent championship for the Browns came in 1964.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers’ last Super Bowl victory was a dramatic one as they downed the Arizona Cardinals on Ben Roethlisberger’s pass to Santonio Holmes in XLIII on Feb. 1, 2009.
Washington Redskins
Washington is on another coach, Ron Rivera. It has not won a Super Bowl since Super Bowl XXVI when it defeated the Denver Broncos, 37-24, with Mark Rypien as MVP.
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams are back in Los Angeles. They did win a Super Bowl as the St. Louis Rams in 2000 as the “Greatest Show on Turf.” The last title as the LA Rams came on Dec. 23, 1951, when they beat the Cleveland Browns, 24-17. Rams fans have to hope the Chiefs’ snapping a 50-year jinx can turn into them breaking one that will be 69 years in the upcoming season.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders are taking their equipment and Silver & Black nation to Sin City. Super Bowl XVIII was their last victory in the NFL championship. Marcus Allen rushed for 191 yards in the waltz over Washington.
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys have changed coaches from Jason Garrett to Mike McCarthy in hopes of finding their way back to the Super Bowl and another ring. Dallas has not won a championship since Super Bowl XXX after the 1995 season.
